bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A nexus between corporate social responsibility disclosure and its determinants in energy enterprises
Authors: Ahmed Rahil Irfan , Zhao Guohao , Ahmad Naveed , Habiba Umme
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a requirement for energy enterprises as different stakeholders deem environmental and social responsibility the duty. This study aims to explore the determinants that affect CSR disclosure in energy enterprises of developing nations.

Design/methodology/approach

Panel data of energy companies is used that are listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange. A comprehensive CSR disclosure index is developed using seven themes, i.e. environment, employees, energy, emissions, product, community development and other CSR-related activities. A random effect model of regression is used on the sample of data.

Findings

The finding of the study reveals that profitability, financial leverage, board size and being a multinational subsidiary has a significant relationship with CSR disclosure level.

Research limitations/implications

The sample is confined to a certain number of years and publicly traded energy companies. Further studies can explore the relationship of CSR among different groups of firms, such as SMEs, non-listed companies and state-run enterprises to document whether the findings are significant or not. The opinions and ideas of external stakeholders could also be explored using various qualitative methods such as interviews.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first study of its kind whose only focus is energy sector enterprises. A comprehensive scale is used to measure CSR practices. It is helpful for upcoming studies to examine the various aspects of CSR research and figure sound outcome.
Museum open data ecosystems: a comparative study
Authors: Booth Peter , Navarrete Trilce , Ogundipe Anne
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how, in forming their policy towards open data (OD), art museums interact with the OD ecosystems they are part of, comprising internal and external components such as cultural policy, legal frameworks, user groups and economic conditions and incentives.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors structure their research as a multiple case study based on three OD ecosystems, each defined by a mid-sized European art museum at its centre. Qualitative analysis of the case studies proceeds from interviews with museum management staff and policy-related agencies in three European countries, in addition to document analysis.

Findings

The results of this study suggest that museums are sensitive towards their environments and respond to their ecosystem based on what is communicated within their networks. However, museums are not effective in communicating with their users, limiting the informational interdependence necessary for well-functioning OD ecosystems. EU policy appears to be a driving force along with national financial incentives, though institutional conditions are limiting progress. Advancing the field relies instead on an epistemological shift to understand the museum as part of a larger information network.

Originality/value

As the first comparative case study of art museum OD ecosystems that the authors are aware of, the study provides a qualitative analysis of the complex dynamics impacting OD policy within the mid-sized art museum. The authors identify specific dynamics that are thus far restricting further development of the OD ecosystem of the mid-sized European art museum.
An appraisal of financial indicators for local government: a structured literature review
Authors: Iacuzzi Silvia
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Considering the increased financial responsibility of local government (LG), the impact of global crises and the growing adoption of accrual accounting and common standards such as IPSAS, this work focuses on financial indicators for LGs. It explores whether the literature on financial indicators has grown, investigates whether there is any consensus on which indicators to use for assessing LG's financial condition, develops a critical reading of the literature and offers suggestions for future research and policy agendas.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured literature review was carried out for publications in English about LG financial indicators.

Findings

Results reveal that the number of publications dealing with financial indicators has increased over the past ten years. However, rather than focusing on a set of common indicators, the literature reports a plethora of different ones used for four main purposes: transparency and accountability compliance, performance monitoring and benchmarking, assessing LG's financial health and helping deal with exogenous crises. There is no evidence of convergence towards a common set of indicators, even though liquidity and solvency are the most popular dimensions explored by scholars.

Research limitations/implications

Findings highlight the challenges in converging on financial indicators, yet no claim can be made beyond the reviewed material.

Practical implications

Results provide legislators, public managers, investors and rating agencies with insights about trends in financial indicators, their benefits and limitations.

Originality/value

The article focuses on a less popular aspect of recent financial management reforms for local administration, that is the growing fragmentation in LG indicators, accentuated by the need for common assessment tools during unprecedented widespread crises across countries and sectors.
Modeling mechanical behavior of distributed piezoelectric actuators for morphing wing applications
Authors: Wang Shuai , Zhao Fei , Zhou Bo , Xue Shifeng
Published: September 2021

Purpose

A distributed piezoelectric actuator (DPA) improving the deformation performance of wing is proposed. As the power source of morphing wing, the factors affecting the driving performance of DPA were studied.

Design/methodology/approach

The DPA is composed of a substrate beam and a certain number of piezoelectric patches pasted on its upper and lower ends. Utilizing the inverse piezoelectric effect of piezoelectric material, the DPA transfers displacement to the wing skin to change its shape. According to the finite element method and piezoelectric constitutive equation, the structure model of DPA was established, and its deformation behavior was analyzed. The accuracy of algorithm was verified by comparison with previous studies.

Findings

The results show that the arrangement way, length and thickness of piezoelectric patches, the substrate beam thickness and the applied voltage are the important factors to determine the driving performance of DPA.

Research limitations/implications

This paper can provide theoretical basis and calculation method for the design and application of distributed piezoelectric actuator and morphing wing.

Originality/value

A novel morphing wing drove by DPA is proposed to improve environmental adaptability of aircraft. As the power source achieving wing deformation, the DPA model is established by FEM. Then the factors affecting the driving performance are analyzed. The authors find the centrosymmetric arrangement way of piezoelectric patches is superior to the axisymmetric arrangement, and distribution center of the piezoelectric patches determines the driving performance.
The companion effect on adventure tourists’ satisfaction and subjective well-being: the moderating role of gender
Authors: Su Lujun , Cheng Jin , Swanson Scott
Published: September 2021

Purpose

In an adventure tourism context (i.e. sky diving, bungee jumping) the effect of the absence or presence of a travel companion; companion relative ability (i.e. perception of a companion’s possessed resources useful for the achievement of travel goals); and tourist gender on the impact of companion relative ability on tourists’ satisfaction and subjective well-being is examined. This paper aims to investigate the mediating role of satisfaction that combines companion relative ability, tourist gender, tourist satisfaction and subjective well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses three situational experiments. A one-factor between-subjects experimental design was used for Study 1. Studies 2 and 3 used a one-factor between-subjects and a 2 × 3 factorial between-subjects design. Participants included tourists visiting a national park in China assigned to scenarios using an anonymous intercept approach and an online survey.

Findings

Having a companion with greater/comparable relative ability produces a greater effect on tourist satisfaction and subjective well-being than having a companion with lower relative ability. Furthermore, the perceived relative ability of a travel companion results in a stronger positive effect on tourist satisfaction and subjective well-being for female tourists. Meanwhile, satisfaction fully mediates the impact of the interaction between companion relative ability and tourist gender on subjective well-being.

Originality/value

The current research validates the companion effect on adventure tourists’ satisfaction and subjective well-being. An additional contribution is an investigation into the effect of companion relative ability. The study is the only one the authors are aware of that examines the moderating role of tourist gender on the effect of companion relative ability on tourist satisfaction and subjective well-being and identifies the mechanism that combines companion relative ability, tourist gender, tourist satisfaction and subjective well-being.
Distributed electric field sensing using fibre optics in borehole environments
Authors: Alumbaugh David L. , Um Evan Schankee , Hoversten G. Michael , Key Kerry
Published: September 2021

In the past decade, rapid advances in distributed optical fibre sensing technologies have made it possible to record various geophysical data (e.g. strain, temperature and pressure) continuously in both time and space along the fibre, providing an unprecedented quantity and spatial density of data compared to traditional geophysical measurements as well as reducing data acquisition cost. To date, no distributed fibre‐based electromagnetic field sensing system has been implemented although electromagnetic sensing could have a broad range of applications to geophysical imaging and monitoring in borehole environments. The goal of this paper is to provide a theoretical feasibility study regarding the design and use of an electromagnetic sensing optical fibre for geophysical applications. First, we present the sensitivity analysis of a ‘hypothetical’ optical fibre coated with polyvinylidene fluoride, a polymer that provides relatively high piezoelectric properties, yet unlike ceramics, is flexible. Using a two‐dimensional electromagnetic modelling algorithm, we simulate the earth electric‐field‐to‐fibre‐strain transfer function and estimate the theoretical sensitivity of the optical fibre to electric fields. Given the state‐of‐the‐art distributed acoustic sensing strain sensitivities in the picometres strain range, our numerical modelling analysis suggests that a perfectly coupled polyvinylidene fluoride–coated optical fibre can measure electric field values in the mV/m to V/m amplitude range. We then apply a cylindrically symmetric modelling algorithm to simulate numerical models demonstrating the applicability of such a fibre in an oilfield environment. Scenarios investigated employ an electric field source and suggest that the measurements can be used to distinguish the oil versus water ratio with a fibre mounted inside a producing steel cased oil well as well as distinguishing between brine and hydrocarbon filled reservoir zones with a fibre located outside of the casing.
Spatiotemporal activity of the pine marten Martes martes: Insights from an island population
Authors: Mori Emiliano , Fedele Ettore , Greco Ilaria , Giampaoli Rustichelli Margherita , Massolo Alessandro , Miniati Silvia , Puppo Francesca , Santini Giacomo , Zaccaroni Marco
Published: September 2021

Behavioral interference and interspecific competition shape the spatiotemporal behavior of carnivores, where intra‐guild predation has been recorded as a strategy to limit competition. Very often, disentangling the effect of intra‐guild effects from other ecological processes is challenging, if not impossible. This work aimed to assess the spatiotemporal behavior of the pine marten Martes martes in an island ecosystem without any intra‐guild predation. Using an intensive camera‐trap survey on Elba Island, Italy, we estimated occupancy, detection probability, and locomotor rhythms of the species. The pine marten occurred throughout the study area, showing a tendency to avoid urban areas during the high tourist season. Occupancy was higher in colder months and lowered in autumn, following opposite fluctuations of recorded human presence. Conversely, the detection probability remained low throughout the year, confirming the pine marten elusiveness. With other studies conducted in sympatry with other carnivores or predators, Elba Island martens showed locomotor ground activity mostly at dawn and dusk throughout the year, with an increasing diurnal locomotor activity in spring, when cubs are present. The spatiotemporal behavior of the pine marten in Elba island did show little variation across seasons. It was similar to those reported where potential predators were present, suggesting the intra‐guild predation not playing a significant role in shaping the spatiotemporal activity of pine martens.
Effect of environmental policies on exports from sub‐Saharan African countries
Authors: Noubissi Edmond , Poumie Boker , Nkengfack Hilaire
Published: September 2021

The objective of this work was to analyse the effects of environmental quality and environmental regulations on the exports of sub‐Saharan African countries. Adopting the pollution haven hypothesis as a theoretical framework, we use a gravity model enriched by environmental variables. Our main results indicate that it is the environmental quality of sub‐Saharan African (SSA) countries, as measured by the Environmental Performance Index, and the differences in environmental quality between a country and its partner that constitute a barrier to SSA exports. It therefore appears important for SSA countries to integrate the environmental factor into their policies to improve the competitiveness of their exports.
How HR systems are implemented matters: high‐performance work systems and employees’ thriving at work
Authors: Cao Man , Zhao Shuming , Xu Yunfei
Published: September 2021

Given that thriving at work has been shown to be positively related to favorable outcomes, such as increased performance, proactivity, and creativity, it has received increasing attention in current literature. However, knowledge about whether and how high‐performance work systems elicit thriving at work remains limited. Thus, drawing on HRM system strength theory and the socially embedded model of thriving at work, this study identifies the mediating role of developmental climate and the moderating role of high‐performance work systems consensus. By integrating human resource (HR) content and HR process perspectives, our study provides a complete and nuanced picture to understand the HR systems–outcomes linkage.
Regulation of Crypto: Who Is the Securities and Exchange Commission Protecting?
Authors: Goforth Carol R.
Published: September 2021

SEC v. Telegram and SEC v. Kik, both decided in 2020, establish some ground‐breaking rules about how the federal securities laws apply to cryptotransactions. In both cases, the court concluded that a large, reputable social media company had conducted a crypto offering in violation of federal law. In neither case was fraud or other criminal conduct an issue; the sole problem was failure to register the sales or comply with an exemption from registration. To find a violation, both opinions collapsed a two‐phase offering into a single, integrated scheme. This approach appears to be an unnecessarily overbroad application of the law, protecting neither investors nor capital markets. A cost of this approach is that crypto entrepreneurs are being forced away from the United States, and American investors are denied opportunities to participate in a potentially desirable technological revolution. This article examines the rationale employed in these two decisions in light of the existing statutory and regulatory framework. It also considers recent amendments to federal rules defining the “integration doctrine,” which was relied on explicitly in the Kik decision. This article suggests how future crypto offerings might be structured to avoid the pitfalls created by the Kik and Telegram opinions. It advocates a more limited approach than the one urged by regulators. Its suggestions depend not on a change in law but only a change in understanding what is required in order to conduct a compliant crypto offering.
The Future of International Corporate Human Rights Litigation: A Transatlantic Comparison
Authors: Chambers Rachel , Berger‐Walliser Gerlinde
Published: September 2021

Imposing legal liability on corporations for their involvement in human rights violations remains problematic. In the United States, civil liability in such circumstances developed in a series of Alien Tort Statute cases. This evolution came to an abrupt end with the cases of Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum and Jesner v. Arab Bank. As corporate human rights litigation declined in the United States, courts in Europe were presented with their first civil cases, and plaintiffs had some successes. Legal remedies for corporate human rights violations also made it onto the agenda of policy makers at the European Union and national European governments with laws requiring companies to conduct human rights due diligence throughout their operations. Against this background, this article investigates the current state and potential future development of corporate human rights litigation in the United States and Europe. It seeks to answer the following questions: Is the United States losing its prominent place as a preferred forum for human rights litigation against corporate defendants, as recent Supreme Court decisions suggest? What made the U.S. courts attractive in the first place? Is Europe taking over this role, and if so, should the United States be concerned about these developments? Are recent doctrinal and legislative trends in Europe transferable to the U.S. legal system and suitable to fill the gaps left by Kiobel and Jesner? Finally, what do these shifts on both sides of the Atlantic mean for victims of human rights violations and their prospects of effectively pursuing their rights?
Loss of glucocorticoid rhythm induces an osteoporotic phenotype in female mice
Authors: Schilperoort Maaike , Kroon Jan , Kooijman Sander , Smit Annelies E. , Gentenaar Max , Mletzko Kathrin , Schmidt Felix N. , van Ruijven Leo , Busse Björn , Pereira Alberto M. , Appelman‐Dijkstra Natasha M. , Bravenboer Nathalie , Rensen Patrick C.N. , Meijer Onno C. , Winter Elizabeth M.
Published: September 2021

Glucocorticoid (GC)‐induced osteoporosis is a widespread health problem that is accompanied with increased fracture risk. Detrimental effects of anti‐inflammatory GC therapy on bone have been ascribed to the excess in GC exposure, but it is unknown whether there is also a role for disruption of the endogenous GC rhythm that is inherent to GC therapy. To investigate this, we implanted female C57Bl/6J mice with slow‐release corticosterone (CORT) pellets to blunt the rhythm in CORT levels without inducing hypercortisolism. Flattening of CORT rhythm reduced cortical and trabecular bone volume and thickness, whilst bone structure was maintained in mice injected with supraphysiologic CORT at the time of their endogenous GC peak. Mechanistically, mice with a flattened CORT rhythm showed disrupted circadian gene expression patterns in bone, along with changes in circulating bone turnover markers indicative of a negative balance in bone remodelling. Indeed, double calcein labelling of bonein vivorevealed a reduced bone formation in mice with a flattened CORT rhythm. Collectively, these perturbations in bone turnover and structure decreased bone strength and stiffness, as determined by mechanical testing. In conclusion, we demonstrate for the first time that flattening of the GC rhythm disrupts the circadian clock in bone and results in an osteoporotic phenotype in mice. Our findings indicate that at least part of the fracture risk associated with GC therapy may be the consequence of a disturbed GC rhythm, rather than excess GC exposure alone, and that a dampened GC rhythm may contribute to the age‐related risk of osteoporosis.
Reduced innate lymphoid cells in the endometrium of women with endometriosis
Authors: Sugahara Takuya , Tanaka Yukiko , Hamaguchi Masahide , Fujii Maya , Shimura Koki , Ogawa Kanae , Mori Taisuke , Kusuki Izumi , Fukui Michiaki , Kitawaki Jo
Published: September 2021

Problem

Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), a recently discovered family of innate immune cells, are responsible for the early immune response, and control both innate and adapted immune system via cytokine secretion. The role of ILCs in endometriosis has not been investigated; therefore, here, we aimed to investigate how the proportion of ILCs changes in endometriosis.

Method of study

The percentage of each ILC group in CD45+ cells was examined in the peripheral blood, peritoneal fluid, endometrium, and ovarian endometrioma obtained from women with and without endometriosis (ERB‐C‐1216) using flow cytometry.

Results

Specimens were obtained from 19 women with endometriosis and 15 without endometriosis. In the endometrium, patients with endometriosis had lower proportion of ILC2 and 3 compared to control specimens (ILC2: .02±.01% vs .07±.03%; P < .05, ILC3: .31±.14% vs 1.10±.93%; P < .05). There was no significant change in the peripheral blood or the peritoneal fluid between the two groups. Additionally, ovarian endometrioma increased the proportion of ILCs (ILC1: .92±1.12%, ILC2: .08±.08%, ILC3: .70±.39%) compared to the endometrium samples of patients with endometriosis each with P < .05. Immunohistochemistry of IL‐1β and IL‐23, which are ILC3‐inducing factors, showed no significant change in the H‐score of the epithelium of the two groups, but a significant increase was found in ovarian endometrioma.

Conclusion

The proportion of ILC2 and 3 was reduced in the endometrium of patients with endometriosis, and ILCs were increased in ovarian endometrioma. Our findings may indicate a new immunological approach to understand the pathophysiology of endometriosis.
Emollients in infancy to prevent atopic dermatitis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhong Youjia , Samuel Miny , van Bever Hugo , Tham Elizabeth Huiwen
Published: September 2021

Background

Several studies have evaluated prophylactic emollients as a preventive strategy against atopic dermatitis (AD) and food allergy (FA). We aimed to synthesize the evidence on efficacy and safety of prophylactic emollients started during the first 6 weeks of infancy for prevention of AD and FA.

Methods

MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, BIOSIS, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched systematically for randomized controlled trials published between January 2000 and July 2020, which assessed the effects of prophylactic emollients initiated within the first 6 weeks of life on the development of AD within 24 months of age, compared to no treatment. Risk of bias and certainty of evidence were assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool and GRADE process, respectively.

Results

Of the 1486 articles identified, 10 studies fulfilled inclusion criteria. In infants given emollients, there was no significant reduction on the development of AD (risk ratio (RR) 0.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.64, 1.10) compared to the control group. However, there was significant benefit of prophylactic emollients (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.62–1.11) in the high‐risk population (n = 8 studies). There was also significant benefit (RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.43, 0.81) in studies (n = 6) where emollients were used continuously to the point of AD assessment; but not when treatment was ceased for an interval before AD assessment. There were no protective effects on FA found.

Conclusion

The prophylactic application of emollients initiated in early infancy may prevent AD, especially in high‐risk populations and when used continuously. We hypothesize that emollients may delay rather than prevent AD.
Randomised clinical trial: 48 weeks of treatment with tenofovir amibufenamide versus tenofovir disoproxil fumarate for patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Liu Zhihong , Jin Qinglong , Zhang Yuexin , Gong Guozhong , Wu Guicheng , Yao Lvfeng , Wen Xiaofeng , Gao Zhiliang , Huang Yan , Yang Daokun , Chen Enqiang , Mao Qing , Lin Shide , Shang Jia , Gong Huanyu , Zhong Lihua , Yin Huafa , Wang Fengmei , Hu Peng , Xiao Ling , Li Chuan , Wu Qiong , Sun Chang’an , Niu Junqi , Hou Jinlin ,   the TMF Study Group
Published: September 2021

Background

Tenofovir amibufenamide (TMF) can provide more efficient delivery than tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF).

Aim

To compare the efficacy and safety of TMF and TDF for 48 weeks in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

Methods

We performed a randomised, double‐blind, non‐inferiority study at 49 sites in China. Patients with CHB were assigned (2:1) to receive either 25 mg TMF or 300 mg TDF with matching placebo. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA less than 20 IU/mL at week 48. We also assessed safety, particularly bone, renal and metabolic abnormalities.

Results

We randomised 1002 eligible patients. The baseline characteristics were well balanced between groups. After a median 48 weeks of treatment, the non‐inferiority criterion was met in all analysis sets. In the HBeAg‐positive population, 50.2% of patients receiving TMF and 53.7% receiving TDF achieved HBV DNA less than 20 IU/mL. In the HBeAg‐negative population, 88.9% and 87.8%, respectively, achieved HBV DNA less than 20 IU/mL in the TMF and TDF groups. Patients receiving TMF had significantly less decrease in bone mineral density at both hip (P < 0.001) and spine (P < 0.001), and a smaller increase in serum creatinine at week 48 (P < 0.05). Other safety results were similar between groups.

Conclusion

TMF was non‐inferior to TDF in terms of anti‐HBV efficacy and showed better bone and renal safety. (NCT03903796).
Earlier corticosteroid use for adverse event management in patients receiving axicabtagene ciloleucel for large B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Topp Max S. , van Meerten Tom , Houot Roch , Minnema Monique C. , Bouabdallah Krimo , Lugtenburg Pieternella J. , Thieblemont Catherine , Wermke Martin , Song Kevin W. , Avivi Irit , Kuruvilla John , Dührsen Ulrich , Zheng Yan , Vardhanabhuti Saran , Dong Jinghui , Bot Adrian , Rossi John M. , Plaks Vicki , Sherman Marika , Kim Jenny J. , Kerber Anne , Kersten Marie José
Published: September 2021

Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi‐cel) is an autologous anti‐CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T‐cell therapy approved for relapsed or refractory large B‐cell lymphoma (R/R LBCL). To reduce axi‐cel–related toxicity, several exploratory safety management cohorts were added to ZUMA‐1 (NCT02348216), the pivotal phase 1/2 study of axi‐cel in refractory LBCL. Cohort 4 evaluated the rates and severity of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurologic events (NEs) with earlier corticosteroid and tocilizumab use. Primary endpoints were incidence and severity of CRS and NEs. Patients received 2 × 106 anti‐CD19 CAR T cells/kg after conditioning chemotherapy. Forty‐one patients received axi‐cel. Incidences of any‐grade CRS and NEs were 93% and 61%, respectively (grade ≥ 3, 2% and 17%). There was no grade 4 or 5 CRS or NE. Despite earlier dosing, the cumulative cortisone‐equivalent corticosteroid dose in patients requiring corticosteroid therapy was lower than that reported in the pivotal ZUMA‐1 cohorts. With a median follow‐up of 14·8 months, objective and complete response rates were 73% and 51%, respectively, and 51% of treated patients were in ongoing response. Earlier and measured use of corticosteroids and/or tocilizumab has the potential to reduce the incidence of grade ≥ 3 CRS and NEs in patients with R/R LBCL receiving axi‐cel.
Characteristics of RAS pathway mutations in juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia: a single‐institution study from Korea
Authors: Kim Hoon Seok , Lee Jae Wook , Kang Dain , Yu Haein , Kim Yeojae , Kang Hyunhye , Lee Jong‐Mi , Ahn Ari , Cho Bin , Kim Seongkoo , Chung Nack‐Gyun , Kim Yonggoo , Kim Myungshin
Published: September 2021

Juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia (JMML), a rare clonal haematopoietic disorder of childhood, is characterised as a myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasm. Despite ground‐breaking genetic discoveries, JMML remains difficult to diagnose given its diverse clinical features and disease course. A total of 24 patients with JMML were diagnosed and treated at a single institution, and their genetic profiles and association with clinical and laboratory characteristics were analysed. In all, 22 of the patients received allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation after myeloablative conditioning, mostly from a haploidentical family donor. RAS pathway mutations were identified in 88% of patients: PTPN11 [nine (38%)], NRAS [nine (38%)], KRAS [two (8%)], NF1 [five (21%)] and CBL [one (4%)]. Secondary mutations were found in 25% of patients: SETBP1, JAK3, ASXL1, GATA2, KIT, KDM6A, and BCOR. Six patients showed cytogenetic abnormalities, including three with monosomy 7. The estimated 5‐year event‐free survival (EFS) and overall survival (± standard error) of the entire cohort were 58·9 (10·9)% and 73·5 (10·8)% respectively. NRAS (+) patients had a higher 5‐year EFS than NRAS (−) patients [72·9 (16·5)% vs. 52·5 (13·1)%, P = 0·127]. NRAS (+) patients had a better 5‐year EFS than PTPN11 (+) patients [41·7 (17·3)%, P = 0·071]. Our study revealed the genetic characteristics of Korean JMML patients with RAS pathway and secondary mutations.
Footnotes to Guamán Poma: Transtemporal Encounters in Nacha Vollenweider's Notas al pie
Authors: Aramburú Villavisencio Andrea
Published: September 2021

The graphic memoir Notas al pie (2017) written by Argentinian Nacha Vollenweider includes an illustration which reinterprets an image from the Nueva corónica y buen gobierno, a colonial document written by Quechua nobleman Felipe Guamán Poma de Ayala around 1615, when Peru was under Spanish rule. This article argues that if Guamán Poma's image portrays a critique of Western colonial power, Vollenweider's reappropriation follows its aftermath, and targets the structures of coloniality that underpin the formation of both individual and collective identity.
Development and pilot testing of a conversation aid to support the evaluation of patients with thyroid nodules
Authors: Singh Ospina Naykky M. , Bagautdinova Diliara , Hargraves Ian , Barb Diana , Subbarayan Sreevidya , Srihari Ashok , Wang Shu , Maraka Spyridoula , Bylund Carma L. , Treise Debbie , Montori Victor , Brito Juan P.
Published: September 2021

Objective

To support patient‐centred care and the collaboration of patients and clinicians, we developed and pilot tested a conversation aid for patients with thyroid nodules.

Design, Patient and Measurements

We developed a web‐based Thyroid NOdule Conversation aid (TNOC) following a human‐centred design. A proof of concept observational pre–post study was conducted (TNOC vs. usual care [UC]) to assess the impact of TNOC on the quality of conversations. Data sources included recordings of clinical visits, post‐encounter surveys and review of electronic health records. Summary statistics and group comparisons are reported.

Results

Sixty‐five patients were analysed (32 in the UC and 33 in the TNOC cohort). Most patients were women (89%) with a median age of 57 years and were incidentally found to have a thyroid nodule (62%). Most thyroid nodules were at low risk for thyroid cancer (71%) and the median size was 1.4 cm. At baseline, the groups were similar except for higher numeracy in the TNOC cohort. The use of TNOC was associated with increased involvement of patients in the decision‐making process, clinician satisfaction and discussion of relevant topics for decision making. In addition, decreased decisional conflict and fewer thyroid biopsies as the next management step were noted in the TNOC cohort. No differences in terms of knowledge transfer, length of consultation, thyroid cancer risk perception or concern for thyroid cancer diagnosis were found.

Conclusion

In this pilot observational study, using TNOC in clinical practice was feasible and seemed to help the collaboration of patients and clinicians.
The Poetics of Grievance: Taxi Drivers, Vernacular Placenames, and the Paradoxes of Post‐Coloniality in Oran, Algeria☆
Authors: Love Stephanie V.
Published: September 2021

Based on sixteen months of ethnographic fieldwork in the Mediterranean port city of Oran, this article examines why Algerians, after nearly sixty years of independence, continue to use French colonial‐era placenames instead of the post‐colonial names commemorating the martyrs of the Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962). I argue that vernacular place‐naming, including the use of colonial‐era names, should be understood as a component of what I call the “poetics of grievance,” whereby city dwellers simultaneously draw attention to linguistic and physical urban forms to express dissatisfaction with their post‐colonial authoritarian state. By examining local taxi drivers’ detailed knowledge of vernacular placenames and the everyday talk that often accompanies them, this article demonstrates how the colonial past can become a powerful poetic resource for city dwellers, serving as a means to conceptualize the potential for grief and rage to bring about revolutionary change in post‐colonial cities.
Influence of theCOVID‐19 pandemic on amphibian road mortality
Authors: LeClair Gregory , Chatfield Matthew W. H. , Wood Zachary , Parmelee Jeffrey , Frederick Cheryl A.
Published: September 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic and its related human activity shutdowns provide unique opportunities for biodiversity monitoring through what has been termed the “anthropause” or the “great human confinement experiment.” The pandemic caused immense disruption to human activity in the northeastern United States in the spring of 2020, with notable reductions in traffic levels. These shutdowns coincided with the seasonal migration of adult amphibians, which are typically subject to intense vehicle‐impact mortality. Using data collected as part of an annual community science monitoring program in Maine from 2018 to 2021, we examined how amphibian mortality probabilities responded to reductions in traffic during the pandemic. While we detected a 50% decline for all amphibians, this was driven entirely by reductions in frog mortality. Wildlife collision data from the Maine Department of Transportation on other wildlife species support our finding of drastic declines in wildlife road mortality in spring 2020 when compared with immediately previous and subsequent years. Additionally, we find that frogs suffer significantly higher road mortality than salamanders, particularly when conditions are warmer and wetter.
Bilateral lung transplantation for Castleman disease with end‐stage bronchiolitis obliterans
Authors: Yue Bingqing , Huang Jian , Jing Lei , Yu Huaqing , Wei Dong , Zhang Ji , Chen Wenhui , Chen Jingyu
Published: September 2021

Bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) is a severe complication of Castleman disease (CD), a rare lymphoproliferative disease with unclear pathogenesis. Currently, there are no reports on the safety or outcomes of bilateral lung transplantation in patients with BO due to CD. This study aimed to characterize the clinical manifestations and features of BO and CD. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of six consecutive patients with BO and CD who underwent bilateral lung transplantation between December 2012 and December 2020. The average age of patients at lung transplantation was 33 ± 15 years, and the age range of patients at diagnosis of CD was about 9–56 years. The body mass index was 15.2 ± 1.9 kg/m2. The average time from diagnosis to lung transplantation was 4.1 ± 2.7 years. All the patients had unicentric CD (UCD); five had concomitant paraneoplastic pemphigus, and four received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation during surgery. The average hospital stay was 51 ± 53 days. Infection was the most common postoperative complication. CD did not recur in any of the patients. Thus, bilateral lung transplantation is a viable and safe treatment for selected patients with CD and BO, which can improve the quality of life and prolong survival.
Utilising data linkage to describe and explore mortality among a retrospective cohort of individuals admitted to residential substance use treatment
Authors: Tisdale Calvert , de Andrade Dominique , Leung Janni , Chiu Vivian , Hides Leanne
Published: September 2021

Introduction

Individuals with moderate to severe substance use disorders may seek residential treatment, but outcomes after discharge for this hard‐to‐reach population are often unknown. Using linked data, we examined mortality outcomes among individuals after residential treatment.

Methods

We included 1056 individuals admitted to three residential treatment facilities across Queensland, Australia, from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2016. Records were linked to Queensland death registration data and cause of death records from the Australian Coordinating Registry (1 January‐31 December 2018). Standard mortality ratios were assessed, comparing participants to the Queensland, Australia, general population. Causes of death and years of potential life lost (YPLL) were examined.

Results

Thirty‐six participants died (3.4%) in 3408 years of follow‐up data. The age‐ and sex‐adjusted standard mortality ratios were 3.96 (95% confidence interval: 2.78, 5.48) overall, 8.19 (3.74, 15.55) in females and 3.38 (2.23, 4.92) in males. Two‐thirds of deaths were due to suicide/overdose. There was an average of 45.50 YPLL (SD 9.16).

Discussion and Conclusions

This study used linked data to quantify mortality following residential substance use treatment. The YPLL and avoidable nature of deaths highlight the need for continuing care following discharge from residential services.
Continuous theta burst TMS of area MT+ impairs attentive motion tracking
Authors: Chakraborty Arijit , Tran Tiffany T. , Silva Andrew E. , Giaschi Deborah , Thompson Benjamin
Published: September 2021

Attentive motion tracking deficits measured using multiple object tracking (MOT) tasks have been identified in a number of neurodevelopmental disorders such as amblyopia and autism. These deficits are often attributed to the abnormal development of high‐level attentional networks. However, neuroimaging evidence from amblyopia suggests that reduced MOT performance can be explained by impaired function in motion‐sensitive area MT+ alone. To test the hypothesis that a subtle disruption of MT+ function could cause MOT impairment, we assessed whether continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) of MT+ influenced MOT task accuracy in individuals with normal vision. The MOT stimulus consisted of four target and four distractor dots and was presented at ±10° eccentricity (right/left hemifield). fMRI‐guided cTBS was applied to left MT+. Participants (n = 13, age: 27 ± 3) attended separate active and sham cTBS sessions where the MOT task was completed before, 5‐min post‐ and 30‐min post‐cTBS. Active cTBS significantly impaired MOT task accuracy relative to baseline for the right (stimulated) hemifield 5‐min (10 ± 2% reduction) and 30‐min (14 ± 3% reduction) post‐stimulation. No impairment occurred within the left (control) hemifield after active cTBS or for either hemifield after sham cTBS. These results highlight the importance of lower level motion processing for MOT, suggesting that a minor disruption of MT+ function alone is sufficient to cause a deficit in MOT performance.
Differential chronic social stress models in male and female mice
Authors: Furman Orit , Tsoory Michael , Chen Alon
Published: September 2021

Chronic stress creates an allostatic overload that may lead to mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Modern causes of chronic stress in humans are mostly social in nature, relating to work and relationship stress. Research into neural and molecular mechanisms of vulnerability and resilience following chronic social stress (CSS) is ongoing and uses animal models to discover efficient prevention strategies and treatments. To date, most CSS studies have neglected the female sex and used male‐focused aggression‐based animal models such as chronic social defeat stress (CSDS). Accumulating evidence on sex differences suggests differences in the stress response, the prevalence of stress‐related illness and in response to treatment, indicating that researchers should expand CSS investigation to include female‐focused protocols alongside the popular CSDS protocols. Here, we describe a novel female mouse model of CSS and a parallel modified male mouse model of CSDS in C57BL/6 mice. These new models enable the investigation of vulnerability, coping and downstream effectors mediating short‐term and long‐term consequences of CSS in both sexes. Our data demonstrate differential effects on male and female mice during, soon after, and many weeks after CSS. Female mice are more prone to body weight loss during CSS and hyperactive anxious behaviour following CSS. Both sexes show reduced social interaction, but only stressed male mice show long‐term changes in emotional memory and neuroendocrine function. We further discuss future avenues of research using these models to investigate mechanisms pertaining to sensitivity to CSS and treatment response profiles, in a sex‐appropriate manner.
The Family Resolutions Specialty Court (FRSC): An Evidence‐Informed Court‐Based Innovation
Authors: Pruett Marsha Kline , Alschech Jonathan , Feldscher Talia
Published: September 2021

This article looks at how four distinct programs contributed to the family law evidence‐base supporting the desirability, effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of family dispute resolution programs. The central program discussed is the Family Resolutions Specialty Court (FRSC), an alternative court‐based means of settling child‐related legal disputes. FRSC is based on research evidence, but it also incorporates clinical experience and wisdom along with empirical evidence. Evidence from similar models informed the development of the program, which was then shaped by a community process to reflect local laws, procedures and values. This maximized the potential for its acceptance in the community and its sustainability. Initial results demonstrate that parents and practitioners are highly satisfied with the program, and that parents reported better coparenting and parent–child relationships. To be effective, the parents had to be held accountable to each other and the court process. A process evaluation (research about the program) led to programmatic and procedural changes to serve the needs of parents in high conflict or with other special needs. FRSC provides a prime example of how to utilize science‐based evidence to adapt evidence‐informed programs to a local community in which it can thrive.
Comparison of high‐ and low‐frequency fatigue properties of structural steels S355J0 and S355J2
Authors: Klusák Jan , Horník Vít , Lesiuk Grzegorz , Seitl Stanislav
Published: September 2021

The paper brings results of high‐cycle fatigue and very‐high‐cycle fatigue tests of the steel S355 tested during low‐ and high‐frequency loading. Two grades of structural steel (S355J0 and S355J2) were tested to gain fatigue properties that serve as inputs to reliable finite element calculations of cyclically loaded structures. Experimental measurements of both steel grades were performed on low‐frequency hydraulic and high‐frequency ultrasonic fatigue testing systems. Both low‐ and high‐frequency loading showed higher lifetime for the grade S355J2. The difference between the two studied steel grades was more apparent during low‐frequency loading. The significant difference between the results of low‐ and high‐frequency loading tests can be explained by the fact that the resistance to plastic deformation increases with an increasing rate of deformation. Fracture surfaces were studied by electron microscopy, where they exhibited both surface and internal crack initiation.
“Tu lucha es mi lucha”: Teaching Spanish through an equity and social justice lens
Authors: Di Stefano Marialuisa , Almazán‐Vázquez Abelardo , Yepes‐Amaya William , Britton Emma Razifard
Published: September 2021

This article reports about a 2‐year participatory action research (PAR) study in which three instructors engaged in an ongoing PAR cycle to develop and implement an explicit social justice teaching approach in their differing instructional contexts in the Northeastern US: a graduate course for teacher education and two secondary school Spanish courses. Building upon critical pedagogy (Freire, 2005) and intersectional positionalities studies (Crenshaw, 1989) and engaging in a collaborative self‐study research with the fourth author, the team reflected on the emergence of stereotypes related to gender, race, language, immigration, and nationality in the language classroom. Results suggest that: (a) students' identities seem reaffirmed from scaffolded instruction that includes authentic materials (b) instructors, as role models, can influence students' identity development and activism engagement. Implications include a series of recommendations for justice‐oriented instructional strategies and assessments for the secondary school Spanish curriculum and teacher education.
Higher levels of lead and aluminium are associated with increased risk of falls among community‐dwelling older adults: An 18‐month follow‐up study
Authors: Ooi Theng Choon , Singh Devinder Kaur Ajit , Shahar Suzana , Rajab Nor Fadilah , Sharif Razinah
Published: September 2021

Aim

The present study aims to determine the association of trace elements and oxidative and DNA damage biomarkers with fall incidence among community‐dwelling older adults.

Methods

This study is part of the Long‐term Research Grant Scheme – Towards Useful Ageing cohort study in Malaysia. Of a total of 174 participants with complete trace elements and oxidative and DNA damage data during baseline, only 147 (84.5%) were successfully followed up after 18 months. Participants who experienced any fall events in the previous 18 months during the follow‐up were categorized as fallers.

Results

Thirty participants (20.4%) reported at least one fall in the previous 18 months. The mean concentrations of aluminium, lead and zinc were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in fallers than non‐fallers. However, in comparison with the non‐faller group, the percentage of DNA in tail (11.43 ± 4.10% vs. 13.22 ± 5.24%) and tail moment (1.19 ± 0.54 AU vs. 1.59 ± 0.78 AU) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the faller group. No significant difference in serum superoxide dismutase activities and malondialdehyde level was observed between non‐fallers and fallers. Following multifactorial adjustments, higher aluminium (odds ratio [OR]: 1.007; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.002–1.011) and lead (OR: 1.162; 95% CI: 1.010–1.336) levels and lower tail moment scores (OR: 0.313; 95% CI: 0.138–0.709) appeared significant in the final hierarchical binary logistic regression model.

Conclusions

Higher levels of lead and aluminium were associated with increased risk of falls among community‐dwelling older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 1026–1032.