bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does disaster contribute to armed conflict? A quantitative analysis of disaster–conflict co-occurrence between 1990 and 2017
Authors: Caso Nicolás , Hilhorst Dorothea , Mena Rodrigo , Papyrakis Elissaios
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Disasters and armed conflict often co-occur, but does that imply that disasters trigger or fuel conflict? In the small but growing body of literature attempting to answer this question, divergent findings indicate the complex and contextual nature of a potential answer to this question. The purpose of this study is to contribute a robust cross-country analysis of the co-occurrence of disaster and conflict, with a particular focus on the potential role played by disaster.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded in a theoretical model of disaster–conflict co-occurrence, this study merges data from 163 countries between 1990 and 2017 on armed conflict, disasters and relevant control variables (low human development, weak democratic institutions, natural resource dependence and large population size/density).

Findings

The main results of this study show that, despite a sharp increase in the co-occurrence of disasters and armed conflict over time, disasters do not appear to have a direct statistically significant relation with the occurrence of armed conflict. This result contributes to the understanding of disasters and conflicts as indirectly related via co-creation mechanisms and other factors.

Originality/value

This study is a novel contribution, as it provides a fresh analysis with updated data and includes different control variables that allow for a significant contribution to the field.
Health tourism and government supports
Authors: Shabankareh Mohammadjavad , Nazarian Alireza , Golestaneh Mohammad Hassan , Dalouchi Fereshteh
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Health tourism is a relatively new branch of international tourism that has developed more rapidly than other tourism sectors in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the effect of government supports on health tourism development by considering the mediating role of internal and external infrastructures.

Design/methodology/approach

The study population consisted of all experts of two hospitals in Iran, which are frequently visited by foreign tourists (N = 151). A questionnaire, developed by combining standard and researcher-made questionnaires, was used to collect the data. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) model was developed in SmartPLS 3 to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The main hypothesis test results indicated that government supports positively affect the development of health tourism. Internal and external infrastructures were also found to mediate the relationship between government supports and health tourism development. In addition, the sub-hypothesis test results showed that internal and external infrastructures are positively affected by government supports, which puts forth the development of health tourism. As the results explained, the most important aspects of internal infrastructures affected by government support were health service quality, cost of health services and applying advanced medical technologies, respectively. Also, different aspects of external infrastructures affected by government supports are as follows: economic, infrastructures and cultural factors.

Originality/value

This study is the first of its kind to examine the impact of both medical and non-medical factors on health tourism and signifies the crucial role of governments in the development of health tourism.
Does the adoption of blockchain technology add intangible benefits to the industrial sector? Evidence from Jordan
Authors: Jaradat Zaid , Al-Hawamleh Ahmad , Al Shbail Mohannad Obeid , Hamdan Allam
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the feasibility of adopting blockchain technology in Jordan’s industrial sector and its intangible benefits. It also analyzes the influence of factors like technological, process, cultural and leadership readiness on the willingness of enterprises to adopt blockchain.

Design/methodology/approach

To gain insights into the potential adoption of blockchain technology and its intangible benefits for enterprises in the Jordanian industrial sector, this study gathered perspectives from a broad range of professionals, including financial managers, internal control staff, accounting departments, IT department managers and IS-related personnel. This was achieved through the administration of a comprehensive questionnaire designed to capture their opinions.

Findings

This study highlights the importance of technological and leadership readiness in adopting blockchain. It also shows that blockchain adoption can yield significant intangible benefits for enterprises. However, the study did not find a significant relationship between process readiness, cultural readiness and the intention to adopt blockchain.

Practical implications

The study’s outcomes underscore the importance of prioritizing technological and leadership readiness for enterprises and policymakers intending to adopt blockchain technology. By doing so, they can increase their willingness to adopt this technology and leverage its benefits.

Originality/value

This pioneering study investigates the adoption of blockchain technology and its intangible benefits for Jordanian businesses. It also examines the influence of factors like technological, process, cultural and leadership readiness on the decision to adopt blockchain in the industrial sector.
Digging behind the scenes: prioritizing human resources practices related to hospitality employees' attitudes and behaviors after the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Elsayed Yousery Nabil M.K. , Khreis Sawsan Haider , Abuelhassan Abuelhassan Elshazly , Abdelgawwad Mohamed Abdelgawwad Aly
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to provide a new vision for investigating the different human resources management (HRM) practices in hotels after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research approach was adopted using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling to reveal updated priorities and relations as stated by 504 hospitality employees.

Findings

The research approach contributed to highlighting exciting findings, as training and development (T&D) had an insignificant effect on turnover intention (IT) or affective organizational commitment (AOC) following the COVID-19 pandemic; job security (JS) had the highest impact on AOC and compensation had the highest effect on TI.

Practical implications

Individual HRM practices have different strong impacts on employee outcomes. This paper provides human resource directors with realistic and practical implications to boost individuals' AOC and reduces their intention to quit their job in conditions of uncertainty and ambiguity.

Originality/value

This pioneering study reveals the influence of HRM practices in the hospitality HRM systems regarding employee attitudes and behaviors, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides novel theoretical and practical contributions.
Towards an experiential identity of place: the case of Manchester’s Craft and Design Centre
Authors: Skandalis Alexandros
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to explore the role and potential of lived experiences in informing and shaping the formation of place identity within the sphere of the production and consumption of craft objects.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is part of a larger funded research project and focuses on Manchester’s Craft and Design Centre. It draws upon a series of in-depth interviews conducted with craft makers and visitors.

Findings

The analysis and interpretation of textual data help to theorise an experiential identity of place, which revolves around the fusion of the cultural heritage and lived insideness of the physical setting; activity spaces and the micro-encounters of craft-making; and conflicting meanings and attachments to the Craft and Design Centre.

Originality/value

This study provides a novel perspective on the understanding of place identity in the context of craft-making by focusing on the lived experiences of various stakeholders and acknowledging the multi-faceted, dynamic and processual nature of place.
The predicting role of knowledge-based dynamic capabilities on innovation performance of small enterprises in Tanzania: mediating effect of innovation culture
Authors: Ismail Ismail Juma
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the mediating role of innovation culture in the relationship between knowledge-based dynamic capabilities and innovation performance of small enterprises in Tanzania.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is cross-sectional and data collected through structured questionnaire were analyzed using PLS-SEM.

Findings

The findings revealed that dimensions of knowledge-based dynamic capabilities significantly influence innovation culture and innovation culture significantly influence the innovation performance. Finally, innovation culture is a significant mediator of the relationship.

Practical implications

The study contributes to the understanding that owners of small businesses must create conducive environments for the development of an innovation culture by improving knowledge acquisition, generation and combination for better innovation performance outcomes.

Originality/value

Studies done on innovation culture are limited especially in the context of developing countries such as Tanzania where adoption of innovative ideas is considered a slow process due to various factors such as poor management of knowledge resources. Therefore, this study contributes to the body of knowledge by establishing a link between knowledge-based dynamic capabilities and innovation performance through a mediation of innovation culture.
Fermented whey beverages: A review of process fundamentals, recent developments and nutritional potential
Authors: Bandara Thisari A , Munasinghe‐Arachchige Srimali P , Gamlath Charitha J
Published: July 2023

Fermented beverage production from whey is an attractive possibility as whey is a rich source of water and nutrients, beneficial for microbial growth. However, rapid microbial spoilage, scaling of processing equipment, flavour defects and instability of the final product make the production process challenging. Therefore, this study reviews the fundamentals of fermented whey beverage production, while giving specific emphasis to fermentation strategies and process modifications (e.g. membrane separation, additive incorporation and nonthermal pasteurisation) that enhance product quality and shelf life. The review also discusses the nutritional potential of the beverage, imparted by probiotic bacteria, macro and micronutrients and their derivatives.
Phase 1 safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic results of KCL‐286, a novel retinoic acid receptor‐β agonist for treatment of spinal cord injury, in male healthy participants
Authors: Goncalves Maria B. , Mant Tim , Täubel Jörg , Clarke Earl , Hassanin Hana , Bendel Daryl , Fok Henry , Posner John , Holmes Jane , Mander Adrian P. , Corcoran Jonathan P. T.
Published: July 2023

Aims

KCL‐286 is an orally available agonist that activates the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) β2, a transcription factor which stimulates axonal outgrowth. The investigational medicinal product is being developed for treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI). This adaptive dose escalation study evaluated the tolerability, safety and pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic activity of KCL‐286 in male healthy volunteers to establish dosing to be used in the SCI patient population.

Methods

The design was a double blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled dose escalation study in 2 parts: a single ascending dose adaptive design with a food interaction arm, and a multiple ascending dose design. RARβ2 mRNA expression was evaluated in white blood cells.

Results

At the highest single and multiple ascending doses (100 mg), no trends or clinically important differences were noted in the incidence or intensity of adverse events (AEs), serious AEs or other safety assessments with none leading to withdrawal from the study. The AEs were dry skin, rash, skin exfoliation, raised liver enzymes and eye disorders. There was an increase in mean maximum observed concentration and area under the plasma concentration–time curve up to 24 h showing a trend to subproportionality with dose. RARβ2 was upregulated by the investigational medicinal product in white blood cells.

Conclusion

KCL‐286 was well tolerated by healthy human participants following doses that exceeded potentially clinically relevant plasma exposures based on preclinical in vivo models. Target engagement shows the drug candidate activates its receptor. These findings support further development of KCL‐286 as a novel oral treatment for SCI.
The RAPIDO trial—Reduction in disease‐related treatment failure does not translate into improved overall survival: a mystery solved!
Authors: Ballal Devesh , Raj Prudvi , Saklani Avanish P.
Published: July 2023

The initial publication of the RAPIDO trial resulted in widespread adoption of short‐course radiotherapy and consolidation chemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer. The impressive reduction in disease‐related treatment failure did not, however, translate into any overall survival benefit. The recent update of the RAPIDO trial with its 5‐year results provides much insight into the actual effect that this approach has on patient outcomes and the detriment in local control leads to the question as to whether this approach can still be considered as standard of care in high‐risk rectal cancer.
In‐hospital outcomes in patients with and without epilepsy diagnosed with COVID‐19—A cohort study
Authors: Ufongene Claire , Van Hyfte Grace , Agarwal Parul , Blank Leah J. , Goldstein Jonathan , Mathew Brian , Lin Jung‐Yi , Navis Allison , McCarthy Louise , Gururangan Kapil , Peschansky Veronica , Kwon Churl‐Su , Cohen Ariella , Chan Andy Ho Wing , Dhamoon Mandip , Deng Pojen , Gutzwiller Eveline M. , Hao Qing , He Celestine , Heredia Nunez Wilson D. , Klenofsky Britany , Lemus Hernan Nicolas , Marcuse Lara , Roberts Mallory , Schorr Emily M. , Singh Anuradha , Tantillo Gabriela , Young James , Balchandani Priti , Festa Joanne , Naasan Georges , Charney Alexander , Nadkarni Girish , Jetté Nathalie
Published: July 2023

Objectives

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is associated with mortality in persons with comorbidities. The aim of this study was to evaluate in‐hospital outcomes in patients with COVID‐19 with and without epilepsy.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of patients with COVID‐19 admitted to a multicenter health system between March 15, 2020, and May 17, 2021. Patients with epilepsy were identified using a validated International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD‐9‐CM)/ICD‐10‐CM case definition. Logistic regression models and Kaplan–Meier analyses were conducted for mortality and non‐routine discharges (i.e., not discharged home). An ordinary least‐squares regression model was fitted for length of stay (LOS).

Results

We identified 9833 people with COVID‐19 including 334 with epilepsy. On univariate analysis, people with epilepsy had significantly higher ventilator use (37.70% vs 14.30%, p < .001), intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (39.20% vs 17.70%, p < .001) mortality rate (29.60% vs 19.90%, p < .001), and longer LOS (12 days vs 7 days, p < .001). and fewer were discharged home (29.64% vs 57.37%, p < .001). On multivariate analysis, only non‐routine discharge (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.70, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.00–3.70; p < .001) and LOS (32.50% longer, 95% CI 22.20%–43.60%; p < .001) were significantly different. Factors associated with higher odds of mortality in epilepsy were older age (aOR 1.05, 95% CI 1.03–1.08; p < .001), ventilator support (aOR 7.18, 95% CI 3.12–16.48; p < .001), and higher Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) (aOR 1.18, 95% CI 1.04–1.34; p = .010). In epilepsy, admissions between August and December 2020 or January and May 2021 were associated with a lower odds of non‐routine discharge and decreased LOS compared to admissions between March and July 2020, but this difference was not statistically significant.

Significance

People with COVID‐19 who had epilepsy had a higher odds of non‐routine discharge and longer LOS but not higher mortality. Older age (≥65), ventilator use, and higher CCI were associated with COVID‐19 mortality in epilepsy. This suggests that older adults with epilepsy and multimorbidity are more vulnerable than those without and should be monitored closely in the setting of COVID‐19.
Factors associated with the unmet needs of parents of children with autism in Qatar
Authors: Ekas Naomi V. , Badahbah Abdallah , Abdelmoneium Azza O.
Published: July 2023

Objective

The current study examined whether the unmet needs of parents of children with autism in Qatar predicted parent well‐being and whether sociodemographic factors and child characteristics were associated with parental unmet needs.

Background

Parents of children with autism have unmet needs that may negatively impact family members. There is little research examining unmet needs outside Europe or North America.

Method

Participants of this cross‐sectional, correlational study were 41 parents of a child with autism residing in Qatar. Parents completed surveys in Arabic about their sociodemographic characteristics, their unmet needs, their well‐being, social support, and their child's behavior.

Results

Regression analyses were performed to test the research questions. Greater unmet needs were a significant predictor of life satisfaction. Child behavior problems were a significant predictor of unmet needs, namely the need for family support and help explaining their child's diagnosis to others.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that the unmet needs of parents of children with autism are negatively associated with life satisfaction and are heightened in families where children have more behavior problems.

Implications

The Qatar government developed a national plan for autism and our results underscore the need to implement programs to support families of children with autism. An important first step is to ensure that developmentally appropriate information is provided to families and to facilitate connections between families and other stakeholders (e.g., other parents and service providers) in their community.
Effect of surface treatment upon luminous efficiency of YAG: Ce ceramics
Authors: Li Yanan , Zhang Haitao , Ling Junrong , Yang Jian , Xu Wentao , Zhou Youfu , Hong Maochun
Published: July 2023

For high‐power white light‐emitting diode devices (WLEDs), phosphor ceramics were widely used because of their high thermal conductivity and temperature resistance. In this study, Y2.998Al5O12: 0.002Ce3+ ceramics were prepared via vacuum reaction sintering and treated by silicon carbide (SiC) abrasives with particle sizes of 8.6, 20, 25, 34, and 50 μm to obtain a single textured surface. The transmittance, reflectance, luminous efficiency (LE) and photoluminescence (PL) intensity of the ceramics were investigated with various surface roughness and different placement. Compared with the double polished (DP) samples, the PL intensity and LE of the single‐surface textured ceramics were greatly improved. It was shown that the roughest ceramics placed with the single polished (SP) side facing the direction of the excitation light (the SP‐forward YAG: Ce ceramics) showed the best performance.
A randomized prospective study to assess the role of topical tacrolimus as preventive therapy in unstable acral vitiligo
Authors: Kumar Deepak , Thakur Vishal , Subburaj Kiruthika , Bishnoi Anuradha , Vinay Keshavamurthy , Sendhil Kumaran Muthu , Parsad Davinder
Published: July 2023

Background

Acral vitiligo is a significantly distressing condition and tends to be treatment‐resistant. The occurrence of new lesions on acral areas further causes greater psychological trauma. Topical tacrolimus has been widely used in the management of vitiligo and its role in preventing flares in other dermatoses such as atopic dermatitis has been well documented.

Objectives

To assess the role of topical tacrolimus as preventive therapy in unstable acral vitiligo.

Materials and Methods

In this single‐centre randomized prospective study, 60 patients aged 16–60 years having unstable acral vitiligo with symmetrical lesions were enrolled and randomized (1:1) into two groups. Patients in group A were instructed to apply topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment on both vitiliginous and normal skin while patients in group B were instructed to apply topical tacrolimus 0.1% ointment only on vitiliginous skin for 6 months. Only the distal hand till the wrist joint was chosen for observation. Vitiliginous patches were assessed monthly for 6 months for a change in the number of lesions and total area involved, extension of preexisting lesions and adverse effects if any.

Results

A reduction in the number of lesions was observed in both groups. The decrease in the number of lesions in group A was 5.6% as compared to 2.3% in group B (p‐0.001). The decrease in depigmented area in group A was 10.5% as compared to 4.6% in group B (p‐0.048). Treatment failure was seen in 11 out of 60 (18.3%) patients.

Conclusion

Tacrolimus 0.1% ointment application showed effectiveness in preventing the appearance of new lesions in unstable acral vitiligo and hastening the repigmentation when applied on both lesional and perilesional skin in vitiligo.
First record of skipper genus Ochlodes scudder, 1872 (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) feeding on rice, with a note on the taxonomy of Ochlodes sylvanus hyrcana (Christoph, 1893) stat. rev.
Authors: Farahpour‐Haghani Atousa , Jalaeian Mahdi , Nazari Vazrick
Published: July 2023

We report the first record of the larvae of a species in the butterfly genus Ochlodes (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae) feeding on rice and causing notable damage. Based on the results of DNA barcoding of the reared adults and further investigation of male and female genitalia, we revise the status of taxon hyrcana Christoph, 1893 as a subspecies of Ochlodes sylvanus (Esper, [1778]) stat. rev.
Durvalumab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin in advanced biliary tract cancer: An early exploratory analysis of real‐world data
Authors: Rimini Margherita , Fornaro Lorenzo , Lonardi Sara , Niger Monica , Lavacchi Daniele , Pressiani Tiziana , Lucchetti Jessica , Giordano Guido , Pretta Andrea , Tamburini Emiliano , Pirrone Chiara , Rapposelli Ilario Giovanni , Diana Anna , Martinelli Erika , Garajová Ingrid , Simionato Francesca , Schirripa Marta , Formica Vincenzo , Vivaldi Caterina , Caliman Enrico , Rizzato Mario Domenico , Zanuso Valentina , Nichetti Federico , Angotti Lorenzo , Landriscina Matteo , Scartozzi Mario , Ramundo Matteo , Pastorino Alessandro , Daniele Bruno , Cornara Noemi , Persano Mara , Gusmaroli Eleonora , Cerantola Riccardo , Salani Francesca , Ratti Francesca , Aldrighetti Luca , Cascinu Stefano , Rimassa Lorenza , Antonuzzo Lorenzo , Casadei‐Gardini Andrea
Published: July 2023

Background

The TOPAZ‐1 phase III trial reported a survival benefit with the anti‐programmed death cell ligand 1 (anti‐PD‐L1) durvalumab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer. The present study investigated the efficacy and safety of this new standard treatment in a real‐world setting.

Methods

The analysed population included patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of the biliary tract treated with durvalumab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin at 17 Italian centres. The primary endpoint of the study was progression‐free survival (PFS), whereas secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR) and safety. Unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) by baseline characteristics were calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

From February 2022 to November 2022, 145 patients were enrolled. After a median follow‐up of 8.5 months (95% CI: 7.9–13.6), the median PFS was 8.9 months (95% CI: 7.4–11.7). Median OS was 12.9 months (95% CI: 10.9–12.9). The investigator‐assessed confirmed ORR was 34.5%, and the disease control rate was 87.6%. Any grade adverse events (AEs) occurred in 137 patients (94.5%). Grades 3–4 AEs occurred in 51 patients (35.2%). The rate of immune‐mediated AEs (imAEs) was 22.7%. Grades 3–4 imAEs occurred in 2.1% of the patients. In univariate analysis, non‐viral aetiology, ECOG PS >0 and NLR ≥3 correlated with shorter PFS.

Conclusion

The results reported in this first real‐world analysis mostly confirmed the results achieved in the TOPAZ‐1 trial in terms of PFS, ORR and safety.
Fire shapes fungal guild diversity and composition through direct and indirect pathways
Authors: Greenwood Leanne , Nimmo Dale G. , Egidi Eleonora , Price Jodi N. , McIntosh Rachel , Frew Adam
Published: July 2023

Fire has shaped global ecosystems for millennia by directly killing organisms and indirectly altering habitats and resources. All terrestrial ecosystems, including fire‐prone ecosystems, rely on soil‐inhabiting fungi, where they play vital roles in ecological processes. Yet our understanding of how fire regimes influence soil fungi remains limited and our knowledge of these interactions in semiarid landscapes is virtually absent. We collected soil samples and vegetation measurements from sites across a gradient in time‐since‐fire ages (0–75 years‐since‐fire) and fire frequency (burnt 0–5 times during the recent 29‐year period) in a semiarid heathland of south‐eastern Australia. We characterized fungal communities using ITS amplicon‐sequencing and assigned fungi taxonomically to trophic guilds. We used structural equation models to examine direct, indirect and total effects of time‐since‐fire and fire frequency on total fungal, ectomycorrhizal, saprotrophic and pathogenic richness. We used multivariate analyses to investigate how total fungal, ectomycorrhizal, saprotrophic and pathogenic species composition differed between post‐fire successional stages and fire frequency classes. Time‐since‐fire was an important driver of saprotrophic richness; directly, saprotrophic richness increased with time‐since‐fire, and indirectly, saprotrophic richness declined with time‐since‐fire (resulting in a positive total effect), mediated through the impact of fire on substrates. Frequently burnt sites had lower numbers of saprotrophic and pathogenic species. Post‐fire successional stages and fire frequency classes were characterized by distinct fungal communities, with large differences in ectomycorrhizal species composition. Understanding the complex responses of fungal communities to fire can be improved by exploring how the effects of fire flow through ecosystems. Diverse fire histories may be important for maintaining the functional diversity of fungi in semiarid regions.
Black people's experiences of being asked about adverse childhood experiences in the UK: A qualitative study
Authors: Sødal Eirill Høyland , Huddy Vyv , McKenzie Juliet
Published: July 2023

Introduction

The objectives for this study were to explore Black people's experiences of being asked about ACEs by mental health or counselling professionals, both broadly, and also as part of routine enquiry with a commonly used ACE questionnaire. An additional aim was to understand their perspectives on how services should be asking about ACEs.

Methods

This study used a qualitative methodology, with a critical realist reflexive thematic analysis approach. Ten people who identified as Black and had been asked about ACEs by a mental health professional or counsellor, were interviewed about their experiences and perspectives using semi‐structured interviews.

Results

Four overarching themes, some with subthemes, were established: Trust and safety as individual and systemic (subthemes: Distrust in the system; Distrust in the clinician; Racism in health care; Keeping safe); It is the person, not the questions (subthemes: Being heard and understood; Similarity and difference); Engaged client, ‘hard‐to‐reach’ clinician? and People are not tick‐boxes.

Conclusions

The results highlight that people find it important and useful to be asked about ACEs, if it is done in an appropriate manner. Establishing trust and a therapeutic relationship is key to fostering this. Participants stated that the ACE questionnaire might miss important context, and they relayed a preference for being asked about ACEs using more inclusive definitions of ACEs.
Judokas Exhibit Short Response Latency Even to Non-Judo-Specific External Perturbation: Insights Into the Involuntary Postural Control Ability in Humans
Authors: Sado Natsuki , Fujii Norihisa , Nonaka Eri , Miyazaki Terumitsu
Published: July 2023

Humans experience unanticipated external postural perturbations and recover their posture faster via involuntary responses than voluntary responses. Previous cross-sectional comparisons between athletes and untrained populations have suggested that daily motor experiences can lead to adaptations in the reflex system, but the temporal aspect of this adaptation has been unclear. Here we show that judokas have an earlier muscle activation response to even non-judo-specific external perturbations compared with an untrained population. The response latency to a backward push-and-release type postural perturbation was compared between male judokas (n = 7, career >13 years, ranging from world champions to prefectural competitors) and untrained nonjudokas (n = 7). Latency was defined as the instant of tibialis anterior muscle activity onset. Judokas exhibited shorter latency (20.6 ± 7.1 ms) than nonjudokas (28.3 ± 8.9 ms). The rank order of latency in judokas did not correlate with their competition performance. We suggest that daily training in responding to perturbations might improve some parts of the sensorimotor pathway relating to postural response latency, and that this excellence in involuntary response is independent of athletic performance. The findings provide a novel perspective for understanding postural control ability in humans.
miRNA/siRNA-directed pathway to produce noncoding piRNAs from endogenous protein-coding regions ensures
Drosophila
spermatogenesis
Authors: Iki Taichiro , Kawaguchi Shinichi , Kai Toshie
Published: July 2023

PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathways control transposable elements (TEs) and endogenous genes, playing important roles in animal gamete formation. However, the underlying piRNA biogenesis mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we show that endogenous protein coding sequences (CDSs), which are normally used for translation, serve as origins of noncoding piRNA biogenesis in
Drosophila melanogaster
testes. The product, namely, CDS-piRNAs, formed silencing complexes with Aubergine (Aub) in germ cells. Proximity proteome and functional analyses show that CDS-piRNAs and cluster/TE-piRNAs are distinct species occupying Aub, the former loading selectively relies on chaperone Cyclophilin 40. Moreover, Argonaute 2 (Ago2) and Dicer-2 activities were found critical for CDS-piRNA production. We provide evidence that Ago2-bound short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs) specify precursors to be processed into piRNAs. We further demonstrate that Aub is crucial in spermatid differentiation, regulating chromatins through mRNA cleavage. Collectively, our data illustrate a unique strategy used by male germ line, expanding piRNA repertoire for silencing of endogenous genes during spermatogenesis.
Activation mechanism of a short argonaute-TIR prokaryotic immune system
Authors: Ni Dongchun , Lu Xuhang , Stahlberg Henning , Ekundayo Babatunde
Published: July 2023

Short prokaryotic argonaute (pAgo) and toll/interleukin-1 receptor/resistance protein (TIR)–analog of PAZ (APAZ) form a heterodimeric SPARTA complex that provides immunity to its prokaryotic host through an abortive infection mechanism. Monomeric SPARTA senses foreign RNA/DNA duplexes to assemble an active tetramer resulting in cell death by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (oxidized form) (NAD) depletion via an unknown mechanism. We report nine structures of SPARTA in different functional states at a resolution range of 4.2 to 2.9 angstroms, revealing its activation mechanism. Inactive SPARTA monomers bind to RNA/DNA duplexes to form symmetric dimers mediated by the association of Ago subunits. The initiation of tetramer assembly induces flexibility of the TIR domains enabling a symmetry-breaking rotational movement of a TIR domain in the dimer units which facilitates the TIR oligomerization, resulting in the formation of the substrate binding pocket and the activation of the SPARTA complex’s NADase activity. Our findings provide detailed structural and mechanistic insights into activating a short argonaute defense system.
Modern sand provenance and transport across the western Gulf of Mexico margin
Authors: Lawton Timothy F. , Juárez-Arriaga Edgar , Stockli Daniel F. , Fildani Andrea
Published: July 2023

Petrographic and detrital zircon U-Pb analysis of modern beach sands and river sands from major catchments in northeastern Mexico draining to the Gulf of Mexico provides evidence for a minimum of 650 km of littoral sand transport southward from the mouth of the Rio Grande at the Mexico-U.S. border to the central part of the state of Veracruz, Mexico. Principal tracers of Rio Grande sand include: (1) quartzose composition that contrasts with lithic compositions of sand in eastern Mexico rivers and (2) detrital zircon ages with Mesoproterozoic modes at 1.8−1.5 Ga and 1.4 Ga, age groups that are typical of basement and derivative sediment of the SW United States but are uncommon to rare in Mexican river catchments. In contrast, abundant Miocene and younger grains in beach sands of Veracruz indicate primary sediment derivation from active and recently active volcanoes in the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt in central Mexico. A proportional decrease in sand of Rocky Mountain provenance with distance southward along the coast from the mouth of the Rio Grande and absence of Miocene and younger zircon grains in beaches north of rivers draining the Trans-Mexican volcanic belt indicate net littoral sand transport southward along the eastern coast of Mexico, demonstrating that wintertime shoreline-parallel surface currents rather than north-directed summertime currents dominate sediment transfer. Sand samples of Tamaulipas beaches in northeastern Mexico commonly have equal or higher proportions of U.S.-derived Mesoproterozoic zircon grains than are present in river bar sand of the lower Rio Grande and the Rio Grande delta, and thus require that littoral processes rework and incorporate coastal dune and beach sands of northeastern Mexico that are enriched in predam Rio Grande sediment. Implied coastal erosion may be related to Holocene transgression or interruption of sediment supply to the coastal sediment transport system by dams in the Rio Grande drainage basin. Such coastal erosion is impacting long-term shoreline stability and viability of the littoral environment.
Inflammatory bowel disease: recent developments
Authors: Ashton James John , Beattie R Mark
Published: July 2023

Paediatric-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a complex and heterogenous condition. Incidence of disease in those aged <18 years has doubled over the last 25 years, with concurrent increased prevalence and no decrease in disease severity. The tools available at diagnosis for investigation have developed over the last 10 years, including better utilisation of faecal calprotectin, improved small bowel imaging and video capsule endoscopy. Alongside this, management options have increased and include biological and small molecule therapies targeting alternative pathways (such as interleukin 12/23, integrins and Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription, JAK-STAT pathways) and better understanding of therapeutic drug monitoring for more established agents, such as infliximab. Dietary manipulation remains an interesting but contentious topic.

This review summarises some of the recent developments in the diagnosis, investigation and management of IBD in children and young people. IBD is increasingly recognised as a continuum of disease, with a proportion of patients presenting with classical Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis phenotypes. Future implementation of personalisation and stratification strategies, including clinical and molecular biomarkers, implementation of predictors of response and outcome and use of additional therapies, will continue to require working within clinical networks and multiprofessional teams.
Surveillance of athlete mental health symptoms and disorders: a supplement to the International Olympic Committee’s consensus statement on injury and illness surveillance
Authors: Mountjoy Margo , Junge Astrid , Bindra Abhinav , Blauwet C , Budgett Richard , Currie Alan , Engebretsen Lars , Hainline Brian , McDuff David , Purcell Rosemary , Putukian Margot , Reardon Claudia L , Soligard Torbjørn , Gouttebarge Vincent
Published: July 2023

In 2019, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) published a consensus statement outlining the principles for recording and reporting injury and illness in elite sport. The authors encouraged sport federations to adapt the framework to their sport-specific context. Since this publication, several sports have published extensions to the IOC consensus statement.

In response to a paucity of epidemiological data on athlete mental health, the IOC mental health working group adapted the IOC consensus statement on injury and illness surveillance to improve the capturing of athlete mental health data. In addition to the members of the working group, other experts and athlete representatives joined the project team to address gaps in expertise, and to add stakeholder perspective, respectively. Following an in-person meeting, the authors worked remotely, applying the scientific literature on athlete mental health to the IOC injury and illness surveillance framework. A virtual meeting was held to reach consensus on final recommendations.

Practical outcomes based on the analysis of the scientific literature are provided with respect to surveillance design, data collection and storage, data analysis and reporting of athlete mental health data. Mental health-specific report forms for athlete and health professional utilisation are included for both longitudinal and event-specific surveillance.

Ultimately, this publication should encourage the standardisation of surveillance methodology for mental health symptoms and disorders among athletes, which will improve consistency in study designs, thus facilitating the pooling of data and comparison across studies. The goal is to encourage systematic surveillance of athlete mental health.
Predictive value of combining leucocyte and platelet counts for mortality in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients after percutaneous coronary intervention treatment in Chinese population: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Yuan Teng , Aisan Aikebai , Maheshati Tunike , Tian Ren , Li Yunxia , Chen You
Published: July 2023

Objective

Risk stratification is challenging in patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We investigated the prognostic value of a novel score system combining leucocyte and platelet counts (COL-P) scores for in-hospital and long-term adverse outcomes.

Design

This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with STEMI.

Setting

First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University.

Participants

A total of 854 STEMI patients with primary PCI were included in this study from November 2009 and December 2015.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs).

Methodology

The patients were divided into three groups according to the COL-P scores (0, 1 and 2). Cox regression analysis was used to investigate the relation between adverse outcomes and the COL-P score in patients with STEMI.

Results

A total of 44 patients died in hospital, and 99 within 3-year follow-up after discharge. The in-hospital and 3-year mortality and MACEs were higher in patients with higher COL-P score. Multivariable Cox regression indicated COL-P score was independently associated with long-term mortality (COL-P 1 vs COL-P 0: HR 2.07, 95% CI 1.016 to 5.567, p=0.005; COL-P 2 vs COL-P 0: HR 5.02, 95% CI 1.990 to 9.041, p<0.001).

Conclusion

The COL-P score was a useful risk system for stratifying high-risk patients with STEMI after primary PCI.
Protocol for a systematic review of the associations between inflammatory markers and lung function, muscle force and exercise capacity in people with COPD
Authors: Noor Nadhirah Mohd , Mustaffa Zawani , Nizam Alia , Mohd Zim Mohd Arif , Ng Li Whye Cindy , Mirza Fatim Tahirah
Published: July 2023

Introduction

The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been on the rise, with acute exacerbation of COPD associated with the highest burden and multiple pulmonary and systemic consequences. People with COPD have been found to have an abnormal response of systemic inflammation. To date, although limited, there are studies that suggest negative associations between inflammatory markers and important clinical outcomes such as exercise capacity and muscle force. This protocol aims to systematically review the evidence for (i) the associations between inflammatory markers and lung function, muscle force and exercise capacity and (ii) the influence of other factors (eg, hospitalisation, exercise programme) on the level of inflammatory markers in people with COPD.

Methods and analysis

Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science and ProQuest will be searched from database inception to February 2023 using PEO search strategy (Population: adults with COPD; Exposure: inflammatory markers; Outcomes: lung function, muscle force and exercise capacity). Four reviewers working in pairs will independently screen articles for eligibility and extract data that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Depending on the design of the included studies, either Cochrane risk-of-bias version 2 or the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale tools will be used to rate the methodological quality of the included studies. Effect sizes reported in each individual study will be standardised to Cohen’s d and a random effects model will be used to calculate the pooled effect size for the association.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is unnecessary as this study will only use publicly available data. The findings will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals and conferences.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42022284446.
HbA1c recording in patients following a first diagnosis of serious mental illness: the South London and Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre case register
Authors: Bell Nikeysha , Perera Gayan , Chandran David , Stubbs Brendon , Gaughran Fiona , Stewart Robert
Published: July 2023

Objectives

To investigate factors associated with the recording of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) in people with first diagnoses of serious mental illness (SMI) in a large mental healthcare provider, and factors associated with HbA1c levels, when recorded. To our knowledge this is the first such investigation, although attention to dysglycaemia in SMI is an increasing priority in mental healthcare.

Design

The study was primarily descriptive in nature, seeking to ascertain the frequency of HbA1c recording in the mental healthcare sector for people following first SMI diagnosis.

Settings

A large mental healthcare provider, the South London and Maudsley National Health Service Trust.

Participants

Using electronic mental health records data, we ascertained patients with first SMI diagnoses (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder) from 2008 to 2018.

Outcome measures

Recording or not of HbA1c level was ascertained from routine local laboratory data and supplemented by a natural language processing (NLP) algorithm for extracting recorded values in text fields (precision 0.89%, recall 0.93%). Age, gender, ethnic group, year of diagnosis, and SMI diagnosis were investigated as covariates in relation to recording or not of HbA1c and first recorded levels.

Results

Of 21 462 patients in the sample (6546 bipolar disorder; 14 916 schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder; mean age 38.8 years, 49% female), 4106 (19.1%) had at least one HbA1c result recorded from laboratory data, increasing to 6901 (32.2%) following NLP. HbA1c recording was independently more likely in non-white ethnic groups (black compared with white: OR 2.45, 95% CI 2.29 to 2.62), and was negatively associated with age (OR per year increase 0.93, 0.92–0.95), female gender (0.83, 0.78–0.88) and bipolar disorder (0.49, 0.45–0.52).

Conclusions

Over a 10-year period, relatively low level of recording of HbA1c was observed, although this has increased over time and ascertainment was increased with text extraction. It remains important to improve the routine monitoring of dysglycaemia in these at-risk disorders.
An open-label pilot trial of faecal microbiome transfer to restore the gut microbiome in anorexia nervosa: protocol
Authors: Wilson Brooke C , Derraik José G B , Albert Benjamin B , Leong Karen S W , Tweedie-Cullen Ry Y , Creagh Christine , Depczynski Marysia , Edwards Taygen , Vatanen Tommi , Thabrew Hiran , Cutfield Wayne S , O'Sullivan Justin M
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN) harbour distinct gut microbiomes compared with healthy individuals, which are sufficient to induce weight loss and anxiety-like behaviours when transplanted into germ-free mice. We hypothesise that faecal microbiome transfer (FMT) from healthy donors would help restore the gut microbiome of individuals with AN, which in turn, may aid patient recovery.

Methods

We aim to conduct an open-label pilot study in 20 females aged 16–32 years in Auckland, New Zealand who meet the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) criteria for AN and have a body mass index 13–19 kg/m2. We will recruit four healthy, lean, female donors, aged 18–32 years, who will undergo extensive clinical screening prior to stool donation. Faecal microbiota will be harvested from donors and double encapsulated in delayed release, acid-resistant capsules. All participants will receive a single course of 20 FMT capsules (five from each donor) which they can choose to take over two or four consecutive days. Stool and blood samples will be collected from participants over a period of 3 months to assess their gut microbiome profile, metabolome, levels of intestinal inflammation and nutritional status. Our primary outcome is a shift in the gut microbiome composition at 3 weeks post-FMT (Bray-Curtis dissimilarity). We will also monitor participants’ body composition (whole-body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scans), eating disorder psychopathology, mental health and assess their views on, and tolerability of, treatment. All adverse events will be recorded and reviewed by an independent data monitoring committee.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval was provided by the Central Health and Disability Ethics Committee (Ministry of Health, New Zealand, 21/CEN/212). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented to both scientific and consumer group audiences.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12621001504808.