bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A distributed model to expand the reach of drug checking
Authors: Wallace Bruce , Gozdzialski Lea , Qbaich Abdelhakim , Shafiul Azam , Burek Piotr , Hutchison Abby , Teal Taylor , Louw Rebecca , Kielty Collin , Robinson Derek , Moa Belaid , Storey Margaret-Anne , Gill Chris , Hore Dennis
Published: July 2022

Purpose

While there is increasing interest in implementing drug checking within overdose prevention, we must also consider how to scale-up these responses so that they have significant reach and impact for people navigating the unpredictable and increasingly complex drug supplies linked to overdose. The purpose of this paper is to present a distributed model of community drug checking that addresses multiple barriers to increasing the reach of drug checking as a response to the illicit drug overdose crisis.

Design/methodology/approach

A detailed description of the key components of a distributed model of community drug checking is provided. This includes an integrated software platform that links a multi-instrument, multi-site service design with online service options, a foundational database that provides storage and reporting functions and a community of practice to facilitate engagement and capacity building.

Findings

The distributed model diminishes the need for technicians at multiple sites while still providing point-of-care results with local harm reduction engagement and access to confirmatory testing online and in localized reporting. It also reduces the need for training in the technical components of drug checking (e.g. interpreting spectra) for harm reduction workers. Moreover, its real-time reporting capability keeps communities informed about the crisis. Sites are additionally supported by a community of practice.

Originality/value

This paper presents innovations in drug checking technologies and service design that attempt to overcome current financial and technical barriers towards scaling-up services to a more equitable and impactful level and effectively linking multiple urban and rural communities to report concentration levels for substances most linked to overdose.
Dilemma between CSR and brand equity: a case of Lawrence & Mayo company
Authors: Srivastava Rajesh Kumar , Mendonsa Vivek , Joshi Harshit , Pradhan Tejal
Published: July 2022

Learning outcomes

The context of the case presents an account of how corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiated by Lawrence & Mayo (L&M), a company dealing in optical frames for 140 years, helped to build brand equity, image and identity, creating a strategic advantage against competition. The case had a deep-rooted theoretical association with a theory such as the triple bottom line theory (three Ps: profit, people and planet) on CSR. The case helps to understand and clarify the role of CSR in brand equity. It also gives an insight into the value and culture of L&M, and its impact on various stakeholders, namely, employees and customers.

Case overview/synopsis

This case is related to the CSR orientation of L&M and its impact on brand equity. As a brand, L&M is over 140 years old and has a dynamic and trending optics market in India. There is a dilemma in the company around the impact of CSR on brand equity, customer engagement and company goodwill. This case focuses on maintaining and improving brand equity, identity and image through CSR initiatives.

Complexity academic level

Undergraduate and postgraduate students, essential for students focusing on Marketing and CSR disciplines.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 8: Marketing.
What makes a product vintage? Investigating relationships between “consumer pastness,” scarcity and purchase intentions toward vintage products
Authors: Schibik Aaron , Strutton David , Thompson Kenneth Neil
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This purpose of this study is to develop actionable marketing insights regarding why consumers might elect to purchase vintage products. A concept called consumer pastness is introduced, developed and defined to achieve this end. Consumer pastness demonstrably affected consumers’ perceptions of vintage products’ scarcity and consumers’ propensity to purchase vintage items. When applied inside marketing contexts, consumer pastness may also explain how and why consumers distinguish vintage products that are “of the past” from new and second-hand products. The data suggest that when consumers perceive products are characterized by higher consumer pastness the products will be perceived as scarcer, more desirable and more valuable than new or second-hand versions of the same item.

Design/methodology/approach

A scale was developed to capture three dimensions that comprise consumer pastness and then a pilot study and two experiments were conducted to test the research propositions.

Findings

Study propositions were confirmed. Consumers perceive vintage products as scarcer and more desirable than other types of products.

Originality/value

A novel and useful concept is introduced to the marketing literature inside this study. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to investigate and develop theoretical insights regarding how and why consumers perceive vintage products differently from new and second-hand products. The investigations reported below are also the first to develop practical insights regarding how management might respond to these insights about the role consumer pastness plays.
Institutionalization of a collaborative governance model to deliver large, inter-organizational projects
Authors: Aaltonen Kirsi , Turkulainen Virpi
Published: July 2022

Purpose

In this study, we develop further understanding of how institutional change is created within a mature and local industry. In this pursuit, we examine how a collaborative large project governance model was institutionalized at an industrial sector-level through both industry-level activities and “institutional projects”.

Design/methodology/approach

This study builds on the foundations of institutional fields and institutional change, suggesting that projects are not only shaped by their contexts but also produce institutional change themselves. We conducted extensive fieldwork on the institutionalization of a collaborative project governance model in Finland.

Findings

The findings illustrate how institutional change in governance of large and complex inter-organizational projects is created at the institutional field level. The institutionalized collaborative project governance model includes aspects of both relational and contractual governance. The change was facilitated by temporal links between the institutional projects as well as vertical links between the institutional projects and the field-level development programs.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to address how a collaborative large project governance model becomes the norm at the institutional field level beyond the boundaries of an individual project or organization.
Energy efficient multi-tasking for edge computing using federated learning
Authors: Soni Mukesh , Nayak Nihar Ranjan , Kalra Ashima , Degadwala Sheshang , Singh Nikhil Kumar , Singh Shweta
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to improve the existing paradigm of edge computing to maintain a balanced energy usage.

Design/methodology/approach

The new greedy algorithm is proposed to balance the energy consumption in edge computing.

Findings

The new greedy algorithm can balance energy more efficiently than the random approach by an average of 66.59 percent.

Originality/value

The results are shown in this paper which are better as compared to existing algorithms.
Green in-store operations and sustainability performance: the moderating role of organization size
Authors: Qazi Sharfah Ahmad , Moazzam Muhammad , Ahmed Waqas , Raziq Muhammad Mustafa
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Businesses are increasingly striving to become sustainable in terms of economic, environmental and social aspects. However, in the fresh food retail supply chains (SCs), achieving environmental objectives can be challenging because of the unique characteristics of products such as perishability, bulkiness, short product lifecycle and the requirement for cold chain infrastructure. The retail industry is the face of a SC. Therefore, its role in achieving sustainable objectives is pivotal. This study examines the effect of green in-store operations on sustainability performance indicators of fresh food retail and examines the moderating role of organization size in this context.

Design/methodology/approach

Data are collected through surveys using self-administered questionnaires from 70 retail stores with 188 completed responses. Data are analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Results show a positive relationship between green in-store operation with environmental social and economic performance. Furthermore, these relationships are moderated by the organization size such that the positive green in-store operation and performance relationships are stronger in the case of environmental and social performance only and for larger retail stores. No moderation is seen for economic performance.

Originality/value

The study broadens the understanding of green SC management’s effect on sustainability performance in the retail industry. It shows how the positive implications of a green SC are contingent on organization size and have prominence for environmental and social performance.
The social construction of executive pay: governance processes and institutional isomorphism
Authors: Perkins Stephen J. , Shortland Susan
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the social construction of executive pay in the UK via an examination of narratives drawn from the social actors on the front-line of Key Management Personnel (KMP) pay determination.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors' qualitative research draws upon in-depth interviews with non-executive directors (NEDs) serving on remuneration committees, institutional investors, and independent pay consultants.

Findings

Regulation, market pricing and risk mitigation together with the social processes inherent within discharging corporate governance responsibilities create a status-quo-preserving isomorphic effect, restricting context-sensitive approaches to KMP pay determination.

Practical implications

The paper informs action by company directors, investors and policy makers to address KMP pay controversies, building shared accountability amongst decision-makers focussed on more strategic context-aligned processes and outcomes.

Originality/value

The authors' analysis illustrates how institutional isomorphism can be applied to analyse social actors' interpretations within KMP pay decision-making. The authors show that normative, coercive and mimetic isomorphic forces must be applied in dynamic interaction to extend the explanatory power of institutional isomorphism through the creation of a “No-Come-In” effect in respect of contemporary KMP pay determination settings.
Chatbots and virtual assistants: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Agarwal Shubhangi , Agarwal Bhawna , Gupta Ruchika
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This paper attempts to provide significant information on the increased growth of literature of chatbots and virtual assistants. Technological changes are dynamic and keep changing at regular intervals. Therefore, it becomes highly crucial to review the performance of chatbots and virtual assistants. This paper aims to review the literature by eminent researchers in the form of authors, keywords and major contributing organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

Systematic literature review and bibliometric analysis is used to analyze the growth of literature on chatbots. A sum of articles has been extracted from Scopus database with selected keywords and with certain filters. VOSviewer software is used for analysis of data. A total of 130 documents are extracted from Scopus database from 2017 to 2021 (31st August).

Findings

This study provides a significant contribution to an existing literature and provides the understanding of research in the area of chatbots and virtual assistants. The authors with maximum number of citations are Yan, Zaho, Bengio, Weizenbaum, Song, Zhou and Maedche with jointly 180 citations. Research is been contributed by different countries where the United States is the country with highest number of documents published. The United States contributes 17% of the total production in the area of chatbots and virtual assistants. The analysis shows that the area is gaining momentum as contribution in this area is been increasing in last few years.

Research limitations/implications

The study shows that several branches of chatbots are also in mainstream like natural language processing, e-learning, behavioural research, conversational agents, virtual assistants, human–computer interaction, natural language and so on. It provides a wider scope to authors and researchers to gain useful insights. The bibliometric study will provide a broader spectrum in this area.

Social implications

The developments in technology and also the effect of COVID-19 pandemic is boosting the adoption of technology in different sectors. Deployment of technology will uplift the economy and social infrastructure. Society can avail different services from their comfort area and also in real time. This will help in reducing wastage of resources like people visiting offices for routine jobs which can be easily availed from their workplace. Society may access better services without much human interaction.

Originality/value

This paper adds significant contribution to the existing literature by analysing the published papers from Scopus database. The study contains new and significant information as this study covers all industries where chatbots and virtual assistants are being applied whereas in previous literature only specific industry has been taken into consideration.
Conserved responses of nutrient resorption to extreme drought in a grassland: The role of community compositional changes
Authors: Liang Xiao‐Sa , Ma Wang , Yu Qiang , Luo Wen‐Tao , Wang Zheng‐Wen , Lü Xiao‐Tao , Han Xing‐Guo
Published: July 2022

The frequency, duration and magnitude of drought are projected to increase in the next few decades, with consequences for community composition and nutrient utilization of plants. Nutrient resorption, a process facilitating plant nutrient conservation, is a crucial driver for ecosystem nutrient cycling. It remains unknown how would extreme drought affect nutrient resorption of plant communities through changing community composition.

We examined the contributions of different processes (richness and identity effect of species losses and species gains, as well as the context dependent effect) related with community compositional changes to the alterations of community‐level nutrient resorption efficiency after 4‐year treatments of chronic drought (66% rainfall reduction from May to August) and intense drought (100% rainfall reduction in June and July) in a temperate steppe in Hulun Buir, Inner Mongolia, China.

Both chronic and intense drought significantly reduced nutrient resorption efficiency in most of the common species, but did not affect that at the community level. Drought‐induced losses of species made positive contribution to the community‐level nutrient resorption, as they generally had lower nutrient resorption efficiency. Such positive contribution balanced the negative effect of drought on the nutrient resorption of the common species.

Our results indicate that drought‐induced changes in community composition, especially those species being lost, were important in mediating the community‐level responses of nutrient resorption to extreme drought in grasslands.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
The status and role of genetic diversity of trees for the conservation and management of riparian ecosystems: A European experts' perspective
Authors: Alimpić Filip , Milovanović Jelena , Pielech Remigiusz , Hinkov Georgi , Jansson Roland , Dufour Simon , Beza Marcin , Bilir Nebi , del Blanco Luis Santos , Božič Gregor , Bruno Daniel , Chiarabaglio Pier Mario , Doncheva Neli , Gültekin Yaşar Selman , Ivanković Mladen , Kelly‐Quinn Mary , La Porta Nicola , Nonić Marina , Notivol Eduardo , Papastergiadou Eva , Šijačić‐Nikolić Mirjana , Vietto Lorenzo , Villar Marc , Zhelev Petar , Rodríguez‐González Patricia María
Published: July 2022

Riparian vegetation supports high biodiversity providing many services and is, therefore, an important landscape element. Riparian ecosystems are subject to numerous pressures leading to population decline and genetic erosion of riparian plants. This may have cascading effects at various ecosystem levels, including decreasing ecosystem services, so identifying the current status of genetic diversity of riparian tree species is vital to improve the effectiveness of restoration efforts.

We aimed to elicit expert views on the status and importance of genetic diversity of tree species, and conservation needs across European riparian ecosystems. Sharing of such information among researchers, managers and policymakers has the potential to enhance ecological restoration and management of riparian ecosystems.

We identified experts in riparian genetic resources conservation and management across Europe. These included stakeholders with different perspectives, ranging from researchers to practitioners. We designed a set of questionnaires where our identified experts were asked to answer questions related to the status and conservation of genetic diversity of riparian tree species in their respective countries. Specifically, we asked about societal awareness, legislative tools, good practices and conservation or restoration projects accounting for intraspecific genetic diversity and differentiation of tree species in riparian ecosystems. Questionnaire responses were analysed and discussed in light of the scientific literature to define needs and priorities related to the management and conservation of genetic diversity of riparian tree species.

The experts recognized that a combination of in situ and ex situ measures and/or integrative conservation of riparian ecosystems is the most appropriate option for conserving the genetic diversity of riparian tree species. Simultaneous application of conservation measures at the level of priority species, identified by experts, and protection of riparian areas are required.

Synthesis and applications. This study revealed the importance of recognizing the ecological processes that shape the genetic diversity of riparian tree species in hydrographic networks (dendritic spatial configuration, specific patterns of gene flow among riparian populations, fragmentation of river by dams) but also the need to overcome socio‐economic barriers, such as lack of policy priority, deficiency in funding and weak legislation framework.
Occupational therapy practice with terminally ill Chinese older adults in Singapore: A qualitative exploratory study
Authors: Lim Geck Hoon , Yong Celine , Breen Lauren J. , Keesing Sharon , Buchanan Angus
Published: July 2022

Introduction

As the majority of occupational therapy philosophy has Western origins, occupational therapists working with palliative care clients in Singapore can provide invaluable insight into the practice of occupational therapy within a non‐Western, family‐centric population. This study aimed to describe occupational therapists' perceptions of the occupations of terminally ill Chinese older adults and their caregivers and explore occupational therapy practice with terminally ill Chinese older adults in Singapore.

Methods

Eleven occupational therapists were recruited via convenience and snowball sampling. Inclusion criteria were being fully registered with the Allied Health Professionals Council (Singapore) with at least 2 years of working experience and currently working with/had experience working with terminally ill patients within the past 2 years. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Findings

Five themes were constructed from the data: (1) Independence may not be for everyone, (2) it is a family unit, (3) contributing to others' lives is important, (4) what respecting clients means, and (5) a different way of engaging. These themes describe how occupational therapists adapted their practice to better meet the needs of clients and families in Singapore.

Discussion

In family‐centric societies, it may be more relevant for occupational therapists to facilitate interdependence instead of independence in activities of daily living. In addition, activities that contribute to others' lives tangibly/intangibly may be more meaningful and relevant. Finally, occupational therapists could engage clients through the ‘being’ instead of ‘doing’ dimension of occupation.

Conclusion

While occupational therapists in Singapore faced some challenges working with terminally ill clients and families due to differences between occupational therapy philosophy and practice context, by reframing their thinking, they were able to adapt their practices to meet the needs of a family‐centric population.
The end of tax incentives in mining? Tax policy and mining foreign direct investment in Africa
Authors: Coulibaly Seydou , Camara Abdramane
Published: July 2022

African countries generally cut corporate income tax (CIT) rates in the hopes of attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), whereas the effectiveness of tax rate reductions in attracting extractive industries FDI is controversial. This paper estimates the impact of the statutory CIT rate, as applied to mining companies, on FDI inflows to the gold and silver sectors of African economies. The estimation results indicate that the impact of the mining CIT rate on the host country's gold and silver FDI inflows is negative, but not statistically significant, at the conventional levels of significance. These results suggest that cuts in the CIT rate applied to mining companies will not necessarily attract FDI to gold and silver projects. Moreover, we find a strategic complementarity in gold and silver FDI inflows between countries, suggesting that an increase in the host country's gold and silver FDI inflows may stimulate FDI to gold and silver projects in neighbouring countries. Furthermore, the results show that infrastructure, government stability and gold and silver reserves positively affect gold and silver FDI inflows. The main findings of the paper suggest that, instead of granting corporate tax incentives, governments may consider improving the quality of socio‐economic infrastructure, the availability of geological information and promoting political and economic stability for attracting mining investments.
The impact of health care strikes on patient mortality: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of observational studies
Authors: Essex Ryan , Weldon Sharon Marie , Thompson Trevor , Kalocsányiová Erika , McCrone Paul , Deb Sanjoy
Published: July 2022

Objective

This study sought to evaluate the impact of health care strike action on patient mortality.

Data Sources

EMBASE, PubMed CINAHL, BIOETHICSLINE, EconLit, WEB OF SCIENCE, and grey literature were searched up to December 2021.

Study Design

A systematic review and meta‐analysis were utilized.

Data Collection/Extraction

Random‐effects meta‐analysis was used to compare mortality rate during strike versus pre‐ or post‐strike, with meta‐regression employed to identify factors that might influence the potential impact of strike action. Studies were included if they were observational studies that examined in‐hospital/clinic or population mortality during a strike period compared with a control period where there was no strike action.

Principal Findings

Seventeen studies examined mortality: 14 examined in‐hospital mortality and three examined population mortality. In‐hospital studies represented 768,918 admissions and 7191 deaths during strike action and 1,034,437 admissions and 12,676 deaths during control periods. The pooled relative risk (RR) of in‐hospital mortality did not significantly differ during strike action versus non‐strike periods (RR = 0.91, 95% confidence interval 0.63, 1.31, p = 0.598). Meta‐regression also showed that mortality RR was not significantly impacted by country (p = 0.98), profession on strike (p = 0.32 for multiple professions, p = 0.80 for nurses), the duration of the strike (p = 0.26), or whether multiple facilities were on strike (p = 0.55). Only three studies that examined population mortality met the inclusion criteria; therefore, further analysis was not conducted. However, it is noteworthy that none of these studies reported a significant increase in population mortality attributable to strike action.

Conclusions

Based on the data available, this review did not find any evidence that strike action has any significant impact on in‐hospital patient mortality.
Mobilising the public to fight poverty using anti‐poverty labels in online food markets: Evidence from a real experimental auction
Authors: Jiang Yu , Wang H. Holly , Jin Shaosheng
Published: July 2022

In an emerging economy like China where the domestic income inequality has dramatically increased between middle‐class urban consumers and poor rural farmers, food grown by poor farmers with poverty alleviation labels may receive price premiums from consumers with multiple incentives. To reveal consumers' willingness‐to‐pay (WTP) for anti‐poverty labelled food, we implement a non‐hypothetical Becker–DeGroot–Marschak auction online experiment for apples with real shoppers. Results show that consumers are willing to pay 3.66 RMB extra for each kilogram of apples with anti‐poverty labels, indicating the opportunities for using voluntary public food consumption to supplement the government's anti‐poverty responsibilities. Consumers who are more empathic, who believe that anti‐poverty products have higher quality, who have donated money within the past year, and who are not involve with anti‐poverty related production or selling processes are willing to pay more. Additionally, three different information treatments (a beneficiary description, an appreciation certificate and a government promotion document) were found to increase consumers' WTP for anti‐poverty products. Treatment effects are different among consumers with different demographic characters and perspectives about the anti‐poverty label. Lastly, anti‐poverty labels can attract consumers for trial purchase but are not sufficient to lead consumers to make repeat purchases.
Rational engineering of natural polyhydroxyalkanoates producing microorganisms for improved synthesis and recovery
Authors: Borrero‐de Acuña José Manuel , Poblete‐Castro Ignacio
Published: July 2022

Microbial production of biopolymers derived from renewable substrates and waste streams reduces our heavy reliance on petrochemical plastics. One of the most important biodegradable polymers is the family of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), naturally occurring intracellular polyoxoesters produced for decades by bacterial fermentation of sugars and fatty acids at the industrial scale. Despite the advances, PHA production still suffers from heavy costs associated with carbon substrates and downstream processing to recover the intracellular product, thus restricting market positioning. In recent years, model‐aided metabolic engineering and novel synthetic biology approaches have spurred our understanding of carbon flux partitioning through competing pathways and cellular resource allocation during PHA synthesis, enabling the rational design of superior biopolymer producers and programmable cellular lytic systems. This review describes these attempts to rationally engineering the cellular operation of several microbes to elevate PHA production on specific substrates and waste products. We also delve into genome reduction, morphology, and redox cofactor engineering to boost PHA biosynthesis. Besides, we critically evaluate engineered bacterial strains in various fermentation modes in terms of PHA productivity and the period required for product recovery.
Is collagen supplementation friend or foe in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis? A comprehensive systematic review
Authors: Jabbari Masoumeh , Barati Meisam , Khodaei Maryam , Babashahi Mina , Kalhori Ali , Tahmassian Amir Hossein , Mosharkesh Erfan , Arzhang Pishva , Eini‐Zinab Hassan
Published: July 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) both are chronic diseases affecting joints. Immune response against collagen in both diseases may have a role in the initiation and progression of the disease. There is a hypothesis that suppression of immune response vs collagen could be a therapeutic approach in RA and OA. Exposure of gut immune system to collagen is a way to suppress immune response against collagen in the joints. So, the current systematic review is aimed to evaluate the effects of collagen supplementation in OA and RA patients. In the current systematic review, online electronic databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Sciences and Scopus were searched and finally 19 articles were included. The enrolled articles evaluated the effects of collagen supplementation on treatment of OA (n = 9) and RA (n = 10). Intact (n = 4) and hydrolyzed (n = 5) collagen were used to treat OA. All of the studies on RA used intact and type II collagen in their intervention. The last trials on collagen supplementation in RA and OA patients were performed in 2011 and 2016, respectively. High adverse effects of collagen supplementation and its low efficiency compared to routine treatments were reported by several included studies. Also, risk of bias assessment showed that most of the studies had poor quality. Therefore, it is not possible to definitely decide on the beneficial or detrimental effects of collagen supplementation on OA and RA patients. Further studies are needed to reach a final decision.
Spatial dynamic N‐mixture models with interspecific interactions
Authors: Zhao Qing , Fuller Angela K. , Royle Jeffrey Andrew
Published: July 2022

Interspecific interactions and movement are key factors that drive the coexistence of metapopulations in heterogenous landscapes. Yet, it is challenging to understand these factors because separating movement from local population processes relied on capture‐based data that are difficult to collect. Recent development of spatial dynamic N‐mixture models (SDNMs) made it possible to draw inferences on local population growth and movement using count data of unmarked populations. However, no SDNMs have been developed to account for interspecific interactions and double‐counting observation errors.

In this study we further developed SDNMs to account for interspecific interactions and both false‐negative and double‐counting observation errors. We conducted simulation studies to evaluate the inferential performance of these models under different ecological systems (competition, predator–prey), observation processes (binomial, Poisson) and sampling situations including the number of surveyed sites, detection and the adoption of robust sampling design. We then illustrated the applications of these models with two case studies, one representing a competition system (mallard Anas platyrhynchos, northern pintail Anas acuta) with binomial observations and the other representing a predator–prey system (bobcat Lynx rufus, wild turkey Meleagris gallopavo) with Poisson observations.

The results of the simulation studies showed that the models provide unbiased parameter estimates regardless of the ecological system, observation process and sampling situation. Case studies further demonstrated the capabilities of these models in revealing important ecological processes. More specifically, the first case study revealed a negative effect of the superior competitor, Mallard, on the population growth of the inferior competitor, pintail as well as different movement patterns between these species, whereas the second case study reveal a top‐down effect of bobcat abundance on wild turkey population growth and their differential habitat preferences.

The models developed in this study could be used by themselves on count data or serve as population sub‐models in integrated modelling frameworks to provide insights about metapopulation dynamics of interacting species in heterogeneous landscapes. The flexible structures of these models made them highly adaptive and relevant in population and community ecology.
Changes in lung aeration and respiratory function after open abdominal surgery: A quantitative magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Ball Lorenzo , Serafini Simon Corrado , Braune Anja , Güldner Andreas , Bluth Thomas , Spieth Peter , Huhle Robert , Scharffenberg Martin , Wittenstein Jakob , Uhlig Christopher , Robba Chiara , Schultz Marcus J. , Pelosi Paolo , Gama de Abreu Marcelo
Published: July 2022

Background

Atelectasis is one of the most common respiratory complications in patients undergoing open abdominal surgery. Peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) and forced vital capacity (FVC) are bedside indicators of postoperative respiratory dysfunction. The aim of this study was to describe the changes in lung aeration, using quantitative analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the diagnostic accuracy of SpO2 and FVC to detect postoperative atelectasis.

Methods

Post‐hoc analysis of a randomized trial conducted at a University Hospital in Dresden, Germany. Patients undergoing pre‐ and postoperative lung MRI were included. MRI signal intensity was analyzed quantitatively to define poorly and nonaerated lung compartments. Postoperative atelectasis was defined as nonaerated lung volume above 2% of the total lung volume in the respective MRI investigation.

Results

This study included 45 patients, 27 with and 18 patients without postoperative atelectasis. Patients with atelectasis had higher body mass index (p = .024), had more preoperative poorly aerated lung volume (p = .049), a lower preoperative SpO2 (p = .009), and a lower preoperative FVC (p = .029). The amount of atelectasis correlated with preoperative SpO2 (Spearman's ρ = −.51, p < .001) and postoperative SpO2 (ρ = −.60, p < .001), and with preoperative FVC (ρ = −.29, p = .047) and postoperative FVC (ρ = −.40, p = .006). A postoperative SpO2 ≤ 94% had 74% sensitivity and 78% specificity to detect atelectasis, while postoperative FVC ≤ 50% had 56% sensitivity and 100% specificity to detect atelectasis.

Conclusion

SpO2 and FVC correlated with the amount of postoperative non‐aerated lung volume, showing acceptable diagnostic accuracy in bedside detection of postoperative atelectasis.
“Why bother?”: Barriers to reporting gender and sexual harassment in emergency medicine
Authors: Zeidan Amy , Patel Jasmyne , Dys Gabrielle , Dean Laura , Curt Alexa , Lin Michelle P. , Samuels‐Kalow Margaret
Published: July 2022

Background

Gender and sexual harassment in emergency medicine (EM) is persistent in the workplace but remains underreported. Barriers to reporting in EM are largely unknown. This study explored barriers to reporting gender and sexual harassment among EM faculty and residents and potential improvements to reporting systems.

Methods

We conducted semistructured interviews with EM faculty and residents across the United States, utilizing purposive sampling to ensure diverse representation. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded by two independent investigators. Interviews were conducted until thematic saturation and prominent themes were identified from coded data.

Results

A total of 32 interviews were completed with women and men faculty and residents. Prominent themes were identified representing compounding barriers to reporting. Participants described confusion over what constitutes a reportable definition of gender and sexual harassment, unfamiliarity with reporting processes, and multiple avenues (both informal and formal through departmental, hospital, and institutional systems) for reporting. Participants expressed limited confidence in formal reporting systems and related several perceived and actual negative outcomes of reporting. A number of improvements were recommended centering around creating reporting systems that supported, empowered, and protected survivors; improving transparency about reporting processes; and ensuring accountability at a departmental and institutional level.

Conclusions

Significant barriers to reporting exist and deter individuals from reporting. Given the negative consequences of ongoing gender and sexual harassment, emergency departments and institutions must take responsibility to reduce barriers and support individuals throughout the reporting process.
Alcohol use in the year following approach bias modification during inpatient withdrawal: secondary outcomes from a double‐blind, multi‐site randomized controlled trial
Authors: Manning Victoria , Garfield Joshua B. B. , Reynolds John , Staiger Petra K. , Piercy Hugh , Bonomo Yvonne , Lloyd‐Jones Martyn , Jacka David , Wiers Reinout W. , Verdejo‐Garcia Antonio , Lubman Dan I.
Published: July 2022

Background and aims

Approach bias modification (ApBM) targeting alcohol approach bias has been previously shown to reduce likelihood of relapse during the first 2 weeks following inpatient withdrawal treatment (IWT). We tested whether ApBM’s effects endure for a longer period by analysing alcohol use outcomes 3, 6 and 12 months post‐discharge.

Design

A double‐blind, sham‐controlled randomized controlled trial.

Setting

Four IWT units in Melbourne, Australia.

Participants

Three hundred alcohol IWT patients (173 men, 126 women, 1 non‐binary; mean age 43.5 years) were recruited between 4 June 2017 and 14 July 2019. Follow‐up data collection was completed on 22 September 2020.

Intervention and control training

Four ApBM sessions were delivered during IWT. ApBM trained participants (n = 147) to avoid alcohol and approach non‐alcohol beverage cues. Controls (n = 153) responded to the same stimuli, but without approach/avoidance training.

Measurements

Date of first lapse was recorded for non‐abstinent participants to determine time to first lapse. Time‐line follow‐back interviews assessed past‐month alcohol consumption at each follow‐up, with participants reporting no alcohol consumption classified as abstinent. In analyses of past‐month abstinence, non‐abstinence was assumed in participants lost to follow‐up. Number of past‐month drinking days, standard drinks and heavy drinking days (five or more standard drinks for women or non‐binary; six or more standard drinks for men) were calculated for non‐abstinent participants at each follow‐up.

Findings

ApBM significantly delayed time to first lapse [ApBM median: 53 days, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 21–61; controls = 12 days, 95% CI = 9–21, P = 0.045]. Past‐month abstinence rates at 3‐, 6‐ and 12‐month follow‐ups were 33/153 (21.6%), 30/153 (19.6%), and 24/153 (15.7%) in controls; and 51/147 (34.7%), 30/147 (20.4%) and 29/147 (19.7%) in the ApBM group, respectively. Past‐month abstinence was significantly more likely in ApBM participants than controls at the 3‐month follow‐up [odds ratio (OR) = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.16–3.23, P = 0.012], but not at 6‐ or 12‐month follow‐ups (6‐month OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.60–1.95, P = 0.862; 12‐month OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 0.73–2.40, P = 0.360). No significant group differences were found for indices of alcohol consumption in non‐abstinent participants.

Conclusions

Approach bias modification for alcohol delivered during inpatient withdrawal treatment helps to prevent relapse, increasing rates of abstinence from alcohol for at least 3 months post‐discharge.
Treatment patterns of anti‐tumour necrosis factor‐alpha and prognosis of paediatric and adult‐onset inflammatory bowel disease in Korea: a nationwide population‐based study
Authors: Choe Young June , Han Kyoungdo , Shim Jung Ok
Published: July 2022

Background

The global prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing. However, population‐level data are scarce for Asian populations.

Aims

To outline and compare paediatric and adult IBD incidence and prevalence data in Korea, describe prescription patterns, and analyse outcomes of anti‐tumour necrosis factor (anti‐TNF) use in a nationally representative cohort

Methods

IBD was identified based on the presence of Rare and Intractable Disease diagnosis codes for Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). We calculated age‐based prevalence and incidence, and examined prescription patterns. We used a Cox proportional hazard model to calculate the hazard ratio (HR) for undergoing surgery.

Results

The prevalence of CD increased between 2006 and 2015, particularly among those aged 10–19 years (12.7–35.5 patients per 100,000 people). The use of anti‐TNF agents increased from 3.2% to 22.9% in paediatric CD patients. Early use of an anti‐TNF agent increased 25‐fold in CD patients. Further, CD patients aged 0–14 years were most likely to undergo fistulectomy (HR, 2.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.73–3.97). Children with UC had a higher risk of undergoing surgery (HR, 3.01; 95% CI, 1.33–6.83) than adults. Early use of an anti‐TNF agent in CD patients was associated with lower odds of surgery than late‐stage use.

Conclusion

The prevalence of IBD has increased over time, especially among paediatric patients. Given the magnitude of paediatric IBD disease burden, a multi‐faceted approach is needed for early detection and vigilant monitoring to aim for better prognosis.
Two different methods of bronchial dissection and coverage in robotic bilobectomy for advanced lung cancer
Authors: Kawaguchi Koji , Ito Atsushi , Kaneda Shinji , Kawaguchi Teruhisa , Shimamoto Akira , Takao Motoshi
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Due to its many technical advantages, the scope of robot‐assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) is expanding to include extended pulmonary resection. Among such procedures, right bilobectomy is one with a high risk of inducing development of a bronchial stump fistula.

Materials and Surgical Technique

The pericardial fat pad case involved a 71‐year‐old man with a 31‐mm adenocarcinoma in the right lung that had progressed to the intermediate bronchus. During lower bilobectomy, to confirm the tumor margin, an L‐shaped stapler was used with stapling only at the oral side, and the bronchus was cut using a scalpel blade grasped with robot forceps. After confirming a negative stump, the pericardial fat was collected at the pedicle and sewn onto the stump. The intercostal muscle (ICM) flap case involved a 61‐year‐old man with a 16‐mm nodule shadow in the lower lobe of his lung and swollen #11i and 7 lymph nodes. Intraoperatively, the #7 lymph node was diagnosed as non‐small‐cell lung cancer by frozen sections, and lower bilobectomy was performed. The bronchus was divided using a stapler with a green cartridge, and the ICM flap was harvested by changing the direction of the camera to a look‐up view and positioning the camera at the 5th intercostal site. His numeric rating score (NRS) at 30 and 90 days post‐surgery was 2 and 0, respectively.

Discussion

Our RATS technique was useful for harvesting the ICM flap. More cases should be accumulated to extend the surgical indication for RATS.
Single‐incision laparoscopic partial cecectomy for appendiceal mucocele in a patient with porphyria photosensitivity
Authors: Takami Takuya , Itatani Yoshiro , Shibuya Rintaro , Kiyasu Yoshiyuki , Kasahara Keiko , Nishizaki Daisuke , Okamura Ryosuke , Okada Tomoaki , Nishigori Tatsuto , Hoshino Nobuaki , Hisamori Shigeo , Tsunoda Shigeru , Hida Koya , Kawada Kenji , Obama Kazutaka
Published: July 2022

Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is a rare hereditary subtype of cutaneous porphyria characterized by photosensitivity. Increased exposure to light irradiation may precipitate acute liver failure, and surgical light‐induced intestinal burns and perforations are known to occur. We report a case of EPP in a patient who underwent laparoscopic partial cecectomy for appendiceal mucocele. A 55‐year‐old man with EPP was presented for treatment of appendiceal mucocele. A light test using two types of laparoscopes (Companies O and S) was performed preoperatively. Light from the laparoscope manufactured by Company O caused photosensitivity; this effect was not observed with light from the laparoscope manufactured by Company S. Therefore, we performed laparoscopic partial cecectomy through a single umbilical incision using the laparoscope from Company S. Except for the incision site, the patient's skin was completely covered using surgical drapes. No intra‐ or postoperative complications were observed. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed a low‐grade appendiceal mucinous neoplasm.
Laparoscopic resection for recurrent gastrointestinal stromal tumors and paraganglioma in a patient with Carney–Stratakis syndrome: A case report
Authors: Fukada Akio , Takahashi Tsuyoshi , Kurokawa Yukinori , Asaoka Tadafumi , Teranishi Ryugo , Saito Takuro , Yamamoto Kazuyoshi , Yamashita Kotaro , Tanaka Koji , Makino Tomoki , Nakajima Kiyokazu , Umeda Daisuke , Morii Eiichi , Hirota Seiichi , Eguchi Hidetoshi , Doki Yuichiro
Published: July 2022

Carney–Stratakis syndrome (CSS) is a familial syndrome characterized by gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and paragangliomas, often at multiple sites. A 34‐year‐old woman who had undergone resection of gastric GISTs, liver metastases, and a retroperitoneal paraganglioma in her previous hospital was referred to our hospital due to recurrence after 5 years. She presented with two gastric GISTs, a liver tumor, and a peritoneal tumor. As molecular‐targeted agents are reported to be ineffective against CSS‐related GISTs, we selected surgical resection for the recurrence. We performed laparoscopic local gastrectomy, liver S7 subsegmentectomy, and peritoneal tumor resection. Pathological findings revealed multiple gastric GISTs with liver metastasis and a paraganglioma. The laparoscopic approach could be performed safely, less invasively, and it could be more effective in such cases. This is the first case report of laparoscopic resection for recurrent CSS‐related GISTs and paragangliomas.
Expression and differential posttranscriptional regulation of the elongation factor 1 alpha 1 gene in endometrial caruncle and intercaruncle of Japanese Black cattle at early and mid‐gestation stages
Authors: Komatsu Masanori , Mannen Hideyuki , Taniguchi Masaaki , Oshima Kazunaga
Published: July 2022

The elongation factor 1 alpha 1 (EEF1A1), an isoform of EEF1A, is one of the most abundant cytoplasmic proteins and an important component of the translational machinery. We investigated the relative expression, alternative polyadenylation (APA), and changes in poly(A) tail length of EEF1A1 mRNA in the endometrial caruncle (CAR) and intercaruncle (ICAR) at early and mid‐gestation in Japanese Black cattle. The relative EEF1A1 mRNA expression levels in the CAR were the highest on Gestation day 20 and were significantly decreased at mid‐gestation. The expression levels in the ICAR were significantly higher than those in the CAR, and the gestation stage had no significant impact. Four different EEF1A1 transcripts with distinct 3′ untranslated regions (UTRs) (proximal and distal types) and poly(A) tails (medium and short types) of different lengths were identified. The EEF1A1 mRNAs with distal 3′ UTR and medium‐length poly(A) tails were specific from the CAR of uterus horn at early gestation. RNA‐sequencing data analyses revealed that the HSF1, MZF1, E47, SRF, GATA2, GATA3, GATA6, HNF‐3 beta (FOXA2), CPSF1, and Ataxin‐2 genes might affect the EEF1A1 gene expression or poly(A) length.