bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Education as a partial remedy for the economic pressure of population ageing
Authors: Kelin Ema , Istenič Tanja , Sambt Jože
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Population ageing will bring economic challenges in the future. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether increased educational level could mitigate the consequences of population ageing on economic sustainability, measured as the gap between labour income and consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the National Transfer Accounts (NTA) methodology, the authors decompose labour income and consumption by age and educational level (low, medium and high) and compare obtained age profiles with those calculated conventionally. In addition, using the population projections by age and educational level, the authors project both profiles to 2060 for selected EU countries and assess future economic sustainability.

Findings

The results show that the highly educated have a significantly higher surplus for a longer period then those with lower and medium education. Therefore, the improved educational level of individuals will have a substantially positive impact on labour income in the future—on average by about 32% by 2060 for all EU countries included. However, as the better educated also consume more, higher production does not fully translate into improved economic sustainability, but the resulting net effect is still positive at about 19%.

Originality/value

The authors present for the first time an NTA by education for 15 EU countries and show the importance of including education in the analysis of the economic life cycle. The authors also show that increased educational level will mitigate the consequences of population ageing on economic sustainability in the future.
Dealing with uncertainties in the design phase of road projects
Authors: Shabani Rouzbeh , Malvik Tobias Onshuus , Johansen Agnar , Torp Olav
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Uncertainty management (UM) in projects has been a point of attention for researchers for many years. Research on UM has mainly been aimed at uncertainty analyses in the front-end and managing uncertainty in the construction phase. In contrast, UM components in the design phase have received less attention. This research aims to improve knowledge about the key components of UM in the design phase of large road projects.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a literature review and case study. The literature review was used to identify relevant criteria for UM. These criteria helped to design the interview guide. Multiple case study research was conducted, and data were collected through document study and interviews with project stakeholders in two road projects. Each case's owners, contractors and consultants were interviewed individually.

Findings

The data analysis obtained helpful information on the involved parties, process and exploit tools and techniques during the design phase. Johansen's (2015) framework [(a) human and organisation, (b) process and (c) tools and techniques)] was completed and developed by identifying relevant criteria (such as risk averse or risk-taker, culture and documentation level) for each component. These criteria help to measure UM performance. The authors found that owners and contractors are major formal UM actors, not consultants. Empirical data showed the effectiveness of Web-based tools in UM.

Research limitations/implications

The studied cases were Norwegian, and this study focussed on uncertainties in the project's design phase. Relevant criteria did not cover all the criteria for evaluating the performance of UM. Qualitative evaluation of criteria allows further quantitative analysis in the future.

Practical implications

This paper gave project owners and managers a better understanding of relevant criteria for measuring UM in the owners and managers' projects. The paper provides policy-makers with a deeper understanding of creating rigorous project criteria for UM during the design phase. This paper also provides a guideline for UM in road projects.

Originality/value

This research gives a holistic evaluation of UM by noticing relevant criteria and criteria's interconnection in the design phase.
Destination quality, fantasy experience and revisit intention: a study on domestic honeymoon tourism
Authors: Kumar Pankaj , Ahlawat Pardeep , Aggarwal Vaibhav , Kumar Parveen , Bhoria Navdeep
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study examines how domestic honeymoon destination quality contributes to achieving honeymooners' fantasy experience and how fantasy experience impacts honeymooners' revisit intention.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the convenience sampling technique, 202 self-administrated survey questionnaires were collected (184 considered useable) from domestic honeymooners who had experienced honeymoon trip. The analysis was performed by employing partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS 4.0.

Findings

The findings indicate that honeymoon destination image strongly and significantly influenced honeymooners' fantasy experience, followed by honeymooners' privileges, service providers, social aspects and accommodation. At the same time, the dining experience and honeymoon expenses had no significant impact on the honeymooners' fantasy experience. Notably, honeymooners' fantasy experience also had a strong and significant effect on their revisit intention to honeymoon destination in the future.

Originality/value

This study has an important theoretical contribution, being the first to explore the post-consumption behavior, that is, fantasy experience and revisit intention of domestic honeymooners in tourism literature. The study also has important implications for tourism industry stakeholders, that is, government, tourism department and officials, honeymoon tour planners and hotel managers, to make honeymoon destinations more attractive and fascinating, especially among newlywed couples and the young generation of tourists.
Is the whole greater than the sum of its parts? A vending retail study
Authors: Stoyanov Dobromir Kirilov
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study aims to identify which elements of the vending marketing mix are the main sources of competitive advantage for the industry, how they impact vending profitability, and what are their related synergistic effects.

Design/methodology/approach

A full factorial experiment was developed to determine the effect of eight marketing mix scenarios on the profitability of a new vending channel in a French university library and assess the synergistic effects among three elements of a marketing mix (i.e. product quality, payment system, internal location) identified in a focus group as new sources of industry competitive advantage.

Findings

Although the main effects of product quality and payment system were weak-to-modest and insignificant, their interaction effect significantly impacted the daily net profit of the vending channel and generated the highest net synergy. The results partially challenge the marketing synergy axiom as internal location separately had a stronger impact on profitability than product quality and higher-order interaction effects do not necessarily translate into higher synergistic effects.

Research limitations/implications

This research was conducted in a real-life setting and has its limitations, which future researchers can overcome by extending the temporal, geographic and product scope of the study.

Originality/value

The distinction that we introduced between gross and net synergy allowed us to partially challenge the prevailing marketing mix assumption that synergy is always positive (i.e. that a vending retailer can achieve synergy by selecting a combination of marketing mix elements instead of relying on them separately). Moreover, by demonstrating that marketing synergy is not a uni- but a bi-dimensional concept, we provide vending retailers with a better methodological understanding of why they may have already fallen into the synergy trap and how to avoid it in the future.
The interconnectedness of financial inclusion and bank profitability in rising economic powers: evidence from heterogeneous panel analysis
Authors: Wang Yanqi , Ali Muhammad , Khaskheli Asadullah , Khan Komal Akram , Puah Chin-Hong
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The objective is to assess the relationship between financial inclusion and bank profitability in emerging economies, i.e. “Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, and Vietnam”.

Design/methodology/approach

The second-generation econometrics of panel data has been applied to examine the cross-section independence and control the heterogeneity between cross sections. Additionally, the authors employ the following tests for the analysis: “the unit root test, Westerlund's (2007) bootstrap cointegration, Pedroni cointegration, fully modified ordinary least square (FMOLS), and heterogeneous panel causality techniques”. The annual data consist of the period from 2000 to 2019.

Findings

The findings reveal that financial inclusion fosters bank profitability. Therefore, easier access to financial services and products will maximize banks' profitability. Additionally, the association between financial inclusion and bank profitability is unidirectional.

Originality/value

This research is a first attempt to bring a novel contribution to the subject of emerging economies by investigating the association between financial inclusion and bank profitability. Another unique addition to the literature is the use of a novel financial inclusion index. At last, a panel cointegration technique, FMOLS and heterogeneous panel non-causality tests are taken into consideration for the in-depth analysis.
Conflicting discursive representations of overtourism in Lisbon in the Portuguese digital press
Authors: Ribeiro Filipa Perdigão , Torkington Kate
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study aims to explore the ways in which Portuguese online news reports and opinion studies have framed the discussion about overtourism in Lisbon and its impacts on the city and its inhabitants.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on critical discourse analysis applied to media texts, this paper discusses the discursive representations of overtourism by focusing on how an emerging new discourse which constructs tourism as problematic began to challenge the established discourse – in which tourism is perceived as beneficial.

Findings

As a consequence, and to maintain the status quo, many media texts deploy strong legitimating strategies focusing on the benefits of tourism growth. These are juxtaposed with de-legitimating strategies which serve to deny problems of overtourism. Findings highlight the role the media play in shaping tourism discursively and uncover the complexities of discourses on the effects of (over)tourism and the ways in which they are constructed, disseminated and discussed.

Social implications

This research is particularly relevant when newspaper opinion articles from 2021 voice the Portuguese Government’s concern in bringing back to Portugal the pre-pandemic tourist numbers as soon as possible.

Originality/value

This study attempts to reveal the conflicting interests and imbalances of power among different tourism stakeholders by taking a qualitative, critical approach to the analysis of media discourse as a social practice within the broader socio-political context. This study argues that from an analytical-methodological perspective, media discourse is an optimum research site to critically explore how conflicting interests are positioned in the mass media and how this shapes public opinion.
Filling the gap and moving forward: a review of analytical and empirical studies of disclosure and cost of capital
Authors: Cai Cynthia Weiyi
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The author in this paper identifies the gap between analytical and empirical studies regarding the relation between disclosure and cost of capital. Distinct from prior reviews, this paper focuses on the various assumptions of theoretical models and the insights and key results derived from those assumptions. The author also reviews how these theoretical papers are “applied” in empirical studies.

Design/methodology/approach

The author systematically analyzes both theoretical and empirical papers that investigate disclosure and cost of capital between 2000 and 2020.

Findings

The author shows (1) that there is ample room for theorists to move from the pure exchange economy to the production-based economy setting to investigate the real effect of disclosure on the cost of capital; (2) structural estimation, although still nascent, is a promising direction to build the bridge between analytical and empirical studies in disclosure and cost of capital, and (3) besides ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions, researchers are encouraged to think outside the box regarding how to investigate the interplay between disclosure and cost of capital via a Deep Neural Network design.

Originality/value

The author provides a unique perspective and synthesized knowledge in the relations of disclosure and cost of capital.
Expanding the current tacit/explicit knowledge dichotomy encompassing situated and theoretical/normative knowledge: a phenomenological perspective
Authors: Silva Sergio Evangelista , Silva André Luís
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This article introduces a model of knowledge creation in consciousness, the creation of explicit knowledge in six forms and its register and organisation in documents.

Design/methodology/approach

Assuming the premise of three realms of reference to knowledge and two forms of reference to entities, this article, through a phenomenological perspective, deduces a model of the creation of knowledge in consciousness and the creation of explicit knowledge in six forms and its register in documents.

Findings

Two basic types of knowledge are introduced: situated knowledge and theoretical/normative knowledge. Considering three realms of reference of knowledge – the space–time realm, subjectivity realm and linguistic realm – six general types of knowledge are deduced. Finally, three layers of knowledge organisation are presented: classification and mapping documents, theoretical/normative documents and documents of situations.

Practical implications

This article can contribute to the development of more efficient forms of creation of explicit knowledge, its register in documents and the development of more efficient knowledge organisation and management systems.

Originality/value

Relying on established perspectives of the realms where subjectivity is immersed, this article discusses how knowledge is created in consciousness and registered in documents. It also presents a novel perspective of types of knowledge through the combination of dimensions, realms of reference and forms of reference to entities.
Evaluating the cost of anti-corruption in political and economic terms: a case study approach
Authors: Hartwig Alexandra
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The practicality of anti-corruption efforts has been debated in development circles since the 1990s (World Bank, 1998). Moving beyond monetary metrics, this paper seeks to contribute to the discussion by assessing whether the cost of anti-corruption measures is proportionate to international concerns about corruption. This study aims to focus on the Namibian “Fishrot” files, an ongoing scandal that involves bribery, tax evasion and cross-border exploitation for access to the country’s fishing grounds. The Fishrot files implicate parties in both Namibia and Iceland, and the case provides insight into why the costs of financial crime and anti-corruption may be unduly borne by the global East. Especially because corruption stands to disrupt political and economic stability in developing countries, an understanding of these costs is essential for preventing further barriers to development.

Design/methodology/approach

This study focuses on the case of the Namibian “Fishrot” files to compare the cost of financial crime with the price of fighting it. It incorporates cost-benefit considerations on anti-corruption from political, economic and environmental perspectives.

Findings

This paper suggests that an imbalance in the response to corruption in the global East and West stands to damage development progress in countries like Namibia. It encourages a more holistic approach to anti-corruption efforts, one that acknowledges the heightened cost and burden of such efforts in developing countries.

Originality/value

This study provides a broadened perspective for assessing the effectiveness of anti-corruption initiatives, particularly for cases that involve cross-border financial crime between developing and developed countries.
Financial signaling mechanism in investor response to corporate donation disclosure: the moderating role of historical earnings trends
Authors: Yang Naiding , Chen Ye
Published: December 2022

Purpose

Corporate donation behavior sends two financial-related signals, i.e. sufficient cash flow and self-confidence in future earnings. This paper aims to investigate whether these financial-related signals released by corporate donation drive investors to make more optimistic forecasts about the firm’s future earnings per share (EPS) and whether this effect varies across different historical earnings trends.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a controlled online experiment with 553 MBA students.

Findings

The results demonstrate that a financial signaling mechanism works, but it is moderated by historical earnings trends. When the earnings trend is always increasing, the more the number of financial signals received, the higher the investors’ EPS forecast; when the earnings trend is fluctuating (down then up or up then down), investors’ EPS forecast is higher when they receive financial signal(s) than when they do not, but no additive effect occurs from receiving one signal to two signals; when the earnings trend is always decreasing, investors’ EPS forecast is irrelevant to the number of financial signals received.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to experimentally investigate a possible mechanism to explain investors’ positive response to corporate social responsibility (CSR) (specifically, corporate donation) disclosures – the financial signaling mechanism. This study also extends the research on the impact of financial information on investors’ use of nonfinancial information by investigating the moderating role of historical earnings trends on the financial signaling mechanism of the CSR effect.
Designing a multi-objective mathematical model of a perishable supply chain (PSC) in a state of uncertainty
Authors: Fallah Fatemeh , Azimi Parham , Sharifi Mani
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most essential areas of health in any country. It is defined as a system of processes, operations and organizations involved in discovering, developing and producing drugs. The supply chain in the pharmaceutical field is one of the most important strategic issues in the pharmaceutical and health-care industries. The purpose of this study is to reduce the total cost of the supply chain network and reduce the amount of distribution scheduling.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the authors designed a drug supply chain network with uncertainty-related corruption. The optimal number and location of potential facilities, the optimal allocation of flow between facilities, the optimal routing of vehicles and the optimal amount of inventory in production and distribution center warehouses were determined to achieve these two objective functions.

Findings

In evaluating the small sample size problem, it was found that the comprehensive benchmarking method was more efficient than the other methods in obtaining the mean index of the first objective function. The utility function method has also proved its efficiency in obtaining the mean of the second objective function indices, the spacing index and the computational time. Because of the inefficiency of GAMS software in resolving size issues, the modified NSGA II and MOPSO algorithms with modified priority-based encryption have been used. First, using the Taguchi method, the initial parameters of the metaheuristic algorithms are adjusted, and then, 15 sample problems are designed in larger sizes. To avoid generating random data, five problems were equally designed, and the averages of objective functions and metrics of met heuristic algorithms (number of efficient solutions, maximum expansion index, spacing index and computational time) were analyzed as the basis of evaluation and comparison. Therefore, using all the indicators and results of the NSGA II algorithm is recommended.

Originality/value

In this research, a biobjective modeling approach is proposed to minimize the total costs of the supply chain network (construction costs, storage costs and product transportation costs between centers) and advertising costs and to minimize distribution and transportation scheduling across each level of the supply chain network.
Suffering, recovery and participant experience in a video game development accelerator
Authors: Gidley Devon , Palmer Mark , Gharib Amani
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The authors aimed to explore how involvement in a creative development accelerator impacted participants. In particular, the authors considered the role of suffering in the acceleration process.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted an ethnography of a rapid prototyping program in video game development. Data collection included participant observation (162 h before, 186 during and 463 h after the main prototyping), interviews (23 formal and 35 informal) and artifact analysis (presentations, documents, games).

Findings

Acceleration led to individual suffering via burnout, lack of sleep, overwork and illness. In turn, participants required varying periods of recovery after participation and diverged in their longer-term reaction to the experience. The authors make two contributions. First, the authors deepen empirical understanding of the embodied impact of participation in an organizational accelerator. Second, the authors develop a theoretical process model of suffering in an accelerator program based on time and initiation.

Research limitations/implications

This paper focused on a single iteration of a program based out of an incubator in the United Kingdom (UK) Suffering was discovered as part of a larger study of the program.

Practical implications

Business and technology accelerators are becoming a popular way to organize work. This research suggests that accelerator structures might lead to unintended and negative participant experiences.

Originality/value

This research challenges the assumption that accelerators always benefit, or at least not hurt, participants. The authors add to the limited attention paid to suffering in organizations. The authors conclude the impact of an accelerator is more complex than usually portrayed.
“Things have to change!” How and when change-oriented leaders and idea championing employees can address organizational underperformance through performance pressures
Authors: Azeem Muhammad Umer , De Clercq Dirk , Ul Haq Inam
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This study investigates how and when employees' exposure to organizational leaders who propose major changes might direct those employees toward efforts to mobilize support for innovative ideas. It specifically theorizes a mediating role of performance pressure beliefs and a moderating role of perceived organizational underperformance in this process.

Design/methodology/approach

Three-wave, multi-rater survey data were collected among employees and their supervisors across various industries.

Findings

A critical explanatory mechanism that links change-oriented leadership with enhanced championing efforts is that employees experience performance-related hardships. The extent to which employees perceive that their organization is unable to meet its own performance targets triggers this process.

Practical implications

For organizational decision makers, the findings identify results-driven pressures as key mechanisms by which employees' exposures to change-oriented leadership can be leveraged to promote novel ideas. This translation is more likely among employees who are convinced that there is significant room for organizational improvement.

Originality/value

This study unravels the previously unexplored link between change-oriented leadership and idea championing, pinpointing the influences of two performance-related aspects: beliefs about strenuous organization-induced performance expectations and perceptions of an underperforming employer.
T cell autoimmunity and immune regulation to desmoglein 3, a pemphigus autoantigen
Authors: Takahashi Hayato , Iriki Hisato , Asahina Yasuhiko
Published: December 2022

Pemphigus is a life‐threatening autoimmune bullous disease mediated by anti‐desmoglein IgG autoantibodies. Pemphigus is mainly classified into three subtypes: pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus foliaceus, and paraneoplastic pemphigus. The pathogenicity of autoantibodies has been extensively studied. Anti‐human CD20 antibody therapy targeting B cells emerged as a more effective treatment option compared to conventional therapy for patients with an intractable disease. On the other hand, autoreactive T cells are considered to be involved in the pathogenesis based on the test results of human leukocyte antigen association, autoreactive T cell detection, and cytokine profile analysis. Research on the role of T cells in pemphigus has continued to progress, including that on T follicular helper cells, which initiate molecular mechanisms involved in antibody production in B cells. Autoreactive T cell research in mice has highlighted the crucial roles of cellular autoimmunity and improved the understanding of its pathogenesis, especially in paraneoplastic pemphigus. The mouse research has helped elucidate novel regulatory mechanisms of autoreactive T cells, such as thymic tolerance to desmoglein 3 and the essential roles of regulatory T cells, Langerhans cells, and other molecules in peripheral tissues. This review focuses on the immunological aspects of autoreactive T cells in pemphigus by providing detailed information on various related topics.
Prevalence of cutaneous manifestations in COVID‐19: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Li Jingmin , Wen Weijing , Mu Zhenzhen , Du Xuefei , Han Xiuping
Published: December 2022

The global epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) endangers more and more people. Many studies on cutaneous manifestations related to COVID‐19 have emerged, but their prevalence has varied widely. The objective of this study was to conduct a meta‐analysis estimating the prevalence of skin manifestations in COVID‐19. Four databases PubMed, Web of Science, CBM, and CNKI were searched, and the results were screened by two reviewers. A random‐effects model was used to evaluate the overall prevalence. Heterogeneity was assessed by I2. Further subgroup analyses were conducted by region, sample size, sex, age, and severity of COVID‐19. A funnel plot and Egger's test were performed to assess publication bias. The pooled prevalence of cutaneous manifestation of 61 089 patients in 33 studies was 5.6% (95% confidence intervals [CI] = 0.040–0.076, I2 = 98.3%). Severity of COVID‐19 was probably the source of heterogeneity. Studies with sample size <200 report higher prevalence estimates (10.2%). The prevalence of detailed types was as follows: maculopapular rash 2%, livedoid lesions 1.4%, petechial lesions 1.1%, urticaria 0.8%, pernio‐like lesions 0.5%, vesicular lesions 0.3%. Petechial lesions and livedoid lesions contain a higher proportion of severe patients than other skin manifestations. The prevalence rates of pernio‐like lesions, urticaria and petechial lesions vary greatly in different regions.
Effect of UVC‐LED and ultrasound alone and combined on heat‐resistant Escherichia coli isolated from pasteurised milk
Authors: Machado Maxsueli Aparecida Moura , Castro Vinicius Silva , Monteiro Maria Lúcia Guerra , Bernardo Yago Alves de Aguiar , Figueiredo Eduardo Eustáquio de Souza , Conte‐Junior Carlos Adam
Published: December 2022

We aimed at characterising the nonthermal technologies resistance profile of two Escherichia coli strains isolated from pasteurised milk and described as moderate‐to‐high heat resistance (MHR) (60°C/6 min) harbouring or not a transmissible locus of stress tolerance (tLST). The characterisation was carried out applying optimised conditions of ultraviolet‐C light‐emitting diodes (UVC‐LED) (4950 mJ/cm2), ultrasound (US) (299 W) and their combination (UVC‐LED + US). Both strains were more sensitive to UVC‐LED (4.5–1.5 log cfu/mL) than to US (<1 log cfu/mL) or UVC‐LED + US (4.5–1.5 log cfu/mL), which did not exhibit synergism. Thus, UVC‐LED is a promising technology to eliminate E. coli harbouring tLST.
A comprehensive review of furan in foods: From dietary exposures and in vivo metabolism to mitigation measures
Authors: Zhang Yiju , Zhang Yu
Published: December 2022

Furan is a thermal food processing contaminant that is ubiquitous in various food products such as coffee, canned and jarred foods, and cereals. A comprehensive summary of research progress on furan is presented in this review, including discussion of (i) formation pathways, (ii) occurrence and dietary exposures, (iii) analytical techniques, (iv) toxicities, (v) metabolism and metabolites, (vi) risk assessment, (vii) potential biomarkers, and (viii) mitigation measures. Dietary exposure to furan varies among different countries and age groups. Furan acts through various toxicological pathways mediated by its primary metabolite, cis‐2‐butene‐1,4‐dial (BDA). BDA can readily react with glutathione, amino acids, biogenic amines, or nucleotides to form corresponding metabolites, some of which have been proposed as potential biomarkers of exposure to furan. Present risk assessment of furan mainly employed the margin of exposure approach. Given the widespread occurrence of furan in foods and its harmful health effects, mitigating furan levels in foods or exploring potential dietary supplements to protect against furan toxicity is necessary for the benefit of food safety and public health.
Study of the persistence and dynamics of recombinant mCherry‐producing Yarrowia lipolytica strains in the mouse intestine using fluorescence imaging
Authors: Madzak Catherine , Poiret Sabine , Salomé Desnoulez Sophie , Foligné Benoit , Lafont Frank , Daniel Catherine
Published: December 2022

Yarrowia lipolytica is a dimorphic oleaginous non‐conventional yeast widely used as a powerful host for expressing heterologous proteins, as well as a promising source of engineered cell factories for various applications. This microorganism has a documented use in Feed and Food and a GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status. Moreover, in vivo studies demonstrated a beneficial effect of this yeast on animal health. However, despite the focus on Y. lipolytica for the industrial manufacturing of heterologous proteins and for probiotic effects, its potential for oral delivery of recombinant therapeutic proteins has seldom been evaluated in mammals. As the first steps towards this aim, we engineered two Y. lipolytica strains, a dairy strain and a laboratory strain, to produce the model fluorescent protein mCherry. We demonstrated that both Y. lipolytica strains transiently persisted for at least 1 week after four daily oral administrations and they maintained the active expression of mCherry in the mouse intestine. We used confocal microscopy to image individual Y. lipolytica cells of freshly collected intestinal tissues. They were found essentially in the lumen and they were rarely in contact with epithelial cells while transiting through the ileum, caecum and colon of mice. Taken as a whole, our results have shown that fluorescent Y. lipolytica strains constitute novel tools to study the persistence and dynamics of orally administered yeasts which could be used in the future as oral delivery vectors for the secretion of active therapeutic proteins in the gut.
Current trends in waste valorization
Authors: Rene Eldon R. , Sarangi Prakash K. , Sànchez i Nogué Violeta , Schnürer Anna , Salvachúa Davinia
Published: December 2022

This paper presents the scientific breakthroughs made in bioprocess engineering and microbial biotechnology for the conversion of wastes into products with added value and/or biofuels. The significant results obtained in the emerging fields of hybrid electrosynthesis, the role of enzymes in the degradation of plastics, polyhydroxyalkanoate and 5‐aminolevulinic acid production, fermentation technology and the application of molecular engineering tools to bioprocess technology are highlighted.
In Space, No One Can Hear You're Green: Standardization of Environmental Reporting, the SEC's Proposed Climate Change Disclosure Rules, and Remote Sensing Technology
Authors: El‐Jourbagy Jehan , Gura Philip P.
Published: December 2022

Climate change is the existential issue of our age. Its challenges are massive, its science is ever‐developing and most now agree that its demands are immediate. How society deals with the immensity and immediacy of the challenge in the face of incomplete, immature, and sometimes inconclusive data is a question playing out now in our capital markets. Bending to demand from green investors and environmental activists, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed new rules on March 21, 2022, “to enhance and standardize climate‐related disclosures” to better inform investors' decision‐making. How should reporting companies, already obligated to report on material risks to their businesses, “enhance and standardize” climate‐related disclosure when the data are ambiguous or in conflict? This article proposes one possible and currently available solution: use satellite‐based data. By requiring the use of available satellite data, regulators can protect investors from being misled by cherry‐picked emissions data. We begin with a case for standardization and a brief history of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reporting and metrics, both in the United States and internationally, as well as SEC efforts regarding climate change disclosures. We then explore the precedent for satellite use and space‐based technology in monitoring and regulatory compliance and argue that satellite and space data can be instrumental to help investors make more informed investment decisions based on reporting companies' true environmental impact.
Sustainable Investing and Fiduciary Obligations in Pension Funds: The Need for Sustainable Regulation
Authors: Muir Dana M.
Published: December 2022

Investment practices can support sustainability efforts or undermine them. As one of the world's largest capital pools, pension funds have a particularly important role to play in sustainable investing practices. In this article, I examine the U.S. requirement that fiduciaries of private‐sector pension plans must maximize financial returns without regard to the negative externalities those investments may create. Other countries, including South Africa, the original leader in sustainable pension investments, take a different approach. I make four major contributions in this article. First, I engage in a thorough literature review and identify the major strands of disagreement on whether U.S. fiduciaries may integrate ESG (environmental, social, and governance) factors into investment decision making. Second, I analyze whether the very different applications of fiduciary obligations (the implementing rules) on ESG investing in the United States and South Africa are attributable to the underlying legal systems. Comparison of common law and civil law shows that the underlying systems do not explain the differences in implementing rules. Third, I trace the source of the U.S. implementing rules to understand the motivations of the U.S. applications, and I do the same for South Africa. I determine that differences in the development of those rules provide the best explanation for their approaches. I conclude that legislative change is needed in the United States to provide stable guidance to U.S. pension plan fiduciaries. I offer a package of suggested reforms that could garner sufficient support for enactment.
Antiretroviral protease inhibitors induce features of cellular senescence that are reversible upon drug removal
Authors: Kuehnemann Chisaka , Hughes Jun‐Wei B. , Desprez Pierre‐Yves , Melov Simon , Wiley Christopher D. , Campisi Judith
Published: December 2022

Antiretroviral drugs have dramatically improved the prognosis of HIV‐infected patients, with strikingly reduced morbidity and mortality. However, long‐term use can be associated with signs of premature aging. Highly active antiretroviral therapy generally comprises two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), with one of three additional antiretroviral drug classes, including protease inhibitors (PIs). One commonality between mitochondrial dysfunction (induced by NRTIs) and defects in lamin A (induced by PIs) is they can cause or accelerate cellular senescence, a state of essentially irreversible growth arrest, and the secretion of many bioactive molecules collectively known as the senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP). We hypothesized that senescent cells increase following treatment with certain HIV therapies. We compared the effects of two distinct HIV PIs: ritonavir‐boosted atazanavir (ATV/r) and ritonavir‐boosted darunavir (DRN/r), used in combination treatments for HIV infection. Upon ATV/r, but not DRN/r, treatment, cells arrested growth, displayed multiple features of senescence, and expressed significantly upregulated levels of many SASP factors. Furthermore, mice receiving sustained ATV/r treatment showed an increase in senescent cells and age‐related decline in physiological function. However, removing treatment reversed the features of senescence observed in vivo and cell culture. Given how these features disappeared with drug removal, certain features of senescence may not be prognostic as defined by an irreversible growth arrest. Importantly, for patients that are treated or have been treated with ATV/r, our data suggest that switching to another PI that does not promote premature aging conditions (DRN/r) may improve the associated age‐related complications.
Role of autophagy in aging: The good, the bad, and the ugly
Authors: Tabibzadeh Siamak
Published: December 2022

Autophagy (self‐eating) is a conserved catabolic homeostatic process required for cellular metabolic demands by removal of the damaged molecules and organelles and for alleviation of stress initiated by pathology and infection. By such actions, autophagy is essential for the prevention of aging, disease, and cancer. Genetic defects of autophagy genes lead to a host of developmental, metabolic, and pathological aberrations. Similarly, the age‐induced decline in autophagy leads to the loss of cellular homeostatic control. Paradoxically, such a valuable mechanism is hijacked by diseases, during tumor progression and by senescence, presumably due to high levels of metabolic demand. Here, we review both the role of autophagy in preventing cellular decline in aging by fulfillment of cellular bioenergetic demands and its contribution to the maintenance of the senescent state and SASP by acting on energy and nutritional sensors and diverse signaling pathways.
Estimates of genomic inbreeding and identification of candidate regions in Beijing‐You chicken populations
Authors: Wang Qiao , Zhang Jin , Wang Hailong , Wang Zixuan , Li Qinghe , Zhao Guiping , Zheng Maiqing , Wen Jie
Published: December 2022

Runs of homozygosity (ROHs) has become an effective method for analysing inbreeding in livestock populations. Moreover, ROHs is well‐suited to detect signatures of selection via ROH islands. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and distribution of ROHs, compare the genomic inbreeding coefficients and identify the genomic regions with high ROH frequencies in different Beijing‐You chicken (BY) populations, including a random conservation population (BY_R), a pedigree conservation population (BY_P), and a commercial population obtained from the market (BY_C). Among them, BY_R in 2010 and 2019 were BY_R1 and BY_R2 respectively. A total of 27 916 ROHs were identified. The average number of ROHs per individual across the three BY populations ranged from 213 (BY_P) to 161 (BY_C), and the average length of ROHs ranged from 0.432 Mb (BY_R2) to 0.451 Mb (BY_P). The highest inbreeding coefficient calculated based on ROHs (FROH) was 0.1 in BY_P, whereas the lowest FROH was 0.0743 in BY_C. In addition, the inbreeding coefficient of BY_R2 (FROH = 0.0798) was higher than that of BY_R1 (FROH = 0.0579). Furthermore, the highest proportion of long ROH fragments (>4 Mb) was observed in BY_P and BY_C. This study showed the top 10 ROH islands of each population, and these ROH islands harboured 53 genes, some of which were related to limb development, body size and immune response. These findings contribute to the understanding of genetic diversity and population demography, and might help improve breeding and conservation strategies for BY populations.
Facilitating advance care planning in the thriving retirement village setting
Authors: Polacsek Meg , Porter Tabitha
Published: December 2022

Objectives

To investigate the factors that influence the adoption of advance care planning (ACP) in the retirement village setting.

Methods

Purposive sampling was used to recruit residents and staff from a retirement village in a regional town in Victoria, Australia. Data collected in semistructured interviews were analysed through a process of reflexive thematic analysis and coded in NVivo.

Results

Twenty participants, comprising 14 residents and six staff, participated in the study. Four main themes arose, relating to awareness of the ACP process, the logistics of ACP, the role of service providers in facilitating ACP, and trust in the process. Most residents were unaware of the ACP process, but thought the transition into a retirement village was a good time to prepare instructions. Being given information on ACP was appropriate, but participants agreed that staff should not be involved in the actual ACP process. Finally, concerns were raised about the extent to which participants could trust that their wishes would be followed.

Conclusions

Viewed along a continuum of care, the retirement village setting is an appropriate point at which to inform and support the ACP process, particularly for providers offering incremental support in response to changing client needs. These findings add to the relatively limited literature on ACP in this setting and could inform the development of strategies and resources to support residents in the ACP process. In so doing, they support best practice for facilitating ACP across care settings.
The role of surveillance imaging for resected high‐risk melanoma
Authors: Yan Mabel K. , Adler Nikki R. , Wolfe Rory , Pan Yan , Chamberlain Alexander , Kelly John , Yap Kenneth , Voskoboynik Mark , Haydon Andrew , Shackleton Mark , Mar Victoria J.
Published: December 2022

Background

Recommendations for surveillance imaging for resected melanoma vary considerably. This study examined the utility of imaging in patients with a high‐risk primary melanoma undergoing a protocolized imaging schedule.

Methods

This retrospective study involved data collection regarding imaging, recurrence, and outcome characteristics for patients referred to the Victorian Melanoma Service from January 2016–April 2020 and managed for resected stage IIC or III melanoma. Patients with a T4b tumor who did not undergo a sentinel lymph node biopsy were included (T4bNX). Recurrences were “clinically detected” if they were primarily detected by patient symptoms or physical examination, or ‘imaging‐detected’ if the patient was asymptomatic. Cox regression models including time‐varying co‐variates were used to assess the impact of imaging‐detected versus clinically‐detected recurrence on overall survival.

Results

Over a median follow‐up time of 2.7 years, 199 patients underwent surveillance imaging (T4bNX:22, IIC:33, IIIA:22, IIIB:60, IIIC:61, IIID:1), and 44% (n = 88) experienced disease recurrence. Imaging detected over half (53%) of all recurrences. In adjusted analyses, mortality risk was reduced after an imaging‐detected compared to clinically‐detected recurrence at any given time from the start of surveillance (hazard ratio 0.25, 95% confidence interval 0.10–0.66, p = .005).

Conclusion

Our study indicates that routine imaging in the early follow‐up period of resected T4bNX, stage IIC and III melanoma plays an important role in the detection of asymptomatic recurrences. Imaging‐detected recurrence may be associated with a survival benefit and studies with more prolonged follow‐up are required to confirm these findings.
Sperm parameters in Israeli transgender women before and after cryopreservation
Authors: Barda Shimi , Amir Hadar , Mizrachi Yossi , Dviri Michal , Yaish Iris , Greenman Yona , Sofer Yael , Azem Foad , Hauser Ron , Lantsberg Daniel
Published: December 2022

Background

The application of fertility preservation, initially intended for oncological patients prior to gonadotoxic treatment, has extended in recent years to transgender and gender‐non‐conforming individuals undergoing therapy for gender compatibility.

Objectives

To examine semen quality and survival in transgender women pursuing semen cryopreservation in the presence or absence of gender‐affirming hormonal medication.

Materials and methods

In this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed data of 74 consecutive transgender women presenting for semen cryopreservation at a single center between 2000 and 2019. Semen parameters before and after cryopreservation were compared to a control group composed of 100 consecutive sperm bank donor candidates. A subgroup analysis of subjects who had used gender‐affirming hormonal treatment was also performed.

Results

Compared to the control group, transgender women had lower total sperm count (144.0 vs. 54.5 million, respectively, p < 0.001), lower sperm motility percentage (65.0% vs. 51.0%, respectively, p < 0.001), and lower total motile sperm count (94.0 vs. 27.0 million, respectively, p < 0.001). Values were further decreased in transgender women who had received hormonal treatment before sperm cryopreservation. Post‐thawing motility rate remained lower in the transgender group compared to the control group (20.0% vs. 45.0%, respectively, p < 0.001), and the total motile count remained lower as well (2.7 vs. 9.0 million, respectively, p < 0.001). Following sperm cryopreservation, the post‐thaw decreases in total motile sperm count were higher in the transgender group compared with the control group (91.5% vs. 90.0%). Further subdivision in the transgender group showed that the decrease in total motile sperm count was lower for transgender women who did not use gender‐affirming hormonal treatment compared to those who did (−89.7% vs. −92.6%, respectively, p < 0.01).

Discussion and conclusion

Sperm parameters in transgender women are poor compared to candidates for sperm donation representing the general population. Specimens collected after discontinuation of gender‐affirming hormone treatments were further impaired. Moreover, post‐thawing sperm total motile count, motility, and overall sperm survival were reduced in transgender women.