bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nutrient enrichment alters gene expression in ‘Ca.’Aquarickettsia rohweri, promoting parasite expansion and horizontal transmission
Authors: Speare Lauren , Klinges J Grace , Duke William C , Muller Erinn M , Thurber Rebecca L Vega
Published: June 2023

Ocean warming, disease, and pollution contributed to global declines in coral abundances and diversity. In the Caribbean, corals previously dominated reefs, providing an architectural framework for diverse ecological habitats, but have significantly declined due to infectious microbial disease. Key species like coralAcropora cervicornis, are now considered critically endangered, prompting researchers to focus on scientific endeavors to identify factors that influence coral disease resistance and resilience. We previously showed that disease susceptibility, growth rates, and bleaching risk were all associated with the abundance of a single bacterial parasite, ‘Ca.’Aquarickettsia rohweri which proliferatesin vivounder nutrient enrichment. Yet how nutrients influence parasite physiology and life history strategies within its host are unknown. We performed microscopy and transcriptomic analyses of ‘Ca.’A. rohweri populations during a 6-week nutrient exposure experiment. Microscopy showed that this parasite was abundant in coral tissue and densely packed in mucocytes prior to nutrient enrichment. ‘Ca.’A. rohweri energy scavenging genes and those potentially involved in this habitat transition are significantly upregulated during enrichment. Specifically, transcripts involved in signaling, virulence, two-component systems, and nutrient import genes are elevated under higher nutrients. These data support the predicted role of ‘Ca.’A. rohweri as a highly active nutrient-responsiveA. cervicornisparasite, and provide a glimpse at the mechanism of induced disease susceptibility while implicating nutrient exposure in its horizontal transmission.

Significance

The coral disease crisis has contributed to global declines in coral abundance and diversity and is exacerbated by environmental stressors like eutrophication. Thus, identifying factors that influence coral disease resistance and resilience is a top priority. The Rickettsiales-like bacterium,‘Candidatus’Aquarickettsia rohweri is ubiquitous coral symbiont that is strongly linked to coral disease susceptibility in staghorn coral, and is undergoing positive selection across the Caribbean. Although‘Ca.’A. rohweri is a putative parasite, little is known about the activity of this bacterium in coral tissue. This work supports the role of‘Ca.’A. rohweri as a highly active, nutrient-responsive parasite and proposes a mechanism for how‘Ca.’A. rohweri contributes to coral disease susceptibility, parasite expansion, and horizontal transmission.
Targeted, programmable, and precise tandem duplication in the mammalian genome
Authors: Jiao Yaoge , Li Min , He Xingyu , Wang Yanhong , Song Junwei , Hu Yun , Li Li , Zhou Lifang , Jiang Lurong , Qu Junyan , Xie Lifang , Chen Qiang , Yao Shaohua
Published: June 2023

Tandem duplications are frequent structural variations of the genome and play important roles in genetic disease and cancer. However, interpreting the phenotypic consequences of tandem duplications remains challenging, in part owing to the lack of genetic tools to model such variations. Here, we developed a strategy, tandem duplication via prime editing (TD-PE), to create targeted, programmable, and precise tandem duplication in the mammalian genome. In this strategy, we design a pair of intransprime editing guide RNAs (pegRNAs) for each targeted tandem duplication, which encode the same edits but prime the single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) extension in opposite directions. The reverse transcriptase (RT) template of each extension is designed homologous to the target region of the other single guide RNA (sgRNA) to promote the reannealing of the edited DNA strands and the duplication of the fragment in between. We showed that TD-PE produced robust and precise in situ tandem duplications of genomic fragments ranging from ∼50 bp to ∼10 kb, with a maximal efficiency up to 28.33%. By fine-tuning the pegRNAs, we achieved simultaneous targeted duplication and fragment insertion. Finally, we successfully produced multiple disease-relevant tandem duplications, showing the general utility of TD-PE in genetic research.
Integration site–dependent HIV-1 promoter activity shapes host chromatin conformation
Authors: Collora Jack A. , Ho Ya-Chi
Published: June 2023

HIV-1 integration introduces ectopic transcription factor binding sites into host chromatin. We postulate that the integrated provirus serves as an ectopic enhancer that recruits additional transcription factors to the integration locus, increases chromatin accessibility, changes 3D chromatin interactions, and enhances both retroviral and host gene expression. We used four well-characterized HIV-1-infected cell line clones having unique integration sites and low to high levels of HIV-1 expression. Using single-cell DOGMA-seq, which captured the heterogeneity of HIV-1 expression and host chromatin accessibility, we found that HIV-1 transcription correlated with HIV-1 accessibility and host chromatin accessibility. HIV-1 integration increased local host chromatin accessibility within an ∼5- to 30-kb distance. CRISPRa- and CRISPRi-mediated HIV-1 promoter activation and inhibition confirmed integration site–dependent HIV-1-driven changes of host chromatin accessibility. HIV-1 did not drive chromatin confirmation changes at the genomic level (by Hi-C) or the enhancer connectome (by H3K27ac HiChIP). Using 4C-seq to interrogate HIV-1–chromatin interactions, we found that HIV-1 interacted with host chromatin ∼100–300 kb from the integration site. By identifying chromatin regions having both increased transcription factor activity (by ATAC-seq) and HIV-1–chromatin interaction (by 4C-seq), we identified enrichment of ETS, RUNT, and ZNF-family transcription factor binding that may mediate HIV-1–host chromatin interactions. Our study has found that HIV-1 promoter activity increases host chromatin accessibility, and HIV-1 interacted with host chromatin within the existing chromatin boundaries in an integration site–dependent manner.
Developing a guiding framework based on sustainable development to alleviate poverty, hunger and disease
Authors: Abusaada Hisham , Elshater Abeer
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Sustainable development (SD) is vital in alleviating poverty, hunger and disease (PHD). The purpose of this study is to present a guiding framework with pathways targeting the sustainability challenges concerning PHD based on urban planning and design literature.

Design/methodology/approach

A narrative review and content analysis of 27 articles published by 11 journals indexed in Scopus were conducted using bibliometrics analysis.

Findings

The study’s findings discuss contemporary normative planning and design ideas and their ability to alleviate PHD. Considering these findings, the authors recommend that urban planning and design implementation processes carefully pursue the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Vision 2030 by tracking qualitative metrics that consider social, cultural and spiritual well-being.

Originality/value

The contribution is to propose a conceptual framework for alleviating hunger, poverty and disease through Vision 2030. Practitioners and policymakers can use this framework to assess the impact of their actions. Hunger, poverty and disease research could be guided by this framework to identify and prioritize best practices in cities of the Global South.
Public governance, corporate governance and excessive ESG
Authors: Kuzey Cemil , Al-Shaer Habiba , Karaman Abdullah S. , Uyar Ali
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Growing social concerns and ecological issues accelerate firms’ environmental, social and governance (ESG) engagement. Hence, this study aims to advance the existing literature by focusing on the interplay between institutional and firm governance mechanisms for greater ESG engagement. More specifically, the authors investigate whether public governance stimulates excessive ESG engagement and whether corporate governance moderates this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 43,803 firm-year observations affiliated with 41 countries and 9 industries, the authors adopt a country, industry and year fixed-effects regression analysis.

Findings

The authors find that public governance strength via its six dimensions stimulates excessive ESG engagement. This implies that firms in countries with strong voice and accountability, political stability, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law and control of corruption are more motivated for ESG engagement. Furthermore, corporate governance negatively moderates the relationship between all public governance dimensions (except political stability) and excessive ESG engagement. This implies that public governance and corporate governance are substitutes for encouraging firms to commit to ESG. Further tests reveal that whereas these results in the baseline analyses are valid for developed countries, they are not valid in emerging markets.

Research limitations/implications

The findings support the interplay between institutional and agency theories. In countries with strong (weak) institutional mechanisms, corporate governance becomes weak (strong) in inciting greater stakeholder engagement. This implies that the public governance mechanism alleviates agency costs, rendering internal mechanisms of corporate governance noncompulsory for ESG engagement.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that emerging countries need to reinforce their institutions for greater accountability, regulatory quality and control of corruption, which will have a domino effect on firms in addressing stakeholder expectations. The results also advise emerging country firms to augment their internal monitoring mechanisms for greater stakeholder engagement, such as structuring boards and establishing corporate social responsibility mechanisms, committees and policies.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the recent literature investigating the role of corporate governance mechanisms in excessive ESG engagement. The study also explores whether public governance is associated with greater ESG involvement and provides a comprehensive analysis of the association between six indicators of public governance quality and excessive ESG practices in developed and emerging economies.
The changing landscape of digital transformation in supply chains: impacts of industry 4.0 in Vietnam
Authors: Akbari Mohammadreza , Kok Seng Kiat , Hopkins John , Frederico Guilherme F. , Nguyen Hung , Alonso Abel Duarte
Published: June 2023

Purpose

The purpose of the article is to contribute to the body of research on digital transformation among members of the supply chain operating in an emerging economy. This paper researches the digital transformation trends happening across Vietnamese supply chains, by investigating the current adoption rates, predicted impact levels and financial investments being made in key Industry 4.0 technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

By using a semi-structured online survey, the experiences of 281 supply chain professionals in Vietnam were captured. Subsequently, statistical techniques examining variances in means, regression analysis and Monte Carlo simulation were applied.

Findings

The findings of this study offer a comprehensive understanding of Industry 4.0 technology in Vietnam, highlighting the prevalent technologies being prioritized. Big data analytics and the Internet of things are expected to have the most substantial impact on businesses over the next 5–10 years and have received the most financial investment. Conversely, Blockchain is perceived as having less potential for future investment. The study further identifies several technological synergies, such as combining advanced robotics, artificial intelligence and the Internet of things to build effective and flexible factories, that can lead to more comprehensive solutions. It also extends diffusion of innovation theory, encompassing investment and impact considerations.

Originality/value

This study offers valuable insights into the impact and financial investment in Industry 4.0 technologies by Vietnamese supply chain firms. It provides a theoretical contribution via an extension of the diffusion of innovation theory and contributes toward a better understanding of the current Industry 4.0 landscape in developing economies. The findings have significant implications for future managerial decision-making, on the impact, viability and resourcing needs when undertaking digital transformation.
Influence of employees’ beliefs and values on shaping green work culture for boosting firm’s environmental performance
Authors: Qasim Samina , Ahmed Waqar , Frooghi Reema
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Environmental performance (EnPerf) needs to be critically studied so organizations can understand enhancing it. The purpose of this study is mainly to examine and explain the influence of beliefs and values of the human resources regarding religiosity (REL) and workplace spirituality (WS) on shaping an environmentally friendly work culture comprising environmental ethics (EE) and environmental passion (EP), to enhance EnPerf.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey methodology was used, and 316 responses were collected from the employees working in industries on the top list of polluting the environment using purposive sampling. Structural equation modeling was deployed to test the hypotheses.

Findings

This research is conducted to identify specific relationships of variables with the environment. It was discovered that WS affected EP and EE, positively affecting EnPerf.

Research limitations/implications

This study guides organizations and their management to adopt WS, EE and EP, as these all increase EnPerf in the organization.

Originality/value

Not much work has been conducted on the environmental culture based on REL and WS, using the ability-motivation-opportunity theory. This research analyzes employees’ intrinsic factors, such as REL and WS, to develop EP and EE. Thus helping to comprehend how they can use to enhance EnPerf, which is the current priority for the organizations.
Prioritization of factors influencing outsourcing maintenance decisions in thermal power plants – A case study
Authors: Alawadi Ja'far , Abbasi Ghaleb Yousef , Al-Refaie Abbas
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Although the factors that affect the decision of outsourcing are variant from one industry to another and from one application to another, this paper aims to investigate the factors that influence the decision of outsourcing using a systematic literature review (SLR) approach to fill the gap of the literature and focus on maintenance activities in terms of industrial firms. Furthermore, the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method will be developed to prioritize the important factors according to the experts' judgments and reveal the factors' weights to support decision-makers in thermal power plants to realize the factors that have a high impact on outsourcing maintenance decisions and enhance their decision-making to increase power plant competitive advantages over quality, availability and safety requirements.

Design/methodology/approach

The purpose of this research is to prioritize the factors that influence outsourcing maintenance decisions to be considered by decision-makers in power plants before making a decision of outsourcing maintenance activities. In this research, an SLR approach was applied to identify the factors in terms of industry and rank them accordingly using factors' frequency process. A questionnaire survey was designed to seek the experts' opinions to prioritize the factors that influence the decision of outsourcing maintenance activities in power companies using AHP. The research found that “Improve service quality”, “acquire new skills or technical knowledge” and “Function difficult to manage” have the first priority before making the decision of outsourcing maintenance activities in the context of power plants.

Findings

The decision of outsourcing regarding maintenance activities in the context of industry, as well as determining the most critical factors among the extracted factors from the literature and rank them accordingly using factors' frequency process. Next, a questionnaire survey was designed and conducted to seek the experts' opinions to prioritize the factors that influence the decision of outsourcing concerning maintenance activities in thermal power companies using AHP method. According to the SLR, industrial companies are mainly pursuing outsourcing maintenance services to focus on core activities, save overall costs and improve service quality.

Originality/value

This is an original research paper out of an MSc thesis submitted at the Industrial Engineering Department, University of Jordan.
Study the supplier evaluation and selection in supply chain disruption risk based on regret theory and VIKOR method
Authors: Zhang Nian , Zheng Shuo , Tian Lingyuan , Wei Guiwu
Published: June 2023

Purpose

In the supply chain disruption risk, the issue of supplier evaluation and selection is solved by an extended VIKOR method based on regret theory.

Design/methodology/approach

Considering the influence of irrational emotions of decision makers, an evaluation model is designed by the regret theory and VIKOR method, which makes the decision-making process closer to reality.

Findings

The paper has some innovations in the evaluation index system and evaluation model construction. The method has good stability under the risk of supply chain interruption.

Originality/value

The mixed evaluation information is used to describe the attributes, and the evaluation index system is constructed by the combined method of the social network analysis method and the literature research method to ensure the accuracy and accuracy of the extracted attributes. The issue of supplier evaluation and selection is solved by an extended VIKOR method based on regret theory.
Leadership, stress and politics: influences on creativity and innovation in emerging markets
Authors: Dost Mir , Qatiti Khalid Al
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This research explores the moderating role of empowering leadership, job-related stress and workplace politics on the link between employee creativity and innovation output.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the hypothesized relationships, the authors used a questionnaire survey to nest the data from subordinates (n = 388) and their supervisors (n = 151) working for the emerging markets of Pakistan and analyzed data by using the SmartPLS-SEM technique.

Findings

Employee creativity is positively associated with innovation output. The moderation by empowering leadership and employee job-related stress further strengthens the association between employee creativity and innovation output. However, the creativity of employees is not directed toward innovation if they are involved in politics.

Research limitations/implications

The findings will help modern managers to understand the importance of enhancing employee creativity through empowering leadership. Such leadership delegates authority enables employee motivation, develops a conducive working environment by eliminating workplace politics and ensures the well-being of employees. It offers employees the confidence to unleash their creative efforts for innovation.

Practical implications

The managers can benefit from the findings: a) to enhance the abilities of creative employees for innovation outputs by practicing the role of empowering leadership, b) the extent to which employees display job-related stress and enhances their innovation outputs and c) to be aware of the inverse effects of creative employees' involvement in workplace politics on innovation.

Originality/value

Although the previous research was well established on the link between creativity and innovation, the authors knew a little about the factors that can strengthen/weaken this relationship. The authors believe that the findings are a small effort to solve the pieces of the puzzle in the literature.
Frugal innovation and operational performance: the role of organizational learning capability
Authors: Berndt Ana Clara , Gomes Giancarlo , Borini Felipe Mendes , Bernardes Roberto Carlos
Published: June 2023

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the organizational learning capability relationship with operational performance and frugal innovation across Brazilian companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative research was performed using collected data from 154 firms, which were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results showed that organizational learning capability is an antecedent of frugal innovation. The results also predict a better operational performance for companies that actively innovate cost-effectively. Another result was the positive relationship between the organizational learning capability and the operational performance. The authors found that the indirect and positive relationship between organizational learning capability, frugal innovation and operational performance was confirmed, reinforcing the literature.

Research limitations/implications

A theoretical implication of this study can be seen in the establishment of the relationship between organizational learning capability, frugal innovation and operational performance since no studies linking these variables together were found. Therefore, the organizational learning capability and the frugal innovation can be considered facilitators of the operational performance.

Practical implications

Managers should consider organizational learning and frugal innovation when thinking about firms’ operational performance. In this way, to facilitate and achieve higher performance, it was found that organizational learning capability and frugal innovation have a great deal of impact on operational performance.

Social implications

At frugal innovation, the needs of citizens are prioritized. It is a great instrument to face crises since it consists of developing simpler and cheaper products and services quickly, making them accessible to a larger group of consumers.

Originality/value

This study seeks to understand whether Brazilian companies are moving toward a more frugal innovation strategy. The study opens the possibility of showing whether the organizational learning capability has also impacted this change.
Elevated interleukin‐11 in systemic sclerosis and role in disease pathogenesis
Authors: Steadman Thomas , O'Reilly Steven
Published: June 2023

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease in which there is elevated inflammation, aberrant cytokine expression, and subsequent fibrosis. Interleukin‐11 (IL‐11) is a recently described profibrotic cytokine that can mediate fibrosis in the heart, lungs, and skin and is upregulated by transforming Growth Factor‐β (TGF‐β1). The objective of this study was to quantify the serum levels of IL‐11 in early diffuse SSc patients. Also, if IL‐11 could regulate the alarmin IL‐33 in dermal fibroblasts was quantified. Early diffuse SSc patient sera was isolated and IL‐11 was quantified by specific commercial ELISA compared to healthy control (n = 17). Healthy dermal fibroblasts were cultured in vitro and then serum starved and incubated with or without recombinant IL‐11. At specific early and late time points the supernatant was quantified for the alarmin IL‐33 by specific ELISA. In early diffuse SSc patients it was demonstrated that they have elevated IL‐11 in their sera. In a subgroup of SSc patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) this elevation was particularly pronounced compared to those devoid of fibrotic lung disease. In vitro incubation of healthy dermal fibroblasts led to a significant induction of IL‐33 cytokine release into the cell media. IL‐11 is a profibrotic cytokine that is elevated in early diffuse SSc and is particularly elevated in those with ILD. This suggests that IL‐11 could be a possible biomarker of ILD in SSc. It was also found that IL‐11 led to release of the cytokine alarmin IL‐33 in fibroblasts at earlier time points but not late time points, suggesting early stimulation elicits an inflammatory response in the local microenvironment but prolonged stimulation leads to fibrosis.
Gut microbiome helps honeybee (Apis mellifera) resist the stress of toxic nectar plant (Bidens pilosa) exposure: Evidence for survival and immunity
Authors: Tang Qihe , Li Wanli , Wang Zhengwei , Dong Zhixiang , Li Xijie , Li Jiali , Huang Qi , Cao Zhe , Gong Wei , Zhao Yazhou , Wang Minzeng , Guo Jun
Published: June 2023

Honeybee (Apis mellifera) ingestion of toxic nectar plants can threaten their health and survival. However, little is known about how to help honeybees mitigate the effects of toxic nectar plant poisoning. We exposed honeybees to different concentrations of Bidens pilosa flower extracts and found that B. pilosa exposure significantly reduced honeybee survival in a dose‐dependent manner. By measuring changes in detoxification and antioxidant enzymes and the gut microbiome, we found that superoxide dismutase, glutathione‐S‐transferase and carboxylesterase activities were significantly activated with increasing concentrations of B. pilosa and that different concentrations of B. pilosa exposure changed the structure of the honeybee gut microbiome, causing a significant reduction in the abundance of Bartonella (p < 0.001) and an increase in Lactobacillus. Importantly, by using Germ‐Free bees, we found that colonization by the gut microbes Bartonella apis and Apilactobacillus kunkeei (original classification as Lactobacillus kunkeei) significantly increased the resistance of honeybees to B. pilosa and significantly upregulated bee‐associated immune genes. These results suggest that honeybee detoxification systems possess a level of resistance to the toxic nectar plant B. pilosa and that the gut microbes B. apis and A. kunkeei may augment resistance to B. pilosa stress by improving host immunity.
Crisis management of interdependent systems, communication and coordination: A perspective on medium‐scale events
Authors: Islam Khairul , Laskey Allison , Schwetschenau Sara , Sheppard Ronisha , Smith Richard , Sobeck Joanne , Stanley Erin , Taylor Kristin , Kilgore Paul , Love Nancy , McElmurry Shawn , Seeger Matthew
Published: June 2023

This research investigates medium‐scale disruptive events to understand how these events influence communication and coordination between two interdependent systems (i.e., the water system and the public health system). Medium‐scale events are events that are often overlooked as routine as they occur with more frequency than large‐scale events, yet they have the potential to provide important information about the state and vulnerability of systems, and, if not managed appropriately, can cascade into larger‐scale crises. A survey of US public drinking water systems (N = 471) shows that medium‐scale events promote coordination, especially when those events have a public dimension. Findings also reveal that several features of water systems including surface water sources, system size, and ownership types are associated with higher levels of interaction with the public health systems. Additionally, a network analysis identifies three distinct subnetworks that engage in emergency response activities. The strength of the working relationship was strongly associated with coordinated emergency responses, coordinated public responses, planning, and technical assistance. Findings have implications for both theory and crisis management.
Is Chief Executive Officer optimistic belief bad for workers? Evidence from corporate employment decisions
Authors: Le Hang , Kibria Ishrar , Jiang Kun
Published: June 2023

Using a behavioural approach, we investigate how Chief Executive Officer optimism, defined as a personality trait where a person has optimistic beliefs about the outcome of future events, influences corporate employment decisions. Using data of publicly traded firms in the U.S. from 1995 to 2017, we show that firms with optimistic CEOs have higher employment growth and exhibit less pronounced employment sensitivity to declining sales than firms with non‐optimistic CEOs do. We also find that the impact of optimistic CEOs on employment decisions is larger in financially constrained firms. We deal with potential endogeneity issues with the entropy balancing method, propensity score matching and two‐stage least squares regression. Our findings have important implications for the design and implementation of Human Resource Management policies.
Coexistence of Sjögren's syndrome and pulmonary nodular amyloidosis
Authors: Tastekin Fatih , Kerim Duygu , Sen Sait , Kabasakal Yasemin
Published: June 2023

There are very few cases in the literature on the coexistence of Sjögren's syndrome and pulmonary nodular amyloidosis being treated with rituximab. When nodules with central calcification and cystic lesions are seen on computed tomography, amyloid lung should be considered. Biopsy is recommended as it can be confused with malignancies. In this article, we present a 66‐year‐old female patient who has been followed up for Sjögren's syndrome for 26 years. Multiple cystic lesions with central calcification in the lung were detected and it was evaluated as amyloid nodule in the biopsy performed. The patient is being followed and is stable under rituximab treatment. Pulmonary noduler amyloidosis is very rare in Sjögren patients and there are very few cases where rituximab is used for treatment. We decided to publish in order to guide clinicians who will encounter similar cases.
pykanto: A python library to accelerate research on wild bird song
Authors: Merino Recalde Nilo
Published: June 2023

Studying the vocalisations of wild animals can be a challenge due to the limitations of traditional computational methods, which often are time‐consuming and lack reproducibility.

Here, I present pykanto, a new software package that provides a set of tools to build, manage, and explore large sound databases. It can automatically find discrete units in animal vocalisations, perform semi‐supervised labelling of individual repertoires with a new interactive web app and feed data to deep learning models. pykanto can be used to streamline research on, for example, individual vocal signatures and acoustic similarity between individuals and populations.

To demonstrate its capabilities, I put the library to the test on the vocalisations of male great tits in Wytham Woods, near Oxford, UK.

The results show that the identities of individual birds can be accurately determined from their songs and that the use of pykanto improves the efficiency and reproducibility of the process.
Medical marijuana access and prolonged opioid use among adolescents and young adults
Authors: Kim Kyungha , Pacula Rosalie L. , Dick Andrew W. , Stein Bradley D. , Druss Benjamin G. , Agbese Edeanya , Cohrs Austin C. , Leslie Douglas L.
Published: June 2023

Background and Objectives

Laws liberalizing access to medical marijuana are associated with reduced opioid analgesic use among adults, but little is known about the impact of such policies on adolescents and young adults.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study used 2005 to 2014 claims from MarketScan® Commercial database, which covers all 50 states and Washington D.C. The sample included 195,204 adolescent and young adult patients (aged 12–25) who underwent one of 13 surgical procedures.

Results

Of the 195,204 patients, 4.8% had prolonged opioid use. Several factors were associated with a higher likelihood of prolonged opioid use, including being female (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21–1.33), longer hospital stay (aOR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02–1.06), greater days of index opioid supply (8–14 days: aOR, 1.39, 95% CI, 1.33–1.45; greater than 14 days: aOR, 2.42, 95% CI, 2.26–2.59), rural residence (aOR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01–1.14), and cholecystectomy (aOR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08–1.25). There was not a significant association of medical marijuana dispensary laws on prolonged opioid use (aOR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.81–1.18).

Conclusions and Scientific Significance

Medical marijuana has been suggested as a substitute for opioids, but our results focusing on adolescents and young adults provide new evidence that this particularly vulnerable population does not exhibit reductions in prolonged use of opioids after surgery when they have legal access to medical marijuana. These findings are the first to demonstrate potentially important age differences in sustained use of opioids, and point to the need for prescriber oversight and management with this vulnerable population.
The role of farmer cooperatives in promoting environmentally sustainable agricultural development in China: A review
Authors: Liang Qiao , Ma Kangwei , Liu Wenhao
Published: June 2023

Environmentally sustainable agricultural development is an essential part of the Sustainable Development Goals proposed by the United Nations in 2015. This article systematically reviews studies on the role of farmer cooperatives in promoting environmentally sustainable agricultural development and uses China as a case study to analyze the measures and function mechanisms of farmer cooperatives in promoting the adoption and scaling of sustainable farming practices by farmers. Farmer cooperatives in China influence farmers’ farming practices and benefits by not only serving farmers with various information and technologies but also supervising farmers’ production processes. Nevertheless, farmer cooperatives, both in general and in China in particular, face challenges in effectively promoting the adoption of environmentally sustainable farming practices. A few policy implications are proposed based on these analyses.
Relationship between refractive index and fatty acid composition by gas chromatography and near‐infrared fiber‐optic method in bovine fat
Authors: Obana Naoaki , Matsumoto Kazunori , Kimura Megumi , Ichikawa Masanori , Irie Masakazu
Published: June 2023

The causes of the difference in fatty acid composition between gas chromatography (GC) and near‐infrared fiber‐optic method (NIR) in bovine fat and their countermeasures were studied using absolute values of refractive index. Using intermuscular fat from 45 crossbreeds, refractive index was measured by using a refractometer, and saturated fatty acids (SFA) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) were measured by NIR and GC. The correlation coefficients between GC and NIR in SFA and MUFA, as well as those between refractive index and GC or NIR (in SFA and MUFA), were all greater than or equal to 0.8 (p < 0.01). In samples with 3% or more difference between GC and NIR in SFA and MUFA, GC and NIR values were often located in opposite directions to the regression lines with regard to refractive index. GC reanalysis on these samples slightly increased the correlation coefficient between GC and refractive index and reduced the difference between GC and NIR by 1%–2%. Results indicate that measurement errors in GC and NIR are related to their more than 3% difference, and GC reanalysis based on refractive index may improve its accuracy.
Caplacizumab: A game changer also in pregnancy‐associated immune‐mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura?
Authors: Coppo Paul , Joly Bérangère S. ,   French Reference Center for Thrombotic Microangiopathies (CNR‐MAT)
Published: June 2023

Therapeutic options in immune‐mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) during pregnancy are limited besides therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) and corticosteroids. The report by Odetola et al. suggests that caplacizumab represents a reasonable option in iTTP during pregnancy, especially when the disease is not rapidly controlled with the standard TPE–corticosteroid association.

Commentary on: Odetola et al. Safe and effective use of caplacizumab in pregnancy‐related acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Br J Haematol 2023;202:879–882.
Design, synthesis and the evaluation of cholinesterase inhibition and blood‐brain permeability of daidzein derivatives or analogs
Authors: Wang Yi‐Hui , Gao Xiao‐Hui , Li Xuan , Ding Yu‐Jie , Shi Qing , Yang Zhi‐Yu , Peng Dian , Liu Hao‐Ran
Published: June 2023

In the present study, a series of derivatives and analogs of daidzein were designed and synthesized to investigate cholinesterase inhibition and blood–brain barrier permeability. The enzyme assay showed that most of the compounds containing a tertiary amine group exhibit moderate cholinesterase inhibition, 7‐hydroxychromone derivatives (absence of B ring of daidzein scaffold) only have a weaker bioactivity, while those compounds without the tertiary amine group have no bioactivity. Among them compound 15a (4’‐N,N‐dimethylaminoethoxy‐7‐methoxyisoflavone) appeared the best inhibitory activity (IC50: 2.14 ± 0.31 μmol/L) and higher selectivity for AChE over BuChE (Ratio: 7.07). It was selected for the further investigation by UPLC‐MS/MS. The results show that CBrain/Serum of compound 15a in mice was more than 2.87 within 240 min. This discovery may provide worthy information for the future development of central nervous drugs including but not limited to cholinesterase inhibitors.
Pharmacogenetics as part of recommended precision medicine for tuberculosis treatment in African populations: Could it be a reality?
Authors: Oelofse Carola , Ndong Sima Carene Anne Alene , Möller Marlo , Uren Caitlin
Published: June 2023

Globally, tuberculosis (TB) is the second most lethal infectious disease. However, in sub‐Saharan Africa, TB has the largest disease burden, with drug‐resistant TB increasingly becoming a concern. The social and economic impact of TB should not be overlooked, especially in areas where healthcare systems are overburdened, and resources need to be allocated judiciously. The aim of pharmacogenetics (PGx) is to improve therapeutic response and to minimize adverse drug reactions by selecting the most optimal drug and dosage for the individual patient. Implementation of PGx into routine clinical care has been slow, especially in resource‐limited settings, because of perceived high costs relative to uncertain benefit. Given the impact of TB on the disease and disability burden in these regions, a better understanding and optimization of TB treatment in understudied African populations is vital. The first weeks of treatment are the most crucial for treatment success, and a point‐of‐care pre‐emptive PGx test could start patients on the most bactericidal and least toxic drug combination. This may potentially reduce the number of patients returning to clinical care and streamline the use of limited resources across the healthcare system. This review explores the status of TB PGx in Africa, the utility of existing TB PGx testing panels, and the economic feasibility in developing a clinically valuable, cost‐effective, pre‐emptive PGx test to guide optimized, new dosing regimens specifically for African population groups. TB is a disease of poverty, but investment in PGx research in African populations could ensure improved treatments and long‐term cost savings.
Does corruption rule the auditor's soul? Examining the auditors' attitude toward accepting corruption behaviors
Authors: Mardawi Zeena , Tormo‐Carbó Guillermina , Seguí‐Mas Elies , Al‐Koni Saed
Published: June 2023

This study investigates individual auditors' attitudes toward various corrupt behaviors in Palestine, an underexplored context. We examine the perception and determinants of auditors toward corruption and introduce the link between gender, job position, exposure to other cultures, age, and level of education as factors affecting attitudes toward corruption perception. Our findings reveal that auditors' perception of corruption differs across corrupt behaviors. In most surveyed behaviors, age is negatively associated with acceptance of corruption, and female auditors exhibit a higher attitude toward accepting corruption across various forms. Additionally, the auditor's position and outside education significantly impact their attitude toward accepting corruption. Our work fills an existing literature gap and provides valuable information for targeted regulators and professional bodies aiming to reduce corruption.
Did the 2016 election cause changes in substance use? An intersectional approach
Authors: Perry Teresa
Published: June 2023

This paper examines the impact of the 2016 election on substance use. One of Donald Trump's major campaign initiatives was to build a wall at the American/Mexican border, and he frequently made negative comments about various underrepresented groups. I hypothesize that this unorthodox rhetoric, coupled with Donald Trump's proposed policies during his campaign, created an exogenous shock of discrimination for women, and ethnic and racial minority groups when he was elected. The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System dataset, which has a variety of health measures and demographic information compiled at the individual level, is utilized to empirically examine the hypothesis. I examine the average treatment effects of the election using a difference‐in‐differences estimation strategy. The results indicate that there has been an increase in cigarette use for Hispanic individuals. These results highlight the impact that discriminatory rhetoric by political leaders and public figures has on marginalized groups within society. Policy implications include new ways to target substance use by targeting discrimination.
Digital Module 32: Understanding and Mitigating the Impact of Low Effort on Common Uses of Test and Survey Scores
Authors: Soland James
Published: June 2023

Most individuals who take, interpret, design, or score tests are aware that examinees do not always provide full effort when responding to items. However, many such individuals are not aware of how pervasive the issue is, what its consequences are, and how to address it. In this digital ITEMS module, Dr. James Soland will help fill these gaps in the knowledge base. Specifically, the module enumerates how frequently behaviors associated with low effort occur, and some of the ways they can distort inferences based on test scores. Then, the module explains some of the most common approaches for identifying low effort, and correcting for it when examining test scores. Brief discussion is also given to how these methods align with, and diverge from, those used to deal with low respondent effort in self‐report contexts. Data and code are also provided such that readers can better implement some of the desired methods in their own work.
European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis and European Academy of Neurology consensus on vaccination in people with multiple sclerosis: Improving immunization strategies in the era of highly active immunotherapeutic drugs
Authors: Otero‐Romero Susana , Lebrun‐Frénay Christine , Reyes Saúl , Amato Maria Pia , Campins Magda , Farez Mauricio , Filippi Massimo , Hacohen Yael , Hemmer Bernhard , Juuti Rosa , Magyari Melinda , Oreja‐Guevara Celia , Siva Aksel , Vukusic Sandra , Tintoré Mar
Published: June 2023

Background and purpose

With the new highly active drugs available for people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), vaccination becomes an essential part of the risk management strategy. We aimed to develop a European evidence‐based consensus for the vaccination strategy of pwMS who are candidates for disease‐modifying therapies (DMTs).

Methods

This work was conducted by a multidisciplinary working group using formal consensus methodology. Clinical questions (defined as population, interventions and outcomes) considered all authorized DMTs and vaccines. A systematic literature search was conducted and quality of evidence was defined according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence‐Based Medicine Levels of Evidence. The recommendations were formulated based on the quality of evidence and the risk–benefit balance.

Results

Seven questions, encompassing vaccine safety, vaccine effectiveness, global vaccination strategy and vaccination in subpopulations (pediatric, pregnant women, elderly and international travelers) were considered. A narrative description of the evidence considering published studies, guidelines and position statements is presented. A total of 53 recommendations were agreed by the working group after three rounds of consensus.

Conclusion

This first European consensus on vaccination in pwMS proposes the best vaccination strategy according to current evidence and expert knowledge, with the goal of homogenizing the immunization practices in pwMS.
Predator‐induced plasticity in relation to prey body size: A meta‐analysis of Daphnia experiments
Authors: Nagano Mariko , Sakamoto Masaki , Chang Kwang‐Hyeon , Doi Hideyuki
Published: June 2023

Predator‐induced plasticity is an adaptive response inprey to predation risks. Considering that size‐selective predation affects the body‐size distribution of prey populations, we hypothesised that the body size of species determines their expression of predator‐induced plasticity. However, as a result of variations in expression among species, an integrated understanding of the relationships between traits remains lacking. We considered the predator‐induced plasticity of Daphnia species separately for their body size, defensive morphology and life‐history traits. The aim of this study was to compare the predator‐induced plasticity of Daphnia against size‐selective predators: phantom midge Chaoborus larvae and fish.

This meta‐analysis included 75 studies and nine plasticity traits for 15 Daphnia species. Daphnia were analysed separately according to phylogeny (subgenera Ctenodaphnia, Daphnia and Hyalodaphnia) and body size (large >3.0 mm, medium 2.0 mm and small 1.0 mm).

Size‐dependent analyses showed that at least three of the nine plasticity traits were expressed in Daphnia against fish. Among the three subgenera, Daphnia induced the greatest plasticity against both predators (five key traits against Chaoborus and four against fish).

The relationship between size and age at first reproduction showed that Daphnia exhibited different degrees of plasticity against Chaoborus and fish. Daphnia had only one set of life‐history response to fish, namely, decreased size at maturity and early reproduction. By contrast, Daphnia exhibited three sets of life‐history responses to Chaoborus larvae: decreased size and delayed reproduction, increased size and delayed reproduction, and increased size and early reproduction. Overall, predator‐induced plasticity was expressed well in small and medium‐sized Daphnia, and was more evident in small Daphnia than would be expected from size‐selective predation.

This study shows that the body size of Daphnia is a key trait influencing its plasticity expression and evolution. We detected novel pattern among life‐history traits, but found no strong associations between morphological defences and life‐history traits. We suggest that prey size, predation preference and body size are important factors for understanding and explaining the evolution of phenotypic plasticity.