bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of attending rheumatologist’s Big Five personality traits on systemic lupus erythematosus patients’ trust in their rheumatologist: the TRUMP2-SLE project
Authors: Oguro Nao , Yajima Nobuyuki , Ishikawa Yuichi , Sakurai Natsuki , Hidekawa Chiharu , Ichikawa Takanori , Kishida Dai , Hayashi Keigo , Shidahara Kenta , Miyawaki Yoshia , Yoshimi Ryusuke , Sada Ken-ei , Shimojima Yasuhiro , Kurita Noriaki
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Differences in communication styles according to physicians’ personality traits have been identified, and such physician-related factors can be important in building patient-physician trust. This study examined the impact of rheumatologists’ Big Five personality traits on patients’ trust in their attending rheumatologists.

Methods

This cross-sectional study included Japanese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at five academic medical centres between June 2020 and August 2021. The exposure was the Big Five personality traits of their attending rheumatologists using the Japanese version of the Ten-Item Personality Inventory Scale (2-14 points each). The outcome was the patient’s trust in attending rheumatologist using the Japanese version of the 5-item Wake Forest Physician Trust Scale (0-100 points). A general linear model was fitted to adjust for rheumatologists’ and patients’ characteristics, while correcting for the clustering effect of the same attending rheumatologists.

Results

The study included 505 patients with a mean age of 46.8 years, and 88.1% were women. Forty-three attending rheumatologists (mean age, 39.6 years, 23.3% women) were identified. Higher extraversion and agreeableness were associated with higher trust in attending rheumatologists (per 1-point increase, 1.85 points [95% CI 0.52 –3.19] and 2.24 points [95% CI 0.86 –3.61], respectively), and higher conscientiousness was associated with lower trust (per 1-point increase, −1.07 points [95% CI −1.64 – −0.49]).

Conclusions

While higher extraversion and agreeableness of attending rheumatologists led to higher patient trust in their rheumatologist, overly high conscientiousness may lead to lower trust resulting from the physician’s demand of dutifulness from patients with SLE.

KEY MESSAGES

What is already known on this topic

Although physicians’ personality traits are known to influence their attitudes and performance, little is known about how they affect trust through rheumatology patient-physician interactions.

What this study adds

Some Big Five personality traits of an attending rheumatologist were associated with patients’ trust in their rheumatologist; extraversion and agreeableness were linked to higher trust and conscientiousness was associated with lower trust.

How this study may affect research, practice, or policy

Through reflection on their personality traits, attending rheumatologists are expected to become aware of their habits in patient-physician interactions and adapt their communication to strengthen the relationships with their patients.
Nurses’ perceptions of videoconferencing telenursing: comparing frontal learning vs. online learning before and after the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Kats Svetlana , Shmueli Liora
Published: May 2023

Introduction

During the COVID-19 pandemic, a digital transformation led to an expansion in telenursing practices and a shift in training to online learning. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of behavioral-related factors, based on both TAM and TPB variables, on the intention to use telenursing through videoconferencing and to compare the effect of frontal (before COVID-19) vs. online (during and after COVID-19) training in post-basic nursing courses on nursing attitudes to telenursing.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in December 2022 among nurses working mainly at hospitals in Israel who underwent post-basic education training between January 2017 and December 2022. A multivariate ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis was used to investigate determinants of intention to use telenursing through videoconferencing

Results

Nurses have a positive attitude towards telenursing technology via videoconferencing for remote patient care, regardless of whether they learned about it through face-to-face or online training. The ease of use and the perception of the technology’s importance by colleagues and supervisors were found to have the most significant impact on the attitude of both research groups towards the use of telelearning.

Discussion

Successful implementation of new technology in healthcare requires organizational and collegial support. Therefore, managers should encourage the use of telenursing by providing appropriate training for nurses and the necessary resources and support.
Windows into leishmaniasis epidemiology in the United States: September 2021 through August 2022
Authors: Truong Thao T. , Crawford Karissa , Wang-McGuire Ichih , Jensen Kendal , Mushtaq Aisha , Lieberman Nicole A.P. , Buckner Frederick S. , Voorhis Wesley C. Van , Cookson Brad T. , Salipante Stephen J. , Lieberman Joshua A.
Published: May 2023

Leishmaniasis is a rare disease in the United States, with an estimated annual incidence of dozens of cases occurring primarily in travelers, migrants, and military personnel. True disease incidence is unknown, since leishmaniasis is not a nationally notifiable condition. Here, we describe the results of molecular leishmaniasis over a 1-year interval (September 2021 to August 2022) when our laboratory served as the primary national reference laboratory for molecular diagnosis of civilian leishmaniasis. We tested 218 specimens submitted from 36 states yielding 94/186 (50.5%) positive cases with species or species complex-level identification and 18 novel mini-exon alleles. Most species belonged to subgenusViannia(75.6%) and associated with cutaneous or mucocutaneous disease. Cases were associated with recent travel (18.1%), travel timing unspecified (7.4%), migration (7.4%), remote travel (2.1%), military (1.1%), or unknown history (63.8%). These data illustrate the clinical utility of molecular testing for leishmaniasis and provide unique insight into disease epidemiology.
Establishment of CD1b-restricted immunity to lipid antigens in the pulmonary response toMycobacterium tuberculosisinfection
Authors: Harris Macallister C. , Gary Hadley E. , Cooper Sarah K. , Ackart David F. , Dilisio James E. , Basaraba Randall J , Cheng Tan-Yun , van Rhijn Ildiko , Moody D. Branch , Podell Brendan K.
Published: May 2023

CD1 is an antigen presenting glycoprotein homologous to MHC I; however, CD1 proteins present lipid rather than peptide antigen. CD1 proteins are well established to present lipid antigens ofMycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb) to T cells, but understanding the role of CD1-restricted immunityin vivoin response to Mtb infection has been limited by availability of animal models naturally expressing the CD1 proteins implicated in human response: CD1a, CD1b and CD1c. Guinea pigs, in contrast to other rodent models, express four CD1b orthologs, and here we utilize the guinea pig to establish the kinetics of gene and protein expression of CD1b orthologs, as well as the Mtb lipid-antigen and CD1b-restricted immune response at the tissue level over the course of Mtb infection. Our results indicate transient upregulation of CD1b expression during the effector phase of adaptive immunity that wanes with disease chronicity. Gene expression indicates that upregulation of CD1b is the result of transcriptional induction across all CD1b orthologs. We show high CD1b3 expression on B cells, and identify CD1b3 as the predominant CD1b ortholog in pulmonary granuloma lesions. We identifyex vivocytotoxic activity directed against CD1b that closely paralleled the kinetic changes in CD1b expression in Mtb infected lung and spleen. This study confirms that CD1b expression is modulated by Mtb infection in lung and spleen, leading to pulmonary and extrapulmonary CD1b-restricted immunity as a component of the antigen-specific response to Mtb infection.
Proteomic predictors of individualized nutrient-specific insulin secretion in health and disease
Authors: Kolic Jelena , Sun WenQing Grace , Cen Haoning Howard , Ewald Jessica , Rogalski Jason C. , Sasaki Shugo , Sun Han , Rajesh Varsha , Xia Yi Han , Moravcova Renata , Skovsø Søs , Spigelman Aliya F. , Manning Fox Jocelyn E. , Lyon James , Beet Leanne , Xia Jianguo , Lynn Francis C. , Gloyn Anna L. , Foster Leonard J. , MacDonald Patrick E. , Johnson James D.
Published: May 2023

Population level variation and molecular mechanisms behind insulin secretion in response to carbohydrate, protein, and fat remain uncharacterized despite ramifications for personalized nutrition. Here, we define prototypical insulin secretion dynamics in response to the three macronutrients in islets from 140 cadaveric donors, including those diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. While islets from the majority of donors exhibited the expected relative response magnitudes, with glucose being highest, amino acid moderate, and fatty acid small, 9% of islets stimulated with amino acid and 8% of islets stimulated with fatty acids had larger responses compared with high glucose. We leveraged this insulin response heterogeneity and used transcriptomics and proteomics to identify molecular correlates of specific nutrient responsiveness, as well as those proteins and mRNAs altered in type 2 diabetes. We also examine nutrient-responsiveness in stem cell-derived islet clusters and observe that they have dysregulated fuel sensitivity, which is a hallmark of functionally immature cells. Our study now represents the first comparison of dynamic responses to nutrients and multi-omics analysis in human insulin secreting cells. Responses of different people’s islets to carbohydrate, protein, and fat lay the groundwork for personalized nutrition.

ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY

Deep phenotyping and multi-omics reveal individualized nutrient-specific insulin secretion propensity.
Beyond Anxiety and Grief: Mapping the Emotional Landscape of Parents Facing a Childhood Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Sheikh Shanzeh , Wimberly Courtney E. , Towry Lisa , Walsh Kyle M.
Published: May 2023

Objective

We sought to explore the variation in emotional responses and identify clusters of emotional patterns associated with sociodemographic, clinical, and familial factors.

Methods

A large-scale survey with questions on demographics, experiences, and emotions at the time of diagnosis was sent to childhood cancer caregivers and completed between August 2012 and April 2019. Dimensionality reduction and statistical tests for independence were used to investigate relationships between sociodemographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors and 32 representative emotions.

Results

Data from 3142 respondents were analyzed. Through principal components analysis and t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding analysis, three clusters of emotional responses were identified, captured 44%, 20% and 36% of respondents, respectively. Hallmark emotions within each cluster were “anger and grief” (Cluster 1), “pessimism, relief, impatience, insecurity, discouragement, and calm” (Cluster 2), and “hope” (Cluster 3). Cluster membership was associated with differences in parental factors, such as educational attainment, family income, and biological parent status, as well as child-specific factors, including age at diagnosis and cancer type.

Conclusions

The study revealed substantial heterogeneity in emotional responses to a child’s cancer diagnosis than previously recognized, with differences linked to both caregiver and child-related factors. These findings underscore the importance of developing responsive and effective programs to improve targeted support for caregivers from the time of diagnosis throughout a family’s childhood cancer journey.
Association of neurotransmitter pathway polygenic risk with specific symptom profiles in psychosis
Authors: Warren Tracy L. , Tubbs Justin D. , Lesh Tyler A. , Corona Mylena B. , Pakzad Sarvenaz , Albuquerque Marina , Singh Praveena , Zarubin Vanessa , Morse Sarah , Sham Pak Chung , Carter Cameron S. , Nord Alex S.
Published: May 2023

A primary goal of psychiatry is to better understand the pathways that link genetic risk to psychiatric symptoms. Here, we tested association of diagnosis and endophenotypes with overall and neurotransmitter pathway-specific polygenic risk in patients with early-stage psychosis. Subjects included 206 demographically diverse cases with a psychotic disorder who underwent comprehensive psychiatric and neurological phenotyping and 115 matched controls. Following genotyping, we calculated polygenic scores (PGSs) for schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BP) using Psychiatric Genomics Consortium GWAS summary statistics. To test if overall genetic risk can be partitioned into affected neurotransmitter pathways, we calculated pathway PGSs (pPGSs) for SZ risk affecting each of four major neurotransmitter systems: glutamate, GABA, dopamine, and serotonin. Psychosis subjects had elevated SZ PGS versus controls; cases with SZ or BP diagnoses had stronger SZ or BP risk, respectively. There was no significant association within psychosis cases between individual symptom measures and overall PGS. However, neurotransmitter-specific pPGSs were moderately associated with specific endophenotypes; notably, glutamate was associated with SZ diagnosis and with deficits in cognitive control during task-based fMRI, while dopamine was associated with global functioning. Finally, unbiased endophenotype-driven clustering identified three diagnostically mixed case groups that separated on primary deficits of positive symptoms, negative symptoms, global functioning, and cognitive control. All clusters showed strong genome-wide risk. Cluster 2, characterized by deficits in cognitive control and negative symptoms, additionally showed specific risk concentrated in glutamatergic and GABAergic pathways. Due to the intensive characterization of our subjects, the present study was limited to a relatively small cohort. As such, results should be followed up with additional research at the population and mechanism level. Our study suggests pathway-based PGS analysis may be a powerful path forward to study genetic mechanisms driving psychiatric endophenotypes.
Examining inappropriate medication in UK primary care for type 2 diabetes patients with polypharmacy
Authors: Faquetti Maria Luisa , Frey Géraldine , Stämpfli Dominik , Weiler Stefan , Burden Andrea M.
Published: May 2023

Aims

To estimate the prevalence of potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIPs) in patients starting their first non-insulin antidiabetic treatment (NIAD) using two explicit process measures of the appropriateness of prescribing in UK primary care, stratified by age and polypharmacy status.

Methods

A descriptive cohort study between 2016 and 2019 was conducted to assess PIPs in patients aged ≥45 years at the start of their first NIAD, stratified by age and polypharmacy status. The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers criteria 2015 was used for older (≥65 years) and the Prescribing Optimally in Middle-age People’s Treatments (PROMPT) criteria for middle-aged (45-64 years) patients. Prevalence of overall PIPs and individual PIPs criteria was reported using the IQVIA Medical Research Data incorporating THIN, a Cegedim Database of anonymised electronic health records in the UK.

Results

Among 28,604 patients initiating NIADs, 18,494 (64.7%) received polypharmacy. In older and middle-aged patients with polypharmacy, 39.6% and 22.7%, respectively, received ≥1 PIPs. At the individual PIPs level, long-term PPI use and strong opioid without laxatives were the most frequent PIPs among older and middle-aged patients with polypharmacy (11.1% and 4.1%, respectively).

Conclusions

This study revealed that patients starting NIAD treatment receiving polypharmacy have the potential for pharmacotherapy optimisation.
INVESTIGATING HEALTH PROFESSIONALS’ UNDERSTANDING AND RISK PERCEPTION OF THE EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON HEALTH. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AT THE SDA HOSPITAL, REGIONAL HOSPITAL AND MUNICIPAL HOSPITAL-SUNYANI, GHANA
Authors: Barimah Antwi Joseph , Abdul-Ganiyu Mansurat , Ibrahim Mohammed Mohammed , Allotey Solomon Saka , Commey Rebecca Dorcas , Osei-Tutu Angelo Guapem , Nketiah Yaw Boakye , Amoah Bernard Opoku , Agyemang Larry , Dumba James , Gyamea Helina
Published: May 2023

The study investigated health professionals’ understanding and risk perception of climate change in the Sunyani Municipality by focusing on health professional’s knowledge on climate change, examining health professional’s risk perception of climate change on health and identifying the co-benefits of climate change mitigation. This quantitative oriented cross-sectional study randomly selected 400 health professionals across the Regional Hospital, SDA Hospital and Municipal Hospital as respondents. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS Version 25. From the study, the results indicate that Health professionals are fully aware of the concept of climate change. Health professionals do not have knowledge pertaining to the scientific aspects of climate change. There was a statistical relationship between respondent’s perception that climate change can lead to death (P<0.001) and their awareness of the risk of climate change impact on health. There was a general likelihood of an increase in malaria (Mean=2.98), Dengue fever (Mean=3.16), Cholera (Mean= 3.18), schistosomiasis (Mean=3.27), Meningococcal meningitis (Mean=3.85) and Influenza (Mean=3.73) due to climate change. These actions positively affect health and climate and they include: Giving up red meat (Mean=3.21), Walking and cycling instead of using cars (Mean=3.27), Reducing rural-urban migration (Mean=3.46), Reducing air pollution from emission of fossil fuel (Mean=3.63). A majority of 65% of respondents agreed to the incorporation of climate change related course work into nursing/medical school curricula as a policy to mitigate climate change. The study concludes that health professionals are fully aware about climate change but lack a thorough understanding of the scientific aspects of climate change. The general risk perception of health professionals towards climate change impact on health was high. Climate change mitigation is beneficial to human populations.
CEMIG: Prediction of thecis-regulatory motif using the De Bruijn graph from ATAC-seq
Authors: Wang Yizhong , Li Yang , Wang Cankun , Ma Qin , Liu Bingqiang
Published: May 2023

Abstracts

Sequence motif discovery algorithms identify novel DNA patterns with significant biological roles, such as transcription factor (TF) binding site motifs. Chromatin accessibility data, accumulated through assay for transposase-accessible chromatin with sequencing (ATAC-seq), has enriched resources for motif discovery. However, computational efforts in ATAC-seq data analysis mainly target TF binding activity footprinting rather than motif prediction. Here, we introduce CEMIG, an algorithm predicting and characterizing TF binding sites, leveraging the De Bruijn and Hamming distance graph models. Evaluation of 129 ATAC-seq datasets from the Cistrome Data Browser suggests that CEMIG outperforms three widely used methods using four metrics. It is noteworthy that CEMIG is employed to predict cell-type-specific and shared TF motifs in GM12878 and K562 cells, facilitating comprehensive gene expression and functional genomics analysis.
Schwann cell release of p11 induces sensory neuron hyperactivity in Fabry disease
Authors: Waltz Tyler B. , Chao Dongman , Prodoehl Eve K. , Ehlers Vanessa L. , Dharanikota Bhavya S. , Dahms Nancy M. , Isaeva Elena , Hogan Quinn H. , Pan Bin , Stucky Cheryl L.
Published: May 2023

Patients with Fabry disease suffer from chronic debilitating pain and peripheral sensory neuropathy with minimal treatment options, but the cellular drivers of this pain are unknown. Here, we propose a novel mechanism by which altered signaling between Schwann cells and sensory neurons underlies the peripheral sensory nerve dysfunction we observe in a genetic rat model of Fabry disease. Usingin vivoandin vitroelectrophysiological recordings, we demonstrate that Fabry rat sensory neurons exhibit pronounced hyperexcitability. Schwann cells likely contribute to this finding as application of mediators released from cultured Fabry Schwann cells induces spontaneous activity and hyperexcitability in naïve sensory neurons. We examined putative algogenic mediators using proteomic analysis and found that Fabry Schwann cells release elevated levels of the protein p11 (S100-A10) which induces sensory neuron hyperexcitability. Removal of p11 from Fabry Schwann cell media causes hyperpolarization of neuronal resting membrane potential, indicating that p11 contributes to the excessive neuronal excitability caused by Fabry Schwann cells. These findings demonstrate that rats with Fabry disease exhibit sensory neuron hyperexcitability caused in part by Schwann cell release of the protein p11.

Graphical Abstract
Retrospective Review of Blood Culture-Confirmed Cases of Enteric Fever in Navi Mumbai, India: 2014–2018
Authors: Jayaprasad Niniya , Borhade Priyanka , LeBoa Christopher , Date Kashmira , Joshi Shrikrishna , Shimpi Rahul , Andrews Jason R. , Bhatnagar Pankaj , Luby Stephen P. , Hoffman Seth A.
Published: May 2023

India has one of the highest estimated burdens of enteric fever globally. Prior to implementation of Typbar-TCV®typhoid conjugate vaccine (TCV) in a public sector pediatric immunization campaign in Navi Mumbai, India, we conducted a retrospective review of blood culture-confirmed cases of typhoid and paratyphoid fevers to estimate the local burden of disease. This review included all blood cultures processed at a central microbiology laboratory, serving multiple hospitals, in Navi Mumbai (January 2014–May 2018) that tested positive for eitherSalmonellaTyphi orSalmonellaParatyphi A. Of 40,670 blood cultures analyzed, 1,309 (3.2%) were positive for S. Typhi (1,201 [92%]) or S. Paratyphi A (108 [8%]). Culture positivity was highest in the last months of the dry season (April-June). Our findings indicate a substantial burden of enteric fever in Navi Mumbai and support the importance of TCV immunization campaigns and improved water, sanitation, and hygiene.
The developmental genediscoregulates diel-niche evolution in adult moths
Authors: Sondhi Yash , Messcher Rebeccah L. , Bellantuano Anthony J. , Storer Caroline G. , Cinel Scott D. , Godfrey R. Keating , Glass Deborah , St Laurent Ryan A. , Hamilton Chris A. , Earl Chandra , Brislawn Colin J. , Kitching Ian J. , Bybee Seth M. , Theobald Jamie C. , Kawahara Akito Y.
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Animals shift activity periods to reduce predation, minimize competition, or exploit new resources, and this can drive sensory system evolution. But adaptive mechanisms underlying niche- shifts are poorly understood, and model organisms are often too distantly related to reveal the genetic drivers. To address this, we examined expression patterns between two closely related silk moths that have undergone temporal niche divergence. We found 200-700 differentially expressed genes, including day upregulation in eye development and visual processing genes, and night upregulation of antennal and olfactory brain development genes. Further, clusters of circadian, sensory, and brain development genes co-expressed with diel-activity. In both species, eight genes showed expression significantly correlated to diel activity, and are involved in vision, olfaction, brain development, neural plasticity, energy utilization, and cellular maintenance. We repeatedly recovereddisco, a zinc- finger transcription factor involved in antennal development, circadian activity, and optic lobe brain development in flies. Whilediscomutants have circadian arrhythmia, most studies attribute this to improper clock neuron development, not adult circadian maintenance. Comparing predicted 3D protein structure across moth and fly genetic models revealeddiscolikely retained developmental function with a conserved zinc finger domain, but gained functional zinc finger domains absent inD. melanogaster.These regions have several mutations between nocturnal and diurnal species that co- occur with higher levels of predicted phosphorylation sites. With robust circadian expression, functional nocturnal and diurnal mutations, and structural and sequence conservation, we hypothesize thatdiscomay be a master regulator contributing to diel-activity diversification in adult moths.

Significance

Insect diel-activity patterns are diverse, yet the underlying evolutionary processes are poorly understood. Light environment powerfully entrains circadian rhythms and drives diel-niche and sensory evolution. To investigate its impact, we compared gene expression in closely related day- and night-active wild silk moths, with otherwise similar ecologies. Expression patterns that varied with diel activity included genes linked to eye development, neural plasticity and cellular maintenance. Notably,disco, which encodes a zinc-finger transcription factor involved in pupalDrosophilaoptic lobe and antennal development, shows robust adult circadian mRNA cycling in moth heads, is highly conserved in moths, and has additional zinc-finger domains with specific nocturnal and diurnal mutations. We hypothesize thatdiscomay contribute to diversification of adult diel-activity patterns in moths.
Transforming customers into evangelists: influence of online brand experience on relationship quality and brand evangelism in the banking industry
Authors: Safeer Asif Ali , Le Thanh Tiep
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Customer relationships and transforming customers into evangelists are imperative in today's world. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the influence of online brand experience (OBE) on brand evangelism (BEM) via relationship quality (trust-TRT, satisfaction-SAT, and commitment-CMT) by integrating the moderating effects of brand reputation (BR), particularly in the Vietnamese banking sector.

Design/methodology/approach

This research obtained data from 486 Vietnamese customers who routinely used online banking services. The analysis was performed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that OBE directly/indirectly positively affects BEM via relationship quality (TRT, SAT, CMT). Likewise, this study identified relationship quality (TRT, SAT, CMT) as an important mediator. Finally, the findings demonstrate that the moderation effects of BR significantly improved relationship quality (TRT, SAT, CMT) in the banking industry.

Practical implications

This study showcases the significance of OBE in increasing brand evangelists in the financial sector. Thus, this study assists Vietnamese bank managers in creating new branding strategies to foster long-lasting customer relationships.

Originality/value

This original study contributes to the commitment-trust theory and signaling theory by examining the impact of the OBE on brand evangelism via relationship quality by considering the moderating effect of brand reputation in the Vietnamese banking sector.
Supply chain risk and SME business continuity strategies in the food industry during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Mohezar Suhana , Mohamad Marini Nurbanum , Mohd Nor Mohammad Nazri
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to (1) identify supply chain risks faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in food businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic and (2) investigate the business continuity management (BCM) strategies employed by organisations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted, involving eight SMEs in the Malaysian food industry. Their responses were analysed using a thematic analysis.

Findings

The thematic analysis indicated that supply risks, demand risks, operational risks, logistics risks and financial risks were amongst the challenges that the respondents faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also provided evidence which showed the importance of flexibility, redundancy and collaboration to avoid or reduce the impact of such risks.

Originality/value

This paper fills the void in the literature by exploring the BCM practices amongst SMEs in the food businesses of a developing country, during the COVID-19 disruptions. Previous studies in the area had mainly focused on large organisations.
Female CEOs and default risk in listed family firms
Authors: Abinzano Isabel , Garcés-Galdeano Lucia , Martinez Beatriz
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of female CEO board members on listed family firms’ corporate default risk, integrating upper echelons theory with social role theory and the socio-emotional wealth approach and proxying default risk with the Black–Scholes–Merton model. It also searches for possible differences attributable to the type of female CEO.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is applied to a longitudinal sample of listed US family firms. After a preliminary analysis of the main descriptive, several models are estimated with the system GMM estimator, which is a panel data estimator. The models are dynamic, including the lagged value of the dependent variable. In addition, the model estimation is repeated with a different measure of default risk, for robustness.

Findings

This research findings show that default risk diminishes in the presence of a female CEO, whose reduction is even greater if she is a family member. The results are proven to be robust to the measure for proxying default risk.

Originality/value

This study primarily contributes to the existing literature by exploring a possible link between female CEOs, particularly those with a family affiliation, and a lower level of default risk in family firms. It also provides practical implications for policymakers, who would be advised to promote conditions enabling women to contribute towards family business viability. In addition, this study offers encouragement for family business owners to value the potential of their female family members in company succession processes.
The power of words: driving online consumer engagement in Fintech
Authors: ShabbirHusain R.V. , Pathak Atul Arun , Chandrasekaran Shabana , Annamalai Balamurugan
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore the role of the linguistic style used in the brand-posted social media content on consumer engagement in the Fintech domain.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 3,286 tweets (registering nearly 1.35 million impressions) published by 10 leading Fintech unicorns in India were extracted using the Twitter API. The Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) dictionary was used to analyse the linguistic characteristics of the shared tweets. Negative Binomial Regression (NBR) was used for testing the hypotheses.

Findings

This study finds that using drive words and cognitive language increases consumer engagement with Fintech messages via the central route of information processing. Further, affective words and conversational language drive consumer engagement through the peripheral route of information processing.

Research limitations/implications

The study extends the literature on brand engagement by unveiling the effect of linguistic features used to design social media messages.

Practical implications

The study provides guidance to social media marketers of Fintech brands regarding what content strategies best enhance consumer engagement. The linguistic style to improve online consumer engagement (OCE) is detailed.

Originality/value

The study’s findings contribute to the growing stream of Fintech literature by exploring the role of linguistic style on consumer engagement in social media communication. The study’s findings indicate the relevance of the dual processing mechanism of elaboration likelihood model (ELM) as an explanatory theory for evaluating consumer engagement with messages posted by Fintech brands.
Mainstream parties and global warming: What determines parties’ engagement in climate protection?
Authors: SCHWÖRER JAKOB
Published: May 2023

Global warming is not only a serious threat for humanity but increasingly structures political competition in Western Europe. The rise of green (niche) parties and public awareness of the issue pressure mainstream parties to emphasise climate protection. Yet, while scholars reflect on the factors influencing mainstream parties’ environmental agendas, we know little about what triggers climate standpoints and about the role public opinion plays in this process. This study measures the salience of climate protection in 292 election manifestos of mainstream parties in 10 Western European countries since the 1990s and estimates the impact of different factors on their climate agenda using OLS regressions. The findings suggest that green parties are not the driving factor, and that it is the public salience of environmental issues and pressure from the Fridays for Future movement influencing mainstream parties’ agendas. Accordingly, mainstream parties seem to be responsive to public opinion pressure adopting climate protection stances. The study further proposes a different measure of niche party success than that used in previous studies.
Female leadership, internet use, and performance of agricultural cooperatives in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Trung Thanh , Do Manh Hung , Rahut Dil B. , Nguyen Viet Hung , Chhay Panharoth
Published: May 2023

Supporting agricultural cooperatives might contribute to the livelihood improvement of many small‐scale farmers in developing countries. This research examines the factors affecting the internet use of agricultural cooperatives with a focus on female leadership, its effects on cooperatives’ economic, social, and innovative performance, and the distributional effects of internet use on economic performance. Our analysis relied on the data of 3,512 agricultural cooperatives collected in 2021 from Vietnam. We addressed the endogeneity issue of internet use in impact assessment by employing an instrumental variable approach. Our results show that female leadership was positively and significantly associated with internet use and that internet use had a positive and significant effect on returns on assets, returns on equity, labor productivity, payment per laborer, contribution to labor union and insurance per laborer, and innovation in products of agricultural cooperatives. In addition, unconditional quantile regressions show that internet use in agricultural cooperatives exacerbated income inequality. Enhancing female leadership and promoting rural education were recommended to improve agricultural cooperatives’ performance.
Outcomes of extended total mesorectal excision in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer
Authors: Saravanabavan Srivishnu , Kazi Mufaddal , Murugan Janesh , Vispute Tejas , Vijayakumaran Preeti , Desouza Ashwin , Saklani Avanish
Published: May 2023

Aim

Extended total mesorectal excision (eTME) is a complex procedure involving en bloc resection of the structures surrounding the various quadrants of the rectum. This study, presenting the largest series so far of patients undergoing eTME, aimed to assess the surgical and survival outcomes of patients following treatment with eTME and to compare these outcomes with historical data on pelvic exenteration.

Method

The study is a retrospective review of all patients with locally advanced rectal cancer requiring an eTME (2014–2020). The database includes the demographic profile, operative details, histopathological features and follow‐up.

Results

One hundred and sixty three patients who underwent eTME were analysed. The overall Clavien–Dindo complication rate of > IIIa was 21.1%. The anterior quadrant was the most common anatomical site resected (68.5%). The R1 resection rate was 10.4%. After a median follow‐up of 28 months, there were 51 recurrences in the study and twenty two deaths were recorded. The local recurrence rate was 7.3% among the study population. The disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival were 66.7% and 80.4%, respectively, at 3 years. The majority of the recurrences were distant metastasis (84.3%). In univariate analysis, the quadrant involved did not affect survival. In multivariate analysis, signet ring histology, metastatic presentation, inadequate tumour response and R1 resection affected DFS.

Conclusion

The recurrence pattern, R1 resection rate and survival outcomes of patients in the present study were comparable with those for patients undergoing an exenteration. Therefore, eTME is probably a safe alternative to pelvic exenterations when R0 resection is achievable and when the procedure is performed in high‐volume specialist tertiary care centres.
Circulating levels of proglucagon‐derived peptides are differentially regulated by the glucagon‐like peptide‐1 agonist liraglutide and the centrally acting naltrexone/bupropion and can predict future weight loss and metabolic improvements: A 6‐month long interventional study
Authors: Stefanakis Konstantinos , Kokkinos Alexander , Argyrakopoulou Georgia , Konstantinidou Sofia K. , Simati Stamatia , Kouvari Matina , Kumar Ajay , Kalra Bhanu , Kumar Melina , Bontozoglou Nikolaos , Kyriakopoulou Konstantina , Mantzoros Christos S.
Published: May 2023

Aim

To investigate the changes of circulating levels of all proglucagon‐derived peptides (PGDPs) in individuals with overweight or obesity receiving liraglutide (3 mg) or naltrexone/bupropion (32/360 mg), and to explore the association between induced changes in postprandial PGDP levels and body composition, as well as metabolic variables, after 3 and 6 months on treatment.

Materials and Methods

Seventeen patients with obesity or with overweight and co‐morbidities, but without diabetes, were assigned to receive once‐daily oral naltrexone/bupropion 32/360 mg (n = 8) or once‐daily subcutaneous liraglutide 3 mg (n = 9). Participants were assessed before treatment initiation and after 3 and 6 months on treatment. At the baseline and 3‐month visits, participants underwent a 3‐hour mixed meal tolerance test to measure fasting and postprandial levels of PGDPs, C‐peptide, hunger and satiety. Clinical and biochemical indices of metabolic function, magnetic resonance‐assessed liver steatosis and ultrasound‐assessed liver stiffness were measured at each visit.

Results

Both medications improved body weight and composition, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and liver fat and function. Naltrexone/bupropion produced a weight‐independent increase in the levels of proglucagon (P < .001) and decreases in glucagon‐like peptide‐2 (GLP‐2), glucagon and the major proglucagon fragment (P ≤ .01), whereas liraglutide markedly upregulated total glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) levels in a weight‐independent manner (P = .04), and similarly downregulated the major proglucagon fragment, GLP‐2 and glucagon (P < .01). PGDP levels at the 3‐month visit were positively and independently correlated with improvements in fat mass, glycaemia, lipaemia and liver function, and negatively with reductions in fat‐free mass, at both the 3‐ and 6‐month visits.

Conclusions

PGDP levels in response to liraglutide and naltrexone/bupropion are associated with improvements in metabolism. Our study provides support for the administration of the downregulated members of the PGDP family as replacement therapy (e.g. glucagon), in addition to the medications currently in use that induced their downregulation (e.g. GLP‐1), and future studies should explore whether the addition of other PGDPs (e.g. GLP‐2) could offer additional benefits.
Changes in blood pressure associated with frailty and sarcopenia in elderly outpatients with cardiometabolic diseases
Authors: Ishikawa Joji , Toba Ayumi , Tamura Yoshiaki , Araki Atsushi , Harada Kazumasa
Published: May 2023

Aim

We aimed to examine the relationship between changes in clinic blood pressure (BP) and frailty and sarcopenia in elderly outpatients with cardiometabolic disease.

Methods

In 691 elderly outpatients with cardiometabolic diseases, the associations of frailty according to the modified Japanese Cardiovascular Health Study score (J‐CHS) and Kihon Checklist (KCL) criteria with clinic BP were evaluated at baseline and followed up for 3 years.

Results

Among the patients (79.2 ± 6.3 years, male 35.6%), 30.4% had frailty by the J‐CHS criteria and 38.0% by the KCL criteria. A J‐curve relationship was observed between BP and frailty; the prevalence of frailty was the lowest in patients with systolic BP (SBP) 119.5–130.5 mmHg and in those with diastolic BP (DBP) 72.0–80.5 mmHg. Frailty by the J‐CHS criteria correlated with lower DBP (OR = 0.892 per 5 mmHg increase, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.819–0.972, P = 0.009), whereas that by the KCL criteria correlated with lower SBP (OR = 0.872 per 10 mmHg increase, 95% CI 0.785–0.969, P = 0.011) in multivariate‐adjusted models. In patients with frailty by the J‐CHS criteria at baseline, changes in DBP (OR = 0.921 per 1 mmHg change, 95% CI 0.851–0.996, P = 0.038) were associated with sustained frailty 1 year later. Changes in DBP were associated with progression to a slow walking speed 1 year later (OR = 0.939, 95% CI 0.883–0.999, P = 0.047). Changes in SBP (OR = 0.928, 95% CI 0.878–0.981, P = 0.008) and DBP (OR = 0.926, 95% CI 0.859–0.997, P = 0.042) were associated with progression to a weak hand grip strength 3 years later.

Conclusion

A J‐curve relationship was observed between frailty and BP, and a decline in BP was associated with progression to a slow walking speed and weak hand grip strength in elderly outpatients with cardiometabolic diseases. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2023; 23: 506–516.
MCM10: An effective treatment target and a prognostic biomarker in patients with uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma
Authors: Chen Junyu , Wu Shan , Wang Junwei , Han Chunying , Zhao Lijing , He Kang , Jia Yan , Cui Manhua
Published: May 2023

Molecular profiling has been applied for uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC) management for many years. The aim of this study was to explore the role of MCM10 in UCEC and construct its overall survival (OS) prediction models. Data from TCGA, GEO, cbioPotal and COSMIC databases and the methods, such as GO, KEGG, GSEA, ssGSEA and PPI, were employed to bioinformatically detect the effects of MCM10 on UCEC. RT‐PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to validate the effects of MCM10 on UCEC. Based on Cox regression analysis using the data from TCGA and our clinical data, two OS prediction models for UCEC were established. Finally, the effects of MCM10 on UCEC were detected in vitro. Our study revealed that MCM10 was variated and overexpressed in UCEC tissue and involved in DNA replication, cell cycle, DNA repair and immune microenvironment in UCEC. Moreover, silencing MCM10 significantly inhibited the proliferation of UCEC cells in vitro. Importantly, based on MCM10 expression and clinical features, the OS prediction models were constructed with good accuracy. MCM10 could be an effective treatment target and a prognostic biomarker for UCEC patients. The OS prediction models might help establish the strategies of follow‐up and treatment for UCEC patients.
Commentary: Optimism and guidance for improving treatment effects among children with callous‐unemotional traits – reflections on Perlstein et al. (2023)
Authors: Fleming Georgette E.
Published: May 2023

Callous‐unemotional (CU) traits have increasingly received attention as a potential predictor and outcome of treatment for children with conduct problems. The results of Perlstein et al. (2023) offer the first meta‐analytic evidence against the long‐held belief that CU traits confer treatment resistance. The results also suggest that children with conduct problems and CU traits require something more or different to achieve treatment outcomes commensurate with their conduct problems‐only peers. In this commentary, I reflect on how treatment adaptations for children with conduct problems and CU traits have attempted to achieve this goal, emphasizing that more work is needed to maximize improvement in putative mechanisms and mediators of treatment‐related change. In this way, I argue that Perlstein et al. (2023) offer both optimism and guidance for improving treatment effects among children with conduct problems and CU traits.
Pharmacokinetics of robenacoxib following single intravenous, subcutaneous and oral administrations in Baladi goats (Capra hircus)
Authors: Fadel Charbel , Łebkowska‐Wieruszewska Beata , Zizzadoro Claudia , Lisowski Andrzej , Poapolathep Amnart , Giorgi Mario
Published: May 2023

The purpose of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetics of robenacoxib (RX), a COX‐2 selective non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug, in goats after single intravenous (IV), subcutaneous (SC) and oral (PO) administrations. 5‐month‐old healthy female goats (n = 8) were used. The animals were subjected to a three‐phase, two‐dose (2 mg/kg IV, 4 mg/kg SC, PO) unblinded, parallel study design, with a four‐month washout period between the IV and SC treatment, and a one‐week period between the SC and PO treatment. Blood was drawn from the jugular vein in heparinized vacutainer tubes at 0, 0.085 (for IV only), 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 24 h. Plasma RX concentrations were measured using HPLC coupled to a UV multiple wavelength detector, and the data were pharmacokinetically analysed using ThothPro™ 4.3 software in a non‐compartmental approach. Following IV administration, terminal elimination half‐life, volume of distribution and total clearance were 0.32 h, 0.24 L/kg and 0.52 L/h/kg, respectively. For SC and PO, the mean peak plasma concentrations were 2.34 and 3.34 μg/mL at 1.50 and 0.50 h, respectively. The t1/2λz was significantly different between the IV and the extravascular (EV) administrations (0.32 h IV vs 1.37 h SC and 1.63 h PO), suggesting the occurrence of a flip‐flop phenomenon. The significant difference in Vd values between IV (0.24 L/kg) and EV (0.95 L/kg SC and 1.71 L/kg; corrected for F %) routes might have also triggered the t1/2λz difference. The absolute average SC and PO bioavailability were high (98% and 91%, respectively). In conclusion, the IV administration of RX might not be suitable for goats, due to its short t1/2λz. The EV routes, however, appear to be convenient for the drug's occasional use.
New insights into natural rubber biosynthesis from rubber‐deficient lettuce mutants expressing goldenrod or guayule cis‐prenyltransferase
Authors: Kwon Moonhyuk , Hodgins Connor L. , Salama Eman M. , Dias Kayla R. , Parikh Aalap , Mackey Ashlyn V. , Catenza Karizza F. , Vederas John C. , Ro Dae‐Kyun
Published: May 2023

Lettuce produces natural rubber (NR) with an average Mw of > 1 million Da in laticifers, similar to NR from rubber trees. As lettuce is an annual, self‐pollinating, and easily transformable plant, it is an excellent model for molecular genetic studies of NR biosynthesis.

CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis was optimized using lettuce hairy roots, and NR‐deficient lettuce was generated via bi‐allelic mutations in cis‐prenyltransferase (CPT). This is the first null mutant of NR deficiency in plants. In the CPT mutant, orthologous CPT counterparts from guayule (Parthenium argentatum) and goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) were expressed under a laticifer‐specific promoter to examine how the average Mw of NR is affected.

No developmental defects were observed in the NR‐deficient mutants. The lettuce mutants expressing guayule and goldenrod CPT produced 1.8 and 14.5 times longer NR, respectively, than the plants of their origin.

This suggests that, although goldenrod cannot synthesize a sufficiently lengthy NR, goldenrod CPT has the catalytic competence to produce high‐quality NR in the cellular context of lettuce laticifers. Thus, CPT alone does not determine the length of NR. Other factors, such as substrate concentration, additional proteins, and/or the nature of protein complexes including CPT‐binding proteins, influence CPT activity in determining NR length.