bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Health Literacy Practices in a Pediatric ENT Clinic
Authors: Howe Carol J. , Lewis Brennan , Edmondson Shelby
Published: September 2023

Background:

Despite strong evidence of improved patient outcomes, clinicians have been slow to adopt health literacy practices.

Purpose:

To identify facilitators and barriers to implementing health literacy practices into clinical care.

Methods:

Stakeholders (N = 40) completed surveys of acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, conviction, and confidence with teach-back practices. Using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), interviews (n = 12) were conducted and analyzed.

Results:

Most reported high acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility, but low confidence in using teach-back. Facilitators included leadership engagement and relative advantage. Barriers were related to compatibility due to time and workflow constraints. The CFIR-ERIC (Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change) Implementation Strategy Matching Tool was applied to select implementation strategies.

Conclusions:

The CFIR framework along with the CFIR-ERIC Matching Strategy Tool helped the research team select strategies likely to yield successful implementation and sustained use of health literacy practices.
PRAME Expression Is a Useful Tool in the Diagnosis of Primary and Metastatic Dedifferentiated and Undifferentiated Melanoma
Authors: Hornick Jason L. , Plaza Jose A. , Mentzel Thomas , Gru Alejandro A. , Brenn Thomas
Published: September 2023

Although mostly recognized in the metastatic setting dedifferentiated and undifferentiated melanomas are increasingly recognized as cutaneous and, less commonly, mucosal primary tumors. Their diagnosis is challenging and dependent on sampling and recognition of a conventional melanoma precursor and/or detection of a mutation in a conventional melanoma driver gene. PRAME immunohistochemistry has recently become an important ancillary tool in the separation of melanoma from benign nevi, but no comprehensive studies exist regarding its value in the detection of dedifferentiated and undifferentiated melanomas and their separation from atypical fibroxanthoma and pleomorphic dermal sarcoma, the main differential diagnoses on sun-damaged skin. After retrieval from archival files, we performed PRAME immunohistochemistry on 11 primary and 10 metastatic dedifferentiated and undifferentiated melanomas, 11 atypical fibroxanthomas, and 10 pleomorphic dermal sarcomas. Nuclear staining was assigned extent (ranging from 0 to 4 and reflecting the percentage of PRAME-positive tumor nuclei) and intensity scores (graded as absent, weak, moderate, and strong, with assigned scores ranging from 0 to 3) with combined scores ranging from 0 to 7. Both primary and metastatic dedifferentiated and undifferentiated melanomas showed strong and diffuse nuclear PRAME staining with median combined scores of 7. Strong and diffuse staining was also seen in all conventional melanoma precursors except for desmoplastic melanoma. In contrast, PRAME staining in atypical fibroxanthoma and pleomorphic dermal sarcoma was patchy and weak with median combined scores of 2. Our data emphasize the diagnostic utility of PRAME staining as a first screening tool in the detection and workup of dedifferentiated and undifferentiated melanomas, both in the primary and metastatic settings. PRAME immunohistochemistry is particularly helpful as it is also positive in tumors without a recognizable conventional melanoma precursor and in those associated with desmoplastic melanomas, where PRAME is typically found to be negative.
A comparative study of the efficacy of venlafaxine and naltrexone for relapse prevention in patients with opioid use disorder attributed to tramadol
Authors: Bassiony Medhat M. , Abdelfattah Nelly R. , Elshabrawy Amany , Adly Mary M.
Published: September 2023

Tramadol and venlafaxine share similar pharmacological characteristics that may allow for overlapping therapeutic indications for them. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of venlafaxine and naltrexone in the treatment of tramadol abuse. This comparative trial included 95 patients with tramadol abuse who were detoxified for 2 weeks. Twenty-eight participants underwent the maintenance phase, while the remaining participants (n = 67) dropped out. The patients were randomized to use 50 mg/day of naltrexone or 225 mg/day of venlafaxine for 8 weeks. All participants were interviewed using SCID-I (DSM-IV-TR) criteria for diagnosing substance use and other psychiatric disorders. The proportion of relapsed patients was comparable between the naltrexone and venlafaxine groups (29.4% vs. 30.4%, P = 0.9). However, participants in the venlafaxine group stayed in treatment longer than participants in the naltrexone group, and the difference was significant (22.9 ± 7.89 days vs. 16.9 ± 3.4 days, P = 0.01). Only psychiatric comorbidity was found to be significantly associated with retention in treatment (80% vs. 22%, P = 0.005). Venlafaxine is as effective as naltrexone in preventing relapse in patients with tramadol abuse. Venlafaxine was more effective than naltrexone in treatment retention.
Volumetrically tracking retinal and choroidal structural changes in central serous chorioretinopathy
Authors: Wang Bingjie , Brown Richard , Chhablani Jay , Pi Shaohua
Published: September 2023

Central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) leads to accumulation of subretinal fluid and retinal thickness change, which can be readily detected in clinics using optical coherence tomography (OCT). However, current quantification methods usually require sophisticated processing such as retinal layer segmentations, and volumetric visualization of structural changes is generally challenging, which can hinder fast and accurate assessment of disease progression and/or treatment efficacy. In this study, we developed an algorithm that can register the OCT scans acquired from different visits without requiring prior layer segmentation and calculated the three-dimensional (3-D) structural change maps for patients with CSCR. Our results demonstrate that this tool can be useful in monitoring the progression of CSCR and revealing the resolution of pathologies following treatment automatically with minimal pre-processing.
A TrkB and TrkC partial agonist restores deficits in synaptic function and promotes activity-dependent synaptic and microglial transcriptomic changes in a late-stage Alzheimer’s mouse model
Authors: Latif-Hernandez Amira , Yang Tao , Raymond-Butler Robert , Losada Patricia Moran , Minhas Paras , White Halle , Tran Kevin C. , Liu Harry , Simmons Danielle A. , Langness Vanessa , Andreasson Katrin , Wyss-Coray Tony , Longo Frank M.
Published: September 2023

Introduction

TrkB and TrkC receptor signaling promotes synaptic plasticity and interacts with pathways affected by amyloid-β (Aβ)-toxicity. Upregulating TrkB/C signaling could reduce Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related degenerative signaling, memory loss, and synaptic dysfunction.

Methods

PTX-BD10-2 (BD10-2), a small molecule TrkB/C receptor partial agonist, was orally administered to aged London/Swedish-APP mutant mice (APPL/S) and wild-type controls (WT). Effects on memory and hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) were assessed using electrophysiology, behavioral studies, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence staining, and RNA-sequencing.

Results

Memory and LTP deficits in APPL/Smice were attenuated by treatment with BD10-2. BD10-2 prevented aberrant AKT, CaMKII, and GLUA1 phosphorylation, and enhanced activity-dependent recruitment of synaptic proteins. BD10-2 also had potentially favorable effects on LTP-dependent complement pathway and synaptic gene transcription.

Conclusions

BD10-2 prevented APPL/S/Aβ-associated memory and LTP deficits, reduced abnormalities in synapse-related signaling and activity-dependent transcription of synaptic genes, and bolstered transcriptional changes associated with microglial immune response.
Near-infrared imaging of phytochrome-derived autofluorescence in plant nuclei
Authors: Yoshinari Akira , Isoda Reika , Yagi Noriyoshi , Sato Yoshikatsu , Lindeboom Jelmer J. , Ehrhardt David W. , Frommer Wolf B. , Nakamura Masayoshi
Published: September 2023

Capturing images of the nuclear dynamics within live cells is an essential technique for comprehending the intricate biological processes inherent to plant cell nuclei. While various methods exist for imaging nuclei, including combining fluorescent proteins and dyes with microscopy, there is a dearth of commercially available dyes for live-cell imaging. InArabidopsis thaliana, we discovered that nuclei emit autofluorescence in the near-infrared (NIR) range of the spectrum and devised a non-invasive technique for the visualization of live cell nuclei using this inherent NIR autofluorescence. Our studies demonstrated the capability of the NIR imaging technique to visualize the dynamic behavior of nuclei within primary roots, root hairs, and pollen tubes, which are tissues that harbor a limited number of other organelles displaying autofluorescence. We further demonstrated the applicability of NIR autofluorescence imaging in various other tissues by incorporating fluorescence lifetime imaging techniques. Nuclear autofluorescence was also detected across a wide range of plant species, enabling analyses without the need for transformation. The nuclear autofluorescence in the NIR wavelength range was not observed in animal or yeast cells. Genetic analysis revealed that this autofluorescence was caused by the phytochrome protein. Our studies demonstrated that nuclear autofluorescence imaging can be effectively employed not only in model plants but also for studying nuclei in non-model plant species.
Reticulate evolution and rapid development of reproductive barriers upon secondary contact pose challenges for species delineation in a forest fungus
Authors: Lu Dabao Sun , Peris David , Sønstebø Jørn Henrik , James Timothy Y. , Rieseberg Loren H. , Maurice Sundy , Kauserud Håvard , Ravinet Mark , Skrede Inger
Published: September 2023

Reproductive barriers within morphospecies of the mushroom-forming fungi tend to be stronger between sympatric lineages, leading to speculation on whether they are being reinforced by selection against hybrids. In this study we use population genomic analyses together within vitrocrosses of a global sample of the wood decay fungusTrichaptum abietinumto investigate reproductive barriers within this morphotaxon and the processes that have shaped them. Our phylogeographic analyses show that the morphospecies is delimited into six major lineages, one in Asia, two in Europe, and three in North America. The two lineages present in Europe are interfertile and admixed, whereas our crosses show that the North American lineages are reproductively isolated. In Asia a more complex pattern appears, with partial intersterility between multiple sub-lineages that likely originated independently and more recently than the reproductive barriers in North America. We found pre-mating barriers inT. abietinumto be moderately correlated with genomic divergence, whereas fitness of the mated hybrids showed a strong positive correlation with increasing genomic divergence. Genome wide association analyses identified candidate genes with programmed cell death annotations, which are known to be involved in intersterility in distantly related fungi. Our demographic modelling and phylogenetic network analyses suggest that reproductive barriers inTrichaptum abietinumcould have been reinforced upon secondary contact between lineages that diverged in allopatry during the Pleistocene glacial cycles. Our combination of experimental and genomic approaches demonstrate howT. abietinumis a tractable system for studying speciation mechanims.
Pangenome databases provide superior host removal and mycobacteria classification from clinical metagenomic data
Authors: Hall Michael B. , Coin Lachlan J.M.
Published: September 2023

Background

Culture-free real-time sequencing of clinical metagenomic samples promises both rapid pathogen detection and antimicrobial resistance profiling. However, this approach introduces the risk of patient DNA leakage. To mitigate this risk, we need near-comprehensive removal of human DNA sequence at the point of sequencing, typically involving use of resource-constrained devices. Existing benchmarks have largely focused on use of standardised databases and largely ignored the computational requirements of depletion pipelines as well as the impact of human genome diversity.

Results

We benchmarked host removal pipelines on simulated Illumina and Nanopore metagenomic samples. We found that construction of a custom kraken database containing diverse human genomes results in the best balance of accuracy and computational resource usage. In addition, we benchmarked pipelines using kraken and minimap2 for taxonomic classification ofMycobacteriumreads using standard and custom databases. With a database representative of theMycobacteriumgenus, both tools obtained near-perfect precision and recall for classification ofMycobacterium tuberculosis. Computational efficiency of these custom databases was again superior to most standard approaches, allowing them to be executed on a laptop device.

Conclusions

Nanopore sequencing and a custom kraken human database with a diversity of genomes leads to superior host read removal from simulated metagenomic samples while being executable on a laptop. In addition, constructing a taxon-specific database provides excellent taxonomic read assignment while keeping runtime and memory low. We make all customised databases and pipelines freely available.
High-affinity binding to the SARS-CoV-2 spike trimer by a nanostructured, trivalent protein-DNA synthetic antibody
Authors: Xu Yang , Zheng Rong , Prasad Abhay , Liu Minghui , Wan Zijian , Zhou Xiaoyan , Porter Ryan M. , Sample Matthew , Poppleton Erik , Procyk Jonah , Liu Hao , Li Yize , Wang Shaopeng , Yan Hao , Sulc Petr , Stephanopoulos Nicholas
Published: September 2023

Multivalency enables nanostructures to bind molecular targets with high affinity. Although antibodies can be generated against a wide range of antigens, their shape and size cannot be tuned to match a given target. DNA nanotechnology provides an attractive approach for designing customized multivalent scaffolds due to the addressability and programmability of the nanostructure shape and size. Here, we design a nanoscale synthetic antibody (“nano-synbody”) based on a three-helix bundle DNA nanostructure with one, two, or three identical arms terminating in a mini-binder protein that targets the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The nano-synbody was designed to match the valence and distance between the three receptor binding domains (RBDs) in the spike trimer, in order to enhance affinity. The protein-DNA nano-synbody shows tight binding to the wild-type, Delta, and several Omicron variants of the SARS-CoV-2 spike trimer, with affinity increasing as the number of arms increases from one to three. The effectiveness of the nano-synbody was also verified using a pseudovirus neutralization assay, with the three-arm nanostructure inhibiting two Omicron variants against which the structures with only one or two arms are ineffective. The structure of the three-arm nano-synbody bound to the Omicron variant spike trimer was solved by negative-stain transmission electron microscopy reconstruction, and shows the protein-DNA nanostructure with all three arms attached to the RBD domains, confirming the intended trivalent attachment. The ability to tune the size and shape of the nano-synbody, as well as its potential ability to attach two or more different binding ligands, will enable the high-affinity targeting of a range of proteins not possible with traditional antibodies.
Automated construction of cognitive maps with visual predictive coding
Authors: Gornet James A. , Thomson Matt
Published: September 2023

Humans construct internal cognitive maps of their environment directly from sensory inputs without access to a system of explicit coordinates or distance measurements. While machine learning algorithms like SLAM utilize specialized inference procedures to identify visual features and construct spatial maps from visual and odometry data, the general nature of cognitive maps in the brain suggests a unified mapping algorithmic strategy that can generalize to auditory, tactile, and linguistic inputs. Here, we demonstrate that predictive coding provides a natural and versatile neural network algorithm for constructing spatial maps using sensory data. We introduce a framework in which an agent navigates a virtual environment while engaging in visual predictive coding using a self-attention-equipped convolutional neural network. While learning a next image prediction task, the agent automatically constructs an internal representation of the environment that quantitatively reflects spatial distances. The internal map enables the agent to pinpoint its location relative to landmarks using only visual information.The predictive coding network generates a vectorized encoding of the environment that supports vector navigation where individual latent space units delineate localized, overlapping neighborhoods in the environment. Broadly, our work introduces predictive coding as a unified algorithmic framework for constructing cognitive maps that can naturally extend to the mapping of auditory, sensorimotor, and linguistic inputs.
Blood Pressure and Cerebral Oxygenation with Physiologically-based Cord Clamping: A Sub-Study of the BabyDUCC Trial
Authors: Badurdeen Shiraz , Blank Douglas A , Hoq Monsurul , Wong Flora Y , Roberts Calum T , Hooper Stuart B , Polglase Graeme R , Davis Peter G
Published: September 2023

Background

Cord-clamping strategies may modify blood pressure (BP) and cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (rStO2) immediately after birth.

Methods

We conducted a sub-study nested within the Baby-Directed Umbilical Cord-Clamping trial. Infants ≥32+0weeks’ gestation assessed as requiring resuscitation were randomly allocated to either physiologically-based cord clamping (PBCC), where resuscitation commenced prior to umbilical cord clamping, or standard care where cord clamping occurred early (ECC). In this single-site sub-study, we obtained additional measurements of pre-ductal BP and rStO2. In a separate observational arm, non-randomised vigorous infants received 2 minutes of deferred cord clamping (DCC) and contributed data for reference percentiles.

Results

Among 161 included infants, n=55 were randomly allocated to PBCC (n= 30) or ECC (n= 25). The mean (SD) BP at 3-4 minutes after birth (primary outcome) in the PBCC group was 64 (10) mmHg compared to 62 (10) mmHg in the ECC group, mean difference 2 mmHg (95% confidence interval −3 – 8 mmHg, p= 0.42). BP and rStO2were similar across both randomised arms and the observational arm (n=106).

Conclusion

We found no difference in BP or rStO2with the different cord clamping strategies. We report reference ranges for BP and rStO2for late-preterm and full-term infants receiving DCC.

Impact

Among late-preterm and full-term infants receiving resuscitation at birth, blood pressure (BP, at 3-4 minutes and 6-7 minutes) and cerebral tissue oxygen saturation (rStO2) are not influenced by timing of cord clamping in relation to establishment of ventilation.

Infants in this study did not require advanced resuscitation, where different cord clamping strategies may yet influence BP and rStO2.

The reference ranges for BP and rStO2represent the first, to our knowledge, for vigorous late-preterm and full-term infants receiving deferred cord clamping.

rStO2>90% (∼90thpercentile) may be used to define cerebral hyperoxia, for instance when studying oxygen supplementation after birth.
Social risk factors for pediatric asthma exacerbations: A systematic review
Authors: Vinjimoor Shriya , Vieira Caroline , Rogerson Colin , Owora Arthur , Mendonca Eneida A
Published: September 2023

Objective

This systematic review aims to identify social risk factors that influence pediatric asthma exacerbations.

Methods

Cohort studies published between 2010 and 2020 were systematically searched on the OVID Medline, Embase, and PsycInfo databases. Using our established phased inclusion and exclusion criteria, studies that did not address a pediatric population, social risk factors, and asthma exacerbations were excluded. Out of a total of 707 initially retrieved articles, 3 prospective cohort and 6 retrospective cohort studies were included.

Results

Upon analysis of our retrieved studies, two overarching domains of social determinants, as defined by Healthy People 2030, were identified as major risk factors for pediatric asthma exacerbations: Social/Community Context and Neighborhood/Built Environment. Social/Community factors including African American race and inadequate caregiver perceptions were associated with increased risk for asthma exacerbations. Patients in high-risk neighborhoods, defined by lower levels of education, housing, and employment, had higher rates of emergency department readmissions and extended duration of stay. Additionally, a synergistic interaction between the two domains was found such that patients with public or no health insurance and residence in high-risk neighborhoods were associated with excess hospital utilization attributable to pediatric asthma exacerbations.

Conclusion

Social risk factors play a significant role in influencing the frequency and severity of pediatric asthma exacerbations.

3-Question Summary Box:

1. What is the current understanding of this subject?

The individual impact of social factors such as insurance, neighborhood, and ethnicity on pediatric asthma exacerbations has previously been explored.

2. What does this report add to the literature?

This review systematically identifies the relative importance of individual sociodemographic factors and interactions between them. Race, neighborhood risk, insurance status, caregiver perceptions, and a synergistic interaction between health insurance status and neighborhood risk were found to be contributary.

3. What are the implications for public health practice?

It is important for providers to educate patients on how their surroundings impact their respiratory health and advocate for increased healthcare access for at-risk populations.
Systematic functional analysis of the Com pilus inStreptococcus sanguinis: a minimalistic type 4 filament dedicated to DNA uptake in monoderm bacteria
Authors: Mom Jeremy , Chouikha Iman , Valette Odile , Pieulle Laetitia , Pelicic Vladimir
Published: September 2023

Type 4 filaments (T4F) are a superfamily of functionally versatile nanomachines, ubiquitous in prokaryotes, which use similar multi-protein machineries to assemble and operate filamentous polymers of type 4 pilins. The best studied T4F use very complex machineries, which has posed challenges to understanding the mechanisms of both filament assembly and the roles they facilitate. Here, we report the systematic functional analysis of the Com pilus, a widespread T4F mediating DNA uptake during natural transformation in monoderm bacteria. UsingStreptococcus sanguinisas a model, we show that Com pili arebona fidetype 4 pili (T4P), which represent a new pilus sub-type. We show that with only eight components necessary for their assembly and functioning – all “core” poteins universally conserved across this superfamily – the Com pilus epitomises a minimalistic T4F. We demonstrate that core T4F components are sufficient for filament assembly. Intriguingly, akin to more elaborate T4F, the Com pilus contains four minor pilins forming a complex likely to be situated at the apex of the filaments. Our results have global implications for T4F and make Com pili a model for elucidating the fundamental processes underpinning filament assembly.
Fluence-dependent degradation of fibrillar type I collagen by 222 nm far-UVC radiation
Authors: Kowalewski Antonia , Forde Nancy R
Published: September 2023

For more than 100 years, germicidal lamps emitting 254 nm ultraviolet (UV) radiation have been used for drinking-water disinfection and surface sterilization. However, due to the carcinogenic nature of 254 nm UV, these lamps have been unable to be used for clinical procedures such as wound or surgical site sterilization. Recently, technical advances have facilitated a new generation of germicidal lamp whose emissions centre at 222 nm. These novel 222 nm lamps have commensurate antimicrobial properties to 254 nm lamps while producing few short- or long-term health effects in humans upon external skin exposure. However, to realize the full clinical potential of 222 nm UV, its safety upon internal tissue exposure must also be considered. Type I collagen is the most abundant structural protein in the body, where it self-assembles into fibrils which play a crucial role in connective tissue structure and function. In this work, we investigate the effect of 222 nm UV radiation on type I collagen fibrilsin vitro. We show that collagen’s response to irradiation with 222 nm UV is fluence-dependent, ranging from no detectable fibril damage at low fluences to complete fibril degradation and polypeptide chain scission at high fluences. However, we also show that fibril degradation is significantly attenuated by increasing collagen sample thickness. Given the low fluence threshold for bacterial inactivation and the macroscopic thickness of collagenous tissuesin vivo, our results suggest a range of 222 nm UV fluences which may inactivate pathogenic bacteria without causing significant damage to fibrillar collagen. This presents an initial step toward the validation of 222 nm UV radiation for internal tissue disinfection.
Commensal microbiome dysbiosis elicits IL-8 signaling to drive fibrotic skin disease
Authors: Zhang Wenyu , Peng Qili , Huang Xian , Huang Qing , Zhang Zhiliang , Li Fuli , Zheng Naisheng , Shi Binsheng , Fan Zhihong , Maj Tomasz , Chen Rui
Published: September 2023

Commensal bacteria are core players in wound healing whose function in the opposite pathophysiological process-scarring is presently unclear. Here, we document the association between bacteria and a specific skin fibrotic disease-keloid, which might offer a promising avenue for translational practice.

Wound healing is an intensely studied topic involved in many relevant pathophysiological processes, including fibrosis. Despite the large interest in fibrosis, the network that related to commensal microbiota and skin fibrosis remain mysterious. Here, we pay attention to keloid, a classical yet intractable skin fibrotic disease to establish the association between commensal microbiota to scaring tissue. Our histological data reveal the presence of microbiota in the keloids. 16S rRNA sequencing characterize microbial composition and divergence between the pathological and normal skin tissue. Moreover, the data show elevation of interleukin-8 both in the circulation and keloid tissue, which elicited the collagen accumulation and migratory program of dermal fibroblasts via CXCR1/2 receptor. Our research provides insights into the pathology of human fibrotic diseases, advocating commensal bacteria and IL-8 signaling as useful targets in future interventions of recurrent keloid disease.
Identification of Begomovirus Genomic Components and Stress-specific Metabolic Markers in Mungbean Leaf Apoplast
Authors: Dhobale Kiran Vilas , Sahoo Lingaraj
Published: September 2023

Plant viruses exert control over the host metabolism to enhance their survival, but the specific sites where altered metabolites take effect remain enigmatic. This study focuses on the apoplastic region of symptomatic mungbean leaves infected with mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) to gain new insights into metabolite changes during infection. Leveraging NMR-based metabolome fingerprinting, we identified several stress-associated metabolites. Notably, proline and 2-Hydroxybutyrate were found to be up-regulated in the apoplast region, while down-regulated in the cytosol. Additionally, aspartate was found to be upregulated in the cytosolic region but absent in the apoplast. Importantly, our molecular analysis of the apoplast suggests the presence of MYMIV genomic components. Moreover, we characterized two distinct populations of extracellular vesicles (EVs) using ultracentrifugation, transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and fluorometric assays. The data revealed alterations in the size and count of EVs, suggesting their potential role in facilitating the transport of viral components for long-distance cell-to-cell movement during infection. These findings provide valuable insights into the apoplast’s role and the significance of EVs in MYMIV infection, contributing to a better understanding of virus-host interactions and potentially informing new virus defense strategies.
Leukemic presentation and progressive genomic alterations of MCD/C5 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)
Authors: Kim Patricia M. , Nejati Reza , Lu Pin , Thakkar Devang , Mackrides Nicholas , Dupoux Vanessa , Nakhoda Shazia , Baldwin Don A. , Pei Jianming , Dave Sandeep S. , Wang Y. Lynn , Wasik Mariusz A.
Published: September 2023

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a heterogenous group of lymphoid malignancies. Based on gene expression profiling, it has been subdivided into germinal center (GC)-derived and activated B-cell (ABC) types. Advances in molecular methodologies have further refined the subclassification of DLBCL, based on recurrent genetic abnormalities. Here, we describe a distinct case of DLBCL that presented in leukemic form. DNA sequencing targeting 275 genes revealed pathogenically relevant mutations ofCD79B,MyD88,TP53,TBL1XR1, andPIM1genes, indicating that this lymphoma would be best classified as MCD/C5 DLBCL, an ABC subtype. Despite an initial good clinical response to BTK inhibitor ibrutinib, anti-CD20 antibody rituxan, alkylating agent bendamustine, and hematopoietic stem-cell transplant, the lymphoma relapsed, accompanied by morphologic and molecular evidence of disease progression. Specifically, the recurrent tumor developed loss ofTP53heterozygosity (LOH) and additional chromosomal changes central to ABC DLBCL pathogenesis, such asPRDM1loss. Acquired resistance to ibrutinib and rituxan was indicated by the emergence ofBTKandFOXO1mutations, respectively, as well as apparent activation of alternative cell-activation pathways, through copy-number alterations (CNAs), detected by high-resolution chromosomal microarrays. In vitro, studies of relapsed lymphoma cells confirmed resistance to standard BTK inhibitors but sensitivity to vecabrutinib, a noncovalent inhibitor active against both wild-type as well as mutated BTK. In summary, we provide in-depth molecular characterization of a de novo leukemic DLBCL and discuss mechanisms that may have contributed to the lymphoma establishment, progression, and development of drug resistance.
A high-throughput big-data orchestration and processing system for the High Energy Photon Source
Authors: Li Xiang , Zhang Yi , Liu Yu , Li Pengcheng , Hu Hao , Wang Liwen , He Ping , Dong Yuhui , Zhang Chenglong
Published: September 2023

High-data-throughput and multimodal-acquisition experiments will prevail in next-generation synchrotron beamlines. Orchestrating dataflow pipelines connecting the data acquisition, processing, visualization and storage ends are becoming increasingly complex and essential for enhancing beamline performance. Mamba Data Worker (MDW) has been developed to address the data challenges for the forthcoming High Energy Photon Source (HEPS). It is an important component of the Mamba experimental control and data acquisition software ecosystem, which enables fast data acquisition and transmission, dynamic configuration of data processing pipelines, data multiplex in streaming, and customized data and metadata assembly. This paper presents the architecture and development plan of MDW, outlines the essential technologies involved, and illustrates its current application at the Beijing Synchrotron Radiation Facility (BSRF).
Racemic cis-bis[bis(pyrimidin-2-yl)amine-κN]bis(dicyanamido-κN
1)iron(II) dihydrate: synthesis, crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis
Authors: Saadallah Yaakoub , Setifi Zouaoui , Jelsch Christian , Setifi Fatima , Al-Douh Mohammed Hadi , Satour Achouak , Glidewell Christopher
Published: September 2023

The title compound, [Fe(C2N3)2(C8H7N5)2]·2H2O, has been synthesized solvothermally and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The octahedral iron coordination polyhedron contains two di(pyrimidin-2-yl)amine ligands coordinated in a bidentate fashion, and two monodentate dicyanimido ligands, each coordinated via a terminal N atom, with the latter in a cis orientation. The ligand configuration about the iron atom is chiral, although the compound crystallizes as a racemic mixture: the Fe—N distances (> 2.07 Å) are characteristic of high-spin iron(II). In the crystal, an extensive series of N—H...N, O—H...N and O—H...O hydrogen bonds links the independent molecular components into a three-dimensional framework. The H atoms of both water molecules are disordered. The structure also features some π–π and anion–π interactions. The intermolecular interactions were investigated by Hirshfeld surface analysis and two-dimensional fingerprint plots. Comparisons are made with some related compounds.
Dreaming of profit: case of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited
Authors: Mamillapalli Raja Sekhar , Pusarla Hanumantha Rao
Published: September 2023

Learning outcomes

The learning outcomes of this study are to examine the financial performance of Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) during past five years, to compare the financial performance with the initial projections, to identify the causes of deviations in the performance, to recommend the measures to improve financial performance and to apply the learning from the BMRCL project to other similar upcoming projects in India.

Case overview/synopsis

BMRCL has been struggling to perform as per projections made in the initial detailed project report. The situation has further worsened because of the COVID-19 pandemic and its post-impact on the overall economic level of activity. Ramana Rao, the consultant for infrastructure projects, was worried after reading a news article which deemed the project a white elephant. Various articles published in the newspaper also reported that BMRCL was incurring a loss of Rs 45 lakhs every day. The consultant worried about the sustainability of the project. He wanted new ideas and plans which could turn around these losses and convert them into profitable ones. He, however, does not have any immediate plans to execute and is therefore in a dilemma about how a project that was launched with so much fanfare could be made profitable. Because of COVID-19 pandemic, BMRCL’s financial situation, which although improving, had taken a significant hit. It looked like the corporation might need government assistance to cover its losses. The transport utility suffered a loss of Rs 170 crore, as a result of a decline in ridership as well as other revenue sources including parking fees and leasing revenues. This amounted to a daily loss of Rs 1 crore. The pressure on revenues was putting the officials in a tight spot about meeting the company’s debt obligations and market borrowings.

Complexity academic level

The case study aims to enable participants to understand financial performance and viability of large-scale projects such as metro rail in India.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 1: Accounting and Finance
Suraj Kumar: balancing career, family, and self
Authors: Mishra Pavitra , Gupta Amit
Published: September 2023

Learning outcomes

This case study is best suited for courses in career management, stress management, work–life management or science of well-being in organization behavior (OB) or human resources management (HRM). This case study is targeted at the MBA or executive development programs. The learning outcomes of this case study are as follows: to analyze the challenges in balancing Suraj Kumar’s (the protagonist) work–life balance situation and identifying the main causes of such a conflict. What are some strategies that could be used to address these issues? To develop a plan to balance work responsibilities with family and personal life. What specific actions could he take to achieve this balance? To design a training program for employees that addresses work–life balance issues. What topics would you cover in the training, and what methods would you use to deliver the content? To create a proposal for a flexible work arrangement program that an organization could offer to its employees. What would be the benefits of this program, and how would it be implemented and managed? To develop a business case for why an organization should prioritize work–life balance for its employees. What are the potential benefits of doing so, and how can the organization measure the impact of its efforts?

Case overview/synopsis

This case study discusses conflicts due to competitive priorities that people face in balancing the pressures, roles and responsibilities between their professional life (careers) and their personal life, and the trade-offs that they make across these multiple aspects of their lives. This case study revolves around Suraj Kumar, a successful consultant, who was offered a promotion as the executive director for the social sector. This promotion would require extensive travel and time away from his family. Kumar was struggling to balance his work responsibilities with his family life and his involvement with the Smile and Shine Foundation, which supports the education of children from economically weaker sections of society. He was reflecting on his past and present and trying to figure out how to prioritize his commitments while also achieving his personal and professional goals.

Complexity academic level

This research has shown that a case discussion and role-play can be effective for a less experienced audience. Instructors can provide multiple perspectives to stimulate reflection and debate. For executive MBA or executive development programs, a self-reflection exercise is recommended. Participants in these programs may have personal experience dealing with or may know others who have dealt with work–life balance issues, making self-reflection a valuable tool.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 6: Human resource management.
Can monetary poverty measurement detect multidimensionally deprived? Evidence from Egypt
Authors: Omar Noha , El-Laithy Heba Farida
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the mismatch between multidimensional deprivation and monetary poverty in identifying the poor in Egypt and investigates their determinants empirically.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses the Alkire-Foster multidimensional poverty measurement method using data from Egypt’s 2017/2018 Household Income, Expenditure and Consumption Survey (HIECS 2017/2018). Using a logistic regression model, the paper assesses the empirical relationship between multidimensional and monetary poverty and their determinants at the aggregate level and by dimension.

Findings

The paper demonstrates a significant mismatch between multidimensional and monetary poverty measures, underscoring their complementary nature. Statistics indicate that both measures overlap in classifying 35.81% of Egyptians, whereas monetary poverty ignores 63.12% of multidimensionally poor in at least one dimension. Regression estimates show a significant moderate negative association between expenditure per capita and multidimensional poverty and its dimensions. Moreover, they show that household head’s gender, age, education attainment, marital status, job proficiency, household size and location affect poverty mismatch and match in Egypt.

Practical implications

This paper offers Egyptian policymakers the multidimensional poverty index that enables more efficient designing and targeting of poverty alleviation programs and assessing current poverty alleviation programs to modify them if needed.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine the mismatch between both poverty measures in Egypt, using the recent full data set of HIECS 2017/2018. This paper confirms that depending only on monetary measures can send inaccurate insights for crafting effective social policies. Also, it offers policymakers a comprehensive insight into the country’s poverty landscape, which enable more efficient design, targeting of poverty alleviation programs and monitoring their effectiveness.
Macro-economic indicators and housing price index in Spain: fresh evidence from FMOLS and DOLS
Authors: Raza Ali , Asif Laiba , Türsoy Turgut , Seraj Mehdi , Erkol Bayram Gül
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study aims to determine how changes in macroeconomic indicators and the housing prices index (HPI) are related. These factors can cause short-term and long-term changes in the housing market in Spain.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used cointegrating regression, fully modified ordinary least squares and dynamic ordinary least squares methodologies. The models are trained using quarterly time series data for these parameters from 2010 to 2022. A comprehensive examination is conducted to explore the relationship between macroeconomic issues and fluctuations in the HPI.

Findings

The results indicate statistically significant short-run effects (p < 0.05) of economic growth, inflation, Spanish stock indices, foreign trade and the interest rate on HPI. The inflation variables, Spain’s stock indices, interest rate and monetary rate, have statistically significant long-run effects (p < 0.05) on HPI. The exchange rate, unemployment and money supply have no substantial impact on HPI in Spain.

Originality/value

The study’s findings significantly contribute to increased information concerning the level of investing activity in the Spanish housing sector. After conducting an in-depth study of both the long-run and short-run connections with HPI, the study proved to be highly effective in formulating appropriate policies.
Instant messaging, interruptions, stress and work performance
Authors: Hurbean Luminita , Wong Louie H.M. , Ou Carol XJ , Davison Robert M. , Dospinescu Octavian
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The authors investigate the relationship between instant messenger (IM) use and work performance, mediated by interruptions and two key indicators of the stress associated with technology use: overload and complexity.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors validate this research model using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) with data collected through a survey of 416 working professionals.

Findings

The data reveal that while IM use contributes minimally to work interruptions and to a greater extent to technological complexity, these two constructs fully mediate the direct influence of IM use at work on technology overload, and meanwhile significantly and directly contribute to work performance.

Research limitations/implications

This research provides theoretical insights into the deployment of IM and its actual impacts in the workplace. To improve the generalisation of the findings, the authors call for more IM-related research in other countries, with more native theories and various methodologies in this domain.

Practical implications

The level of stress generated through IM use is moderate, considering IM is not a significant contributor to work interruptions. Thus, despite the potential negative effects of IM communication, the positive effects of using IM at work prevail. As a result, the technology can be promoted as long as employees, their managers and the organisation as a whole are well prepared. Employees can transfer skills and behaviour from the personal setting to their work environment and thus may find an intrinsic motivation to make better use of the IM technology at work.

Originality/value

The authors argue that this research model is novel for its perspective on evaluating the actual impacts of IM use at work instead of the reasons of using it. The authors conceptualise the process to explain how IM contributes to interruptions and other technostress indicators in the working context, and the impact on performance. Contrary to some prior research, the authors find that overall IM applications do not have a negative impact on work performance, and instead may enhance it.
Weathering exchange rates: estimating the effect of climate change vulnerability on foreign currency hedging using a text-based approach
Authors: Likitapiwat Tanakorn , Jiraporn Pornsit , Treepongkaruna Sirimon
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The authors investigate whether firm-specific vulnerability to climate change influences foreign exchange hedging, using a novel text-based measure of firm-level climate change exposure generated by state-of-the-art machine-learning algorithms.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors' empirical analysis includes firm-fixed effects, random-effects regressions, propensity score matching (PSM), entropy balancing, an instrumental-variable analysis and using an exogenous shock as a quasi-natural experiment.

Findings

The authors' findings suggest that greater climate change exposure brings about a significant reduction in exchange rate hedging. Companies more exposed to climate change may invest significant resources to address climate change risk, such that they have fewer resources available for currency risk management. Additionally, firms seriously coping with climate change risk may view exchange rate risk as relatively less important in comparison to the risk posed by climate change. Notably, the authors also find that the negative effect of climate change exposure on currency hedging can be specifically attributed to the regulatory aspect of climate change risk rather than the physical dimension, suggesting that companies view the regulatory dimension of climate change as more critical.

Originality/value

Recent studies have demonstrated that climatic fluctuations represent one of the most recent sources of unpredictability, thereby impacting the economy and financial markets (Barnett et al., 2020; Bolton and Kacperczyk, 2020; Engle et al., 2020). The authors' study advances this field of research by revealing that company-specific exposure to climate change serves as a significant determinant of corporate currency hedging, thus expanding the existing knowledge base.
Windows of opportunity, alliance portfolio and catch-up of latecomer firms: a longitudinal case study of Sunny from 1984 to 2018
Authors: Peng Xinmin , He Lumin , Ma Shuai , Lockett Martin
Published: September 2023

Purpose

An alliance portfolio can help latecomer firms to acquire the necessary knowledge and resources to catch up with market leaders. However, how latecomer firms construct an alliance portfolio in terms of the nature of windows of opportunity has not been fully analyzed. This paper aims to explore how latecomer firms can build appropriate coalitions according to the nature of the window of opportunity to achieve technological catch-up in different catch-up phases.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a longitudinal case study from 1984 to 2018 of Sunny Group, now a leading manufacturer of integrated optical components and products, this paper explores the process of technological catch-up of latecomer firms building different types of alliance portfolio in different windows of opportunity.

Findings

This paper finds that there is a sequence when latecomers build an alliance portfolio in the process of catch-up. When the uncertainty of opportunity increases, the governance mechanism of the alliance portfolio will change from contractual to equity-based. Also, latecomer firms build market-dominated and technology-dominated alliance portfolios to overcome their market and technology disadvantages, respectively.

Originality/value

These conclusions not only enrich the theory of latecomer catch-up from the perspective of windows of opportunity but also expand research on alliance portfolio processes from a temporal perspective.