bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implications of neuroarchitecture for the experience of the built environment: a scoping review
Authors: Lee Sanghee , Shin Wooree , Park Eun Joo
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Neuroarchitecture is a new interdisciplinary research field combining neuroscience and architecture that has developed and expanded since 2000. Neuroarchitecture originated from the divergence of previous multidisciplinary studies on the relationship between humans and the environment. However, scoping reviews of neuroarchitecture in relation to the experience of the built environment are lacking. Thus, this study aimed to provide the background and research trends of neuroarchitecture to contribute to discussions on the built environment.

Design/methodology/approach

A general form of scoping review was adopted, following the PRISMA-ScR checklist. For this scoping review emphasizing the embodied implication of neuroarchitecture for the built environment, an evaluation framework was developed consisting of four categories: health, performance, aesthetics and emotion.

Findings

This study explores objective techniques, including electroencephalography and functional magnetic resonance imaging, electrocardiogram, electrodermal activity and saliva cortisol, to measure neurophysiological impacts, adopting real, virtual and images of environmental settings. An in-depth review of 25 selected papers revealed the existing empirical research on neuroarchitecture using human physiological measurement tools and representational environment settings to examine the impact of human–environment relationships.

Originality/value

A meta-analysis of theoretical and intervention studies on neuroarchitecture that investigates the multisensory characteristics of the environment is lacking. In addition, the development and application of wearable tools to meet the needs of real environment settings can improve the effectiveness of neurophysiological measurement tools.
Impact of supply chain performance on organizational performance mediated by customer satisfaction: a study of dairy industry
Authors: Maaz Mohd Abdul Muqeet , Ahmad Rais
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study is to empirically test the relationship between supply chain performance and organizational performance mediated by customer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

Respondents of this study include all the supply chain stakeholders, managers working in the dairy industry, bulk milk chillers/coolers (BMCs), farmer producers, wholesalers, transporters, retailers and consumers. The final sample has 67 firms and their forward and backward linkages, taking the total sample size to 1,139. Mediation analysis was performed using SPSS AMOS v26 to analyze the impact of supply chain performance on organizational performance mediated by customer satisfaction.

Findings

The findings of this study reveal that supply chain performance positively impacts organizational performance, and customer satisfaction partially mediates the relationship between them.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides an opportunity for future researchers to test this model in different locations and different industries, incorporating other mediating variables, such as risk, coordination, supply chain orientation etc., as antecedents and operational, economic and marketing performance as consequences.

Practical implications

The study suggests that enhanced organizational performance requires supply chain management to be treated as a strategic function. Managers working at the processing/manufacturing level must focus on improving supply chain performance indicators through collaboration with supply chain stakeholders.

Originality/value

The present study adds to the existing literature by adopting a new supply chain performance measurement approach. The current literature has focused primarily on supply chain practices to study their impact on customer satisfaction and organizational performance. In contrast, the present study demonstrates how improvement in supply chain performance can enhance organizational performance through customer satisfaction.
Broad vs narrow brand positioning: effects on competitive brand performance
Authors: Olsen Lars Erling , Meling Samuelsen Bendik , Pappas Ioannis , Warlop Luk
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Brand managers can choose among two fundamentally different brand positioning strategies. One is a broad brand strategy, focusing on many favorable brand associations. The other is a narrow brand strategy, focusing on just a few and thus more mentally accessible associations. Building on associative memory theory, this paper aims to examine which of these brand positioning strategies performs better under dynamic market conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

Three experiments test the effect of brand positioning strategy on memory accessibility and competitive brand performance. Study 1 tests how brand strategy (broad vs narrow) affects defensive brand performance. Study 2 tests how broad vs narrow brands perform differently in a brand extension scenario (offensive brand performance). Study 3 uses real brands and situation-based attributes as stimuli in a defensive scenario.

Findings

The results show that a narrow brand positioning strategy leads to a competitive advantage. Narrow brands with fewer and more accessible associations resist new competitors more easily and have higher brand extension acceptance than do broad brands.

Research limitations/implications

The study shows how to use accessibility as evidence of associative strength and test how accessibility influences competitive brand performance in a controlled experimental context.

Practical implications

Brand managers would benefit from a narrow brand positioning strategy in accordance with the unique selling proposition (USP) school of thought used by many marketing practitioners.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates that narrow brand positioning performs better than broad brand positioning in dynamic markets, and to the knowledge is the first to do so.
MoDeT: a low-cost obstacle tracker for self-driving mobile robot navigation using 2D-laser scan
Authors: Nguyen Toan Van , Do Minh Hoang , Jo Jaewon
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Collision avoidance is considered as a crucial issue in mobile robotic navigation to guarantee the safety of robots as well as working surroundings, especially for humans. Therefore, the position and velocity of obstacles appearing in the working space of the self-driving mobile robot should be observed to help the robot predict the collision and choose traversable directions. This paper aims to propose a new approach for obstacle tracking, dubbed MoDeT.

Design/methodology/approach

First, all long lines, such as walls, are extracted from the 2D-laser scan and considered as static obstacles (or mapped obstacles). Second, a density-based procedure is implemented to cluster nonwall obstacles. These clusters are then geometrically fitted as ellipses. Finally, the combination of Kalman filter and global nearest-neighbor (GNN) method is used to track obstacles’ position and velocity.

Findings

The proposed method (MoDeT) is experimentally verified by using an autonomous mobile robot (AMR) named AMR SR300. The MoDeT is found to provide better performance in comparison with previous methods for self-driving mobile robots.

Research limitations/implications

The robot can only see a part of the object, depending on the light detection and ranging scan view. As a consequence, geometrical features of the obstacle are sometimes changed, especially when the robot is moving fast.

Practical implications

This proposed method is to serve the navigation and path planning for the AMR.

Originality/value

(a) Proposing an extended weighted line extractor, (b) proposing a density-based obstacle detection and (c) implementing a combination of methods [in (a) and (b) constant acceleration Kalman and GNN] to obtain obstacles’ properties.
Understanding online information disclosure: examination of data breach victimization experience effect
Authors: Ayaburi Emmanuel W.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The study aims to empirically understand individuals' tendency to disclose private information online following different forms of data breach (i.e. reversible and irreversible victimization).

Design/methodology/approach

Survey methodology is applied to measure the perception of victims of data breaches on key indicators of information disclosure.

Findings

Analysis of responses from 309 victims of data breaches show that while victims' irreversible data breach victimization experience influences both dimensions of privacy concerns, reversible data breach victimization experiences influenced only peer privacy concerns (PPCs). Furthermore, only institutional privacy concerns impacted online disclosure and fully mediate the relationship between victimization experience and online disclosure.

Research limitations/implications

The findings contribute to the privacy literature by expanding the dimension of victimization and considering their differential effect on privacy concerns. Additionally, the study uncovers the efficacy of privacy dimension on privacy recalibration following a data breach announcement.

Practical implications

For practice, the results provide insights for managers on how to manage customer restitution after a data breach. Management of the process of privacy recalibration should not be homogenous but be based on degree of consequence.

Social implications

This research provides deeper understanding of how the ascendancy of privacy breaches affect privacy management. The findings illuminate why the increasing trend in online activities is observed.

Originality/value

The study is the first to identify two dimensions of data breach victimization experience based on the breach level index (BLI). The two dimensions of victimization (i.e. reversible and irreversible privacy victimizations) were used to understand individuals' tendency to disclose private information online.
The mysterious world of airline pricing: innovative practices and strategies for profit
Authors: Kohli Chiranjeev S. , Habibi Mohammad Reza
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Business success and pricing are very closely intertwined. This study aims to explain how businesses can improve their profitability by relying on creative pricing strategies that managers across industries can adopt.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses research from related fields and a detailed analysis of the airline industry to deconstruct its success and identify innovative pricing practices that have helped salvage it.

Findings

Based on our analysis, the authors propose several strategies that can help companies control their pricing and leverage it to increase profitability. These include decommoditizing, segmenting the market (up and down), scrutinizing customer behavior, offering versioning and ancillary services, actively promoting these add-ons and using dynamic pricing.

Originality/value

This study takes an unusual approach and look at the airline industry – literally a textbook example of an oligopoly. The authors argue that if companies in an oligopoly – with undifferentiated services – can dig themselves out of the depths of nonexistent profits by using innovative pricing, it should be much simpler for companies in other industries that offer easier differentiation.
Impact of recruitment practices on organizational commitment: mediating role of employer image
Authors: Hussain Tahir , Channa Khalil Ahmed , Bhutto Maqsood H.
Published: February 2022

Purpose

From managerial perspective, the authors investigate the boundary and effective conditions of recruitment practices (e.g. job advertising and manager recruiting behavior) on recruitment outcomes that include employer image and organizational commitment in the context of recruitment practices. Drawing on signaling theory, the authors argue that using recruitment practices is generally more effective for creating employer image and organizational commitment.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors received a final sample of 213 from the employees of beverage industry. In doing so, statistical softwares SPSS (v.23) for data screening and SmartPLS (v.3.3.3) were used for hypothesis testing.

Findings

Using survey-based study, the study finds (1) that recruitment practices including job advertising and managers' recruiting behavior can be superior to developing employer image that positively can value the organizational commitment (2) The study identifies a significant role of employer image that is mediating between recruitment practices and post recruitment outcome (e.g. organization commitment).

Practical implications

The outcomes of the study provide valuable directions for human resource (HR) managers in national and multinational public organizations. The article offers recruitment strategies/practices to enhance employer image and organizational commitment.

Originality/value

The novelty of the study is the unique research framework, as the current paper is among the pioneers to empirically analyze the effect of recruitment practices on post-recruitment outcome testing the mediating relationship of employer image between job advertising organizational commitment and between managing recruiting behavior and organizational commitment.
Mapping the links between Industry 4.0, circular economy and sustainability: a systematic literature review
Authors: Patyal Vishal Singh , Sarma P.R.S. , Modgil Sachin , Nag Tirthankar , Dennehy Denis
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The study aims to map the links between Industry 4.0 (I-4.0) technologies and circular economy (CE) for sustainable operations and their role to achieving the selected number of sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopts a systematic literature review method to identify 76 primary studies that were published between January 2010 and December 2020. The authors synthesized the existing literature using Scopus database to investigate I-4.0 technologies and CE to select SDGs.

Findings

The findings of the study bridge the gap in the literature at the intersection between I-4.0 and sustainable operations in line with the regenerate, share, optimize, loop, virtualize and exchange (ReSOLVE) framework leading to CE practices. Further, the study also depicts the CE practices leading to the select SDGs (“SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation,” “SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy,” “SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure,” “SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production” and “SDG 13: Climate Action”). The study proposes a conceptual framework based on the linkages above, which can help organizations to realign their management practices, thereby achieving specific SDGs.

Originality/value

The originality of the study is substantiated by a unique I-4.0-sustainable operations-CE-SDGs (ISOCES) framework that integrates I-4.0 and CE for sustainable development. The framework is unique, as it is based on an in-depth and systematic review of the literature that maps the links between I-4.0, CE and sustainability.
Commodity hedging benefits: analyses among different financial assets
Authors: Chalid Dony Abdul , Handika Rangga
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the benefits of commodity hedging in the global stock index, bond and foreign currency (FX) portfolios.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors compare various hedging strategies and factor transaction costs. The authors analyze equally weighted, dynamic hedging ratio, risk parity and reward to risk timing strategies. Volatilities are estimated using historical, GARCH(1,1), and APARCH(1,1) methods. In addition, the authors evaluate the portfolio's hedging performance (HP) based on four different dimensions: volatility (annualized standard deviation), Sharpe ratio (SR), HP, and high-low ratio (HL).

Findings

The authors observe different benefits of the commodity hedging strategy among financial assets (stocks, bonds or FX).The authors find that commodity hedging in the stock markets is the best option, if the authors optimize the hedging ratio using dynamic hedging from historical data. The authors also document that for stock portfolio managers, adding commodities will generate a more conservative strategy, whereas for bond and/or FX portfolio managers, adding commodities will generate a more aggressive strategy.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by investigating commodity hedging in the global stock index, bond and FX portfolios. First, the authors provide details on the diversification benefits in the commodities. Second, the authors document the hedging strategy that is the best as a part of the diversification strategy by adding commodities. Third, the authors provide a practical analysis by reporting the financial assets portfolio that is appropriate for commodity hedging following the portfolio managers' objectives (e.g. reducing risks or improving the risk-reward ratio).
The mediation effect of marketing activities toward augmented reality: the perspective of extended customer experience
Authors: Chen Shih-Chih , Chou Tung-Hsiang , Hongsuchon Tanaporn , Ruangkanjanases Athapol , Kittikowit Santhaya , Lee Tse-Ching
Published: February 2022

Purpose

In this era of smartphone applications, brands are actively developing applications to occupy the consumer’s mobile phone space, adding many practical functions to their applications to increase brand exposure or consumer interest in the brand. Augmented reality (AR) has evolved rapidly in the past decade because of technological breakthroughs, making AR no longer an untouchable technology, but one that can be easily used on almost every phone. Therefore, this study aims to combine extended customer experience with AR marketing activities to explain and predict usage and purchase intention.

Design/methodology/approach

The eight key factors integrated into the extended customer experience are used as environmental stimulation factors, and Wanna Kicks and FitGlasses are used as experimental environments. A total of 193 valid samples were collected from users with AR experience. The empirical data is processed and verified by partial least squares in this study.

Findings

Customer experience has received increasing attention in the field of marketing research. This study developed a model to evaluate the antecedents and consequences of AR marketing activities by systematically adding customer experience, continuance intention, purchase intention and customer engagement, and then linking them to the AR application environment. This study presents the academic and practical implications, which can provide future research directions and references for brand marketing strategies and AR applications.

Originality/value

This study adds interactivity, vividness, perceived usefulness and novelty to the extended concept of customer experience. Therefore, the authors proposed that the extended customer experience can be used to measure the perceptions related to AR applications. This study is expected to provide scholars and practitioners in AR fields with a better understanding of the causes and consequences of customer experience with innovative technologies and to suggest effective marketing recommendations.
Qur’anic wisdom and the sustainability mind-set: deciphering the relationship
Authors: El-Bassiouny Noha , Anwar Abdou Yasmin , El-Bassiouny Dina , Jamal Ahmad , Wilson Jonathan
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to examine practical wisdom from the Islamic religion elaborating on how it pertains to the sustainability mind-set. The purpose is to assess whether the Islamic and sustainability mind-sets coincide and if so, how they do.

Design/methodology/approach

The first two chapters of the Holy Qur’an were divided into parts based on the divisions in the exegesis by Abu Bakr Al-Jaza’eri. Next, a qualitative content analysis of the main sustainability themes in these chapters was conducted. The first stage of the content analysis involved the collection of Qur’anic verses related to the sustainability concepts. Following that, inductive interpretive analysis was conducted in the second stage of the content analysis, where key sustainability lessons within the agreed upon Qur’anic verses were extracted.

Findings

The empirical study reported in this paper reveals 10 lessons from the examined Qur’anic text that pertain to the sustainability mind-set. Each of these lessons appears to foretell the wisdom behind the sustainability mind-set.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on sustainability and Islam in two ways. First, the analysis results in key lessons relating to sustainability, the majority of which were not covered in existing literature. Second, the research takes a holistic approach to finding commonalities between the sustainability mind-set and the Islamic mind-set, instead of focusing on a specific aspect of sustainability such as the environment.
Aid for trade initiative 16 years on: lessons learnt from the empirical literature and recommendations for future directions
Authors: Benziane Yakoub , Law Siong Hook , Rosland Anitha , Abd Rahman Muhammad Daaniyall
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a review of empirical evidence on the effectiveness of Aid for Trade (AfT) inflows and recommend new areas of interest concerning the initiative other than its effect on trade performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews a sample of 55 studies over the past 11 years. Besides, this paper categorised the reviewed empirical studies into three groups: the works concentrating on the trade performance effect; the works focusing on other economic factors effect; and the works concerning the allocation effect of these inflows. This paper also offers a detailed analysis of the multiple empirical methods, sources of data, coverage of the countries and forms of AfT inflows used in the reviewed literature.

Findings

Key findings indicated that AfT has overall produced a successful impact as reported by most studies. Moreover, it has been highlighted that the effectiveness of AfT may differ relying on multiple indicators: the category of AfT disbursements; income of the recipient country; the recipient country's geographical region; the amount of aggregate AfT as well as its main categories; the policy regulation and institutional quality of the recipient country; and the degree of liberalisation in the recipient country.

Originality/value

This paper is special in that it is the first to publish a comprehensive narrative analysis of 55 empirical pieces of evidence on the effectiveness of AfT over the past 11 years. It is also the first paper to review the previous literature regarding the effectiveness of AfT inflows on other non-trade outcomes, as well as trade outcomes in one single study. The outcome of the survey reveals new areas of interest in the effectiveness of AfT aside from trade performance.
The optimal buyback promotion strategy considering consumers' multichannel psychological acquisition
Authors: Zhou Yuqian , Bi Gongbing , Lv Jiancheng , Li Hongping
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to develop an optimal buyback promotion strategy for enterprises, including multibuyback strategy and self-buyback strategy, taking both the consumer's multichannel psychological acquisition attributes and remaining market into account.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the game theory and Hotelling model, the authors formulate a new model to study the equilibrium of different buyback models, given the utility maximization of the consumers, the profit maximization and the constraint on nondecreasing market share of the enterprises, and the authors conduct comparative analysis.

Findings

Intuitively, enterprises buying back products of other brands would appeal to some consumers. However, the authors find that after implementing the multibuyback scheme, enterprises may not be able to seize competitors' markets or even lose their original customer base in the context considered in this article counterintuitive. In addition, the size of remaining market share and the consumer's multichannel psychological acquisition affect the choice of buyback promotion strategies. Moreover, after implementing multibuyback scheme, customers with old products subsidize those who receive additional discounts. Finally, the authors point out that the buyback strategy choices of companies with different goal-oriented are diverse.

Practical implications

This study has a very solid realistic background and provides guidance for enterprises to implement buyback promotion strategies. In addition, the authors unearth new influencing factors to provide a reasonable explanation for different buyback strategies in reality.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the first to explore the multibuyback promotion strategy as a new buyback method, where the two influencing factors the authors have not been proposed so far.
Regulating emotional responses to aphasia to re‐engage in life: a qualitative interview study
Authors: Manning Molly , MacFarlane Anne , Hickey Anne , Galvin Rose , Franklin Sue
Published: February 2022

Background

People with post‐stroke aphasia (PWA) are more likely to experience serious mood disorders compared with those without. Emotional regulation may be important for influencing life participation after stroke. Understanding emotional regulation in the context of aphasia is important for promoting personally defined recovery, psychological well‐being and life participation.

Aims

To explore how individuals experience and regulate negative emotional responses to aphasia as part of re‐engaging with life.

Methods & Procedures

In‐depth semi‐structured qualitative interviews with 14 PWA were conducted. The focus and design were developed with public and patient involvement contributors. Reflexive thematic analysis was applied.

Outcomes & Results

Analysis generated three themes, which captured inherent diversity across participants in terms of emotional experiences, responses and regulation strategies: (1) emotional upheaval at all stages of recovery; (2) regulating emotional upheaval; and (3) discerning possibilities for life participation. Emotional regulation occurred both within and without the context of formal support services.

Conclusions & Implications

Individuals may be differently (en)abled in responding positively, with implications for aphasia psychological support and self‐management interventions. The findings may inform future interventions to optimize well‐being and personally meaningful outcomes for PWA.

WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS

What is already known on the subject

PWA experience significant psychosocial upheaval and are at risk of mood disorders. Emotional regulation may be important for influencing one's emotional state, social participation and relationships after stroke. There is a need to better understand the ways in which PWA experience and regulate their emotions to develop better support for personally defined recovery.

What this paper adds to existing knowledge

PWA may experience significant and pervasive mood disorders in the long term after stroke. This may be compounded by worries for their children's well‐being. Some, but not all, regulate emotions by drawing on positivity, determination, gratitude or stoicism. Having (supportive) opportunities to experience the impact of aphasia is important for discerning helpful strategies and participation opportunities.

What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?

Confronting altered abilities requires supportive, responsive opportunities sensitive to emotional responses. Opportunities for peer support and/or meaningful emotional support and compassion from family and friends are important therapeutic targets. Therapeutic input should pay attention to any familial and parenting concerns that may be compounding low mood. Although emotional regulation and recovery may occur without formal support, mental health services must be organized in such a way that PWA can access as needed.
Plant growth‐promoting and antibacterial activities of cultivable bacteria alive in tobacco field against Ralstonia solanacearum
Authors: Yuan Wenfang , Ruan Song , Qi Gaofu , Wang Rui , Zhao Xiuyun
Published: February 2022

Bacterial wilt disease caused by Ralstonia solanacearum leads to decrease of crops yield. Investigation of cultivable bacteria diversity provides more microbial species for screening antagonistic bacteria. In the present study, a variety of cultivation methods were used to investigate the diversity of cultivable bacteria alive in tobacco field. A total of 441 bacterial strains were obtained that belonged to four phyla, 49 genera and 146 species. Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were the dominant phyla. Agrobacterium, Arthrobacter, Bacillus, Klebsiella, Paenarthrobacter, Pseudomonas and Pseudarthrobacter were the dominant genera. Some rare genera were discovered including Bosea, Cedecea, Delftia and Dyella. Diversity, species and abundances of bacteria altered under different cultivation conditions. One hundred three bacterial strains showed plant growth‐promoting attributes. Twenty Bacillus strains showed high antibacterial activity against R. solanacearum. In field experiments, individual strain and consortia of Bacillus subtilis, B. siamensis and B. vallismortis effectively inhibited bacterial wilt. The core genes that controlled synthesis of secondary metabolites were knocked out in B. vallismortis SSB‐10. Difficidin, which was synthesized by dif operon and controlled by sfp gene, was the antibacterial substance produced by SSB‐10. Difficidin destroyed cell wall and cell membrane of R. solanacearum and inhibited its motility, production of extracellular polysaccharides and cellulase activity.
Literacy instruction in first grade: classroom‐level associations between reading skills and literacy instruction activities
Authors: Ruotsalainen Jenni , Pakarinen Eija , Poikkeus Anna‐Maija , Lerkkanen Marja‐Kristiina
Published: February 2022

Background

Adapting instruction to individual students' needs is known to be effective, but there is a lack of evidence whether students' reading skills are associated with literacy instruction activities at classroom‐level. Both the content of the literacy instruction and teachers' instructional support through instructional management are considered.

Methods

The data were collected in the context of Finland where first graders' reading skills show great variation at school entry but rapid progress. Students (n = 616) were individually tested on their reading skills, and literacy lessons in 35 classrooms were video recorded in the autumn of first grade. Multilevel path analyses were conducted to examine the classroom‐level associations between reading skills (accuracy and fluency) and three types of literacy instruction activities (coded from the video recordings). The number of students present and the teachers' work experience were controlled in the analyses.

Results

The results indicated that, at classroom‐level, lower average reading skills were associated with more lesson time allocated to code‐focused activities such as decoding and spelling tasks in which instructional management was directed for the whole group. In turn, higher average reading skills in classrooms were associated with more lesson time allocated to individual or small group assignments. The reading skills were not associated with meaning‐focused activities such as text‐level reading activities and class discussions with the whole group.

Conclusions

In early literacy lessons, students' reading skills were associated with teachers' implementation of different literacy instruction activities at classroom‐level. In classrooms with more students having already acquired basic decoding skills, teachers provided more classroom time for independent practice and individual support, which is likely to support consolidation of students' literacy skills.
Risk of self‐harm or suicide associated with specific drug use disorders, 2004–2016: a population‐based cohort study
Authors: Chai Yi , Luo Hao , Wei Yue , Chan Sherry K. W. , Man Kenneth K. C. , Yip Paul S. F. , Wong Ian C. K. , Chan Esther W.
Published: February 2022

Background and Aims

Drug use disorders are associated with increased risk of self‐harm. Risk differences associated with specific types of drug use disorders are yet to be comprehensively reported. This study aimed to examine the risk of self‐harm or suicide associated with different drug use disorders in Hong Kong.

Design

Population‐based cohort study.

Setting

The Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System (CDARS) managed by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority.

Participants

Cases were people ages 10 years or older who visited a hospital Accident and Emergency department between 1 January, 2004 and 31 December, 2016 with any of 10 specific drug use disorders (comprising opioid; ketamine; methamphetamine; sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic; amphetamine or related stimulant; cocaine; cannabis; hallucinogen; unspecified or other drug; and polydrug). Each case was matched with two controls, selected from a subset of people in CDARS sharing the same gender, age and psychiatric profile. A total of 8270 cases and 16 540 matched controls were included.

Measurements

Incidence and adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of subsequent self‐harm or suicide for each specific drug use disorder were estimated.

Findings

The most prevalent drug use disorder was opioid use disorder (2523; 30.51%) and the least prevalent was hallucinogen use disorder (77; 0.93%). The crude incidence of self‐harm or suicide ranged from 26.57 (95% CI, 14.23–44.55) per 1000 person‐years for cannabis use disorder to 91.97 (77.32–108.37) for polydrug use disorder. The highest risk of self‐harm or suicide was observed in ketamine (aHR, 16.36; 95% CI, 11.03–24.29) and opioid (15.97; 10.73–23.23) use disorders.

Conclusions

In Hong Kong, all types of drug use disorders appear to be significantly associated with increased risk of self‐harm or suicide, but risk levels vary by type of drug use disorder.
Micro‐testicular sperm extraction outcomes for non‐obstructive azoospermia in a single large clinic in Victoria
Authors: Lantsberg Daniel , Mizrachi Yossi , Katz Darren J.
Published: February 2022

Aims

To evaluate the results of microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro‐TESE) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for treatment of non‐obstructive azoospermia (NOA).

Materials and methods

We retrospectively analysed data of 88 consecutive patients with clinical NOA who were treated with micro‐TESE by a single surgeon, between August 2014 and September 2020, in Melbourne, Victoria. Upon a successful sperm retrieval, sperm was either used fresh for ICSI, frozen for future use or both. The outcome measures were sperm retrieval rate (SRR), and in vitro fertilisation (IVF)/ICSI results. Furthermore, SRR was calculated for the predominant causes and histopathological patterns.

Results

The overall SRR was 61.2%. It was significantly higher in patients with a history of cryptorchidism and other childhood diseases (100%) than in the other NOA groups (P < 0.05). Patients with Klinefelter syndrome had a 75% SRR. Among the different types of testicular histology, the highest SRR were noted in patients with complete hyalinisation (100%) and hypospermatogenesis (92.9%), and low with Sertoli cell‐only syndrome (46.3%). The SRR has significantly increased from 33.3% in 2015–2016 to 73.6% in 2019–2020 (P = 0.009). Of the 52 patients with SSR, 47 underwent IVF/ICSI. Fertilisation rate was 42.4%. Twenty‐nine couples achieved at least one good‐quality embryo and had embryo transfer. Nineteen achieved pregnancy (40.4%), and in three patients a miscarriage resulted.

Conclusions

This is the first report from Australia showing that micro‐TESE is an effective treatment for NOA with high SRR. The increasing success rates over several years indicate the importance of surgical skill and laboratory staff experience.
The FDA expands indications for the Vercise™ deep brain stimulation systems
Authors: Han Jason J.
Published: February 2022

Deep brain stimulation technology offers symptomatic relief to patients with intractable tremor as an adjunct to traditional medical therapy. Their expanding indications signify the devices' growing potential and versatility.
Aneurysmal bone cyst and osteoblastoma after neoadjuvant denosumab: histologic spectrum and potential diagnostic pitfalls
Authors: Hung Yin P. , Bredella Miriam A. , Lobmaier Ingvild V. K. , Lozano‐Calderón Santiago A. , Rosenberg Andrew E. , Nielsen G. Petur
Published: February 2022

The use of denosumab to treat giant cell tumors of bone (GCT) and other giant cell‐containing bone tumors has become more common. While the clinicopathologic features of denosumab‐treated giant cell tumors of bone have been well‐illustrated, descriptions of other denosumab‐treated bone tumors are very limited. Surgical pathology files of two institutions and consultation files from two authors were searched for denosumab‐treated aneurysmal bone cysts and denosumab‐treated osteoblastomas. Clinicopathologic features were reviewed and analyzed. We identified four patients with denosumab‐treated bone tumors other than GCT from our surgical pathology and consultation files, including two aneurysmal bone cysts and two osteoblastomas. All were treated with denosumab for 0.5‐7.0 (median 4.5) months. Radiologically, denosumab‐treated tumors showed decreased size with increased ossification and mineralization on CT and heterogeneous intermediate to hypointense signal on MRI. Histologically, denosumab‐treated aneurysmal bone cyst contained thin, elongated, curvilinear, and anastomosing strands of bone with empty lacunae, while denosumab‐treated osteoblastoma showed circumscribed nodules of woven bone lined by small osteoblasts. Denosumab‐treated aneurysmal bone cyst and osteoblastoma showed treatment‐related morphologic changes that can mimic other bone neoplasms. Their recognition requires correlation with the clinical history of denosumab use and radiologic findings.
Aquaporin‐5 in breast cancer
Authors: Bystrup Malte , Login Frédéric H. , Edamana Sarannya , Borgquist Signe , Tramm Trine , Kwon Tae‐Hwan , Nejsum Lene N.
Published: February 2022

The water channel aquaporin‐5 (AQP5) is essential in transepithelial water transport in secretory glands. AQP5 is ectopically overexpressed in breast cancer, where expression is associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. Besides the role in water transport, AQP5 has been found to play a role in cancer metastasis, migration, and proliferation. AQP5 has also been shown to be involved in the dysregulation of epithelial cell–cell adhesion; frequently observed in cancers. Insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms of how AQP5 contributes to cancer development and progression is essential for potentially implementing AQP5 as a prognostic biomarker and to develop targeted intervention strategies for the treatment of breast cancer patients.
There is power in a union? Union members' preferences and the conditional effect of labour unions on left parties in different welfare state programmes
Authors: Engler Fabian , Voigt Linda
Published: February 2022

This article studies the effect of labour unions on policy‐making in six different parts of the welfare state (passive and active labour market policy, employment protection, old‐age pensions, health care and education) in OECD countries after 1980 with a two‐level strategy: At the micro‐level, we investigate union members’ preferences. Ordered logit regression analyses indicate that union members favour generous social policies more strongly than non‐members. Moreover, this effect is stronger for programmes closely related to the labour market than for programmes without a strong labour market link. At the macro‐level, we investigate the conditional effect of unions on left parties expecting the former to push the left towards more generous labour market‐related (but not towards less‐labour market‐related) programmes. Regression analyses essentially provide evidence for such a relationship. Overall, unions have been powerful in promoting their members’ social policy preferences via left parties in government but their power is recently vanishing.
Measuring the impact of a training intervention for early childhood centre staff on child development outcomes: Findings from a cluster randomized control field trial in rural Malawi
Authors: Jolley Emma , Bechange Stevens , Mankhwazi Mika , Mbukwa Ngwira Jenipher , Murphy Rachel , Schmidt Elena , Lynch Paul
Published: February 2022

Background

Evidence from low‐income settings around early education interventions that can improve young children's development is sparse, particularly with regard to the most marginalized children. This study used a two‐arm parallel cluster randomized control design to evaluate the impact of an adapted staff training programme on the developmental outcomes of children attending community‐based early learning centres in Thyolo district, rural Malawi.

Methods

At baseline we randomly selected 48 centres, from each of which 20 children were randomly selected, although data from one centre was incomplete resulting in 932 children from 47 centres. Centres were randomly allocated to either the intervention or control arm. Twelve months later, follow‐up data were collected from 44 centres. At baseline and endline, community‐based childcare centre (CBCC) managers provided information about the centre, and parents/guardians provided information on the children, including the primary outcomes of age‐standardized development scores in the language and social domains, measured using the Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool. Children in the bottom 2.5 percentile of either domain were considered to have a delay; a third outcome variable, Any Delay, was developed to indicate children with a delay in either or both domains. Centre‐level mean scores were calculated, and linear regression models were constructed to assess differences between baseline and endline and between allocation groups.

Results

Analysis of the difference between baseline and endline measures in the allocation groups shows a non‐significant reduction in delay associated with the study intervention across all domains. Adjustment for baseline characteristics within the CBCCs showed little impact on the magnitude of the observed effect, and the difference remained non‐significant.

Conclusions

Despite no observed differences between allocation groups, the data did indicate a positive change in the intervention groups in both domains, particularly language. Community‐based early learning in Malawi holds tremendous potential for promoting inclusive development and learning.
Effectiveness of school‐based strategies to prevent tooth decay in Filipino children: A cluster‐randomized trial
Authors: Ruff Ryan Richard , Monse Bella , Duijster Denise , Itchon Gina Santos , Naliponguit Ella , Benzian Habib
Published: February 2022

Objectives

Evidence for affordable and pragmatic programmes to address the burden of untreated tooth decay in children in low‐ and middle‐income settings is limited. This study aimed to (1) assess the effect of a government‐run, school‐based daily group toothbrushing programme compared to standard school‐based oral health education on the incidence of dental caries and odontogenic infections in Filipino children over a period of 3 years; and (2) assess the additional preventive effect of on‐demand oral urgent treatment (OUT) and weekly fluoride gel application.

Methods

A cluster‐randomized trial was conducted in Camiguin, Philippines. Schools in three regions were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups: The Essential Health Care Programme (EHCP), which includes daily toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste; EHCP plus twice‐yearly access to on‐demand urgent oral treatment (EHCP + OUT) and EHCP plus weekly application of high‐concentrated fluoride gel (EHCP + Fluoride). Schools in a nearby province with a similar child population were selected as external concurrent control group. Clinical oral examinations were performed by calibrated dentists from a random sample of 682 seven‐year‐old students who were examined at baseline and over the following 3 years. Outcome variables were the number of decayed primary teeth, the number of decayed, missing and filled permanent teeth (DMFT) and surfaces (DMFS), and the number of permanent teeth with pulpal involvement, ulcerations, fistula or abscess (PUFA). Data were analysed using multilevel mixed‐effects negative binomial regression.

Results

Three years after implementation, increments in dental caries and odontogenic infections in permanent teeth did not significantly differ between the EHCP and control group, yet the incidence of DMFT was lower by 22% in children receiving EHCP. Compared to controls, children receiving EHCP + Fluoride had a significantly lower increment of DMFT, DMFS and PUFA by 40%, 40% and 47%, respectively. Children receiving EHCP + OUT had lower incidence rates of DMFT and DMFS than control children by 23% and 28%, respectively. A lower incidence rate was also found for PUFA, but the effect was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that the weekly application of fluoride gel and urgent oral treatment, in addition to daily school‐based toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste, are realistic and effective strategies to lower the burden of dental caries in Filipino children. Implementation challenges may explain why no substantial caries‐preventive benefits were demonstrated for school‐based toothbrushing only. Intervention compliance should be considered in future programme implementation and evaluation research.
Kidney failure in Bardet–Biedl syndrome
Authors: Meyer Jennifer R. , Krentz Anthony D. , Berg Richard L. , Richardson Jesse G. , Pomeroy Jeremy , Hebbring Scott J. , Haws Robert M.
Published: February 2022

The aim of this study was to explore kidney failure (KF) in Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS), focusing on high‐risk gene variants, demographics, and morbidity. We employed the Clinical Registry Investigating BBS (CRIBBS) to identify 44 (7.2%) individuals with KF out of 607 subjects. Molecularly confirmed BBS was identified in 37 KF subjects and 364 CRIBBS registrants. KF was concomitant with recessive causal variants in 12 genes, with BBS10 the most predominant causal gene (26.6%), while disease penetrance was highest in SDCCAG8 (100%). Two truncating variants were present in 67.6% of KF cases. KF incidence was increased in genes not belonging to the BBSome or chaperonin‐like genes (p < 0.001), including TTC21B, a new candidate BBS gene. Median age of KF was 12.5 years, with the vast majority of KF occurring by 30 years (86.3%). Females were disproportionately affected (77.3%). Diverse uropathies were identified, but were not more common in the KF group (p = 0.672). Kidney failure was evident in 11 of 15 (73.3%) deaths outside infancy. We conclude that KF poses a significant risk for premature morbidity in BBS. Risk factors for KF include female sex, truncating variants, and genes other than BBSome/chaperonin‐like genes highlighting the value of comprehensive genetic investigation.