bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Collective dynamics of formin and microtubule and its crosstalk mediated by FHDC1
Authors: Tong Chee San , Su Maohan , Sun He , Chua Xiang Le , Guo Su , Ramaraj Ravinraj S/O , Nicole Wen Pei Ong , Lee Ann Gie , Miao Yansong , Wu Min
Published: July 2023

The coordination between actin and microtubule network is crucial, yet our understanding of the underlying mechanisms remains limited. In this study, we used travelling waves in the cell cortex to characterize the collective dynamics of cytoskeletal networks. Our findings show that Cdc42 and F-BAR-dependent actin waves in mast cells are mainly driven by formin-mediated actin polymerization, with the microtubule-binding formin FH2 domain-containing protein 1 (FHDC1) identified as an early regulator. The depolymerization of microtubules coincides with the nucleation of actin waves, and the concurrent release of FHDC1 from microtubule is required for actin waves. Lastly, we show the importance of the actin-microtubule linkage mediated by FHDC1 in crucial cellular processes such as cell division and migration. Our data provided molecular insights into the nucleation mechanisms of actin waves and uncover an antagonistic interplay between microtubule and actin polymerization in their collective dynamics.
Leishmania major-induced alteration of host cellular and systemic copper homeostasis drives the fate of infection
Authors: Paul Rupam , Chakrabarty Adrija , Samanta Suman , Dey Swastika , Pandey Raviranjan , Maji Saptarshi , Pezacki Aidan T. , Chang Christopher J. , Datta Rupak , Gupta Arnab
Published: July 2023

Copper plays a key role in host-pathogen interaction. We found that duringLeishmania majorinfection, the parasite-harboring macrophage regulates its copper homeostasis pathway in a way to facilitate copper-mediated neutralization of the pathogen. Copper-ATPase ATP7A transports copper to amastigote-harboring phagolysosomes to induce stress on parasites.Leishmaniain order to evade the copper stress, utilizes a variety of manipulative measures to lower the host-induced copper stress. It induces deglycosylation and degradation of host-ATP7A and downregulation of copper importer, CTR1 by cysteine oxidation. Additionally,Leishmaniainduces CTR1 endocytosis that arrests copper uptake. In mouse model of infection, we report an increase in systemic bioavailable copper in infected animals. Heart acts as the major organ for diverting its copper reserves to systemic circulation to fight-off infection by downregulating its CTR1. Our study explores reciprocal mechanism of manipulation of host copper homeostasis pathway by macrophage andLeishmaniato gain respective advantages in host-pathogen interaction.
TTLL12 is required for primary ciliary axoneme formation in polarized epithelial cells
Authors: Ceglowski J. , Hoffman H.K. , Hoff K.J. , McCurdy B.L. , Moore J.K. , Prekeris R.
Published: July 2023

The primary cilium is a critical sensory organelle that is built of axonemal microtubules ensheathed by a ciliary membrane. In polarized epithelial cells, primary cilia reside on the apical surface and must extend these microtubules directly into the extracellular space and remain a stable structure. However, the factors regulating cross-talk between ciliation and cell polarization, as well as, axonemal microtubule growth and stabilization in polarized epithelia are not fully understood. In this study, we find TTLL12, a previously uncharacterized member of the Tubulin Tyrosine Ligase-Like (TTLL) family, localizes to the base of primary cilia and is required for cilia formation in polarized renal epithelial cells. We also show that TTLL12 directly binds to the α/β-tubulin heterodimerin vitroand regulates microtubule dynamics, stability, and post-translational modifications (PTMs). While all other TTLLs catalyze the addition of glutamate or glycine to microtubule C-terminal tails, TTLL12 uniquely affects tubulin PTMs by promoting both microtubule lysine acetylation and arginine methylation. Together, this work identifies a novel microtubule regulator and provides insight into the requirements for apical extracellular axoneme formation.
Pseudomonas aeruginosaAlgF is a protein-protein interaction mediator required for acetylation of the alginate exopolysaccharide
Authors: Low Kristin E. , Gheorghita Andreea A. , Tammam Stephanie D. , Whitfield Gregory B. , Li Yancheng E. , Riley Laura M. , Weadge Joel T. , Caldwell Shane J. , Chong P. Andrew , Walvoort Marthe T. C. , Kitova Elena N. , Klassen John S. , Codée Jeroen D. C. , Howell P. Lynne
Published: July 2023

Enzymatic modifications of bacterial exopolysaccharides enhance immune evasion and persistence during infection. In the Gram-negative opportunistic pathogenPseudomonas aeruginosa, acetylation of alginate reduces opsonic killing by phagocytes and improves reactive oxygen species scavenging. Although it is well-known that alginate acetylation inP. aeruginosarequires AlgI, AlgJ, AlgF, and AlgX, how these proteins coordinate polymer modification at a molecular level remains unclear. Here, we describe the structural characterization of AlgF and its protein interaction network. We characterize direct interactions between AlgF and both AlgJ and AlgXin vitro, and demonstrate an association between AlgF and AlgX, as well as AlgJ and AlgI, inP. aeruginosa. We determine that AlgF does not exhibit acetylesterase activity and is unable to bind to polymannuronatein vitro.Therefore, we propose that AlgF functions to mediate protein-protein interactions between alginate acetylation enzymes, forming the periplasmic AlgJFXK (AlgJ-AlgF-AlgX-AlgK) acetylation and export complex required for robust biofilm formation.
Kinetic dissection of pre-crRNA binding and processing by CRISPR-Cas12a
Authors: Sinan Selma , Appleby Nathan M. , Russell Rick
Published: July 2023

CRISPR-Cas12a binds and processes a single pre-crRNA during maturation, providing a simple tool for genome editing applications. Here, we constructed a kinetic and thermodynamic framework for pre-crRNA processing by Cas12ain vitro, and we measured the contributions of distinct regions of the pre-crRNA to this reaction. We find that the pre-crRNA binds rapidly and extraordinarily tightly to Cas12a (Kd= 0.6 pM), such that pre-crRNA binding is fully rate limiting for processing and therefore determines the specificity of Cas12a for different pre-crRNAs. The guide sequence contributes 10-fold to the affinities of both the precursor and mature forms of the crRNA, while deletion of an upstream sequence had no significant effect on affinity of the pre-crRNA. After processing, the mature crRNA remains very tightly bound to Cas12a, with a half-life of ∼1 day and aKdvalue of 60 pM. Addition of a 5’-phosphoryl group, which is normally lost during the processing reaction as the scissile phosphate, tightens binding of the mature crRNA by ∼10-fold by accelerating binding and slowing dissociation. Using a direct competition assay, we found that pre-crRNA binding specificity is robust to other changes in RNA sequence, including tested changes in the guide sequence, addition of a 3’ extension, and secondary structure within the guide region. Together our results provide a quantitative framework for pre-crRNA binding and processing by Cas12a and suggest strategies for optimizing crRNA design in some genome editing applications.
Poison pills adoption, real earnings management and IPO failure
Authors: Trabelsi Samir , Chalwati Amna
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper examines the relationship between poison pills, real earnings management and initial public offering (IPO) failure.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors sampled 2,997 IPO firms that went public during 1993-2015.

Findings

The authors find that IPO firms manipulate earnings upward using real earnings management. The authors also find that IPO firms exhibiting a higher level of real earnings management have a higher probability of IPO failure. In addition, the authors find that weak shareholders' governance is positively associated with IPO failure.

Practical implications

These results suggest that poor governance structures in failed firms open the door to manipulating real activities and increasing operational risk.

Originality/value

The study findings are of most significant interest to potential investors and other stakeholders affiliated with a firm going public, an auditor, an underwriter, the lawyers who consult with the firm and employees or executives who might consider joining that firm.
Effects of online platforms on learner's satisfaction: a serial mediation analysis with instructor presence and student engagement
Authors: Jain Ayushi , Sharma Poonam , Meher Jamini Ranjan
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This research aims to examine the impact of virtual learning platforms and instructor presence (IP) on learner satisfaction (LS). Further, this study examines the role of learner engagement (LE) in order to improve the LS.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses both primary and secondary data sources to compile the research's findings. The primary source of data includes 610 responses from various higher education institutes in India. The collected data were analysed using the partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique.

Findings

This research provides evidence that the theoretical model is accurate with the gathered data sample. In the model, online platform (OP) is an independent variable, whereas LS is a dependent variable, and IP and LE are the mediating variables. The outcomes demonstrated that OP has a positive impact on IP and LE. Also, the relationships between IP and LE, IP and LS and LE and LS are significantly positive. The mediation analysis validates the importance of the IP and LE for relationships.

Originality/value

This investigation presents a comprehensive model, which demonstrates the relationship between OP, IP, LE and LS. The study makes a unique reference to several theories in order to boost interaction and IP in virtual learning, the learner's learning experience can be enhanced. The model helps teachers and educational institutions formalise strategies to boost interaction and examine the institutions' pedagogy to enhance satisfaction.
Inclusive business, private sector credit and economic welfare: evidence from Africa
Authors: Ofori-Sasu Daniel , Dzisi Smile , Odoom Franklin Dodzi
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper seeks to examine the interrelationship between inclusive business, private sector credit and economic welfare in Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the seemingly unrelated regression, system generalized method of moments and bootstrap quantile regression in a panel of 54 economies in Africa, over the period 2006–2020.

Findings

The authors show that countries that provide more credit to the private sector have better incentives to enhance the ease of doing business. The authors find that ease of doing business and domestic credit to the private sector have a positive and significant effect on economic welfare at higher quantile levels. The authors find that ease of doing business substitutes private sector credit to boost economic welfare, while business account complements private sector credit to boost economic welfare. The authors show that the marginal effect of inclusive business on economic welfare is greater in countries that provide more credit to the private sector.

Practical implications

The implication is that countries that focus on developing their private sector (through credit expansion) should be able to encourage or facilitate the inclusion of businesses to achieve a sustainable economic welfare.

Social implications

The implication is that policymakers should be able to develop their business environment through inclusive financing so as to build business confidence in the society.

Originality/value

The paper examines the interrelationship between inclusive business, private sector credit and economic welfare in Africa.
Men are from Mars and women are from Venus: dyadic collaboration in the metaverse
Authors: Schiller Shu , Nah Fiona Fui-Hoon , Luse Andy , Siau Keng
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The gender composition of teams remains an important yet complex element in unlocking the success of collaboration and performance in the metaverse. In this study, the authors examined the collaborations of same- and mixed-gender dyads to investigate how gender composition influences perceptions of the dyadic collaboration process and outcomes at both the individual and team levels in the metaverse.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on expectation states theory and social role theory, the authors hypothesized differences between dyads of different gender compositions. A blocked design was utilized where 432 subjects were randomly assigned to teams of different gender compositions: 101 male dyads, 59 female dyads and 56 mixed-gender dyads. Survey responses were collected after the experiment.

Findings

Multilevel multigroup analyses reveal that at the team level, male dyads took on the we-impress manifestation to increase satisfaction with the team solution. In contrast, female and mixed-gender dyads adopted the we-work-hard-on-task philosophy to increase satisfaction with the team solution. At the individual level, impression management is the key factor associated with trust in same-gender dyads but not in mixed-gender dyads.

Originality/value

As one of the pioneering works on gender effects in the metaverse, our findings shed light on two fronts in virtual dyadic collaborations. First, the authors offer a theoretically grounded and gendered perspective by investigating male, female and mixed-gender dyads in the metaverse. Second, the study advances team-based theory and deepens the understanding of gender effects at both the individual and team levels (multilevel) in a virtual collaboration environment.
Open innovation networks: a driver for knowledge mobilisation in schools?
Authors: Pietsch Marcus , Brown Chris , Aydin Burak , Cramer Colin
Published: July 2023

Purpose

In organisational and innovation research, the term “open innovation” refers to the inflow and outflow of knowledge to and from organisations: with open innovation theory suggesting active exchanges of knowledge with external actors leads to the development of exploitable new ideas. In the field of education, however, the exchange of knowledge with external parties represents a paradigm shift. In response, this article presents findings from research design to explore the nature and composition of school innovation networks, and the effects of such these networks on knowledge mobilisation.

Design/methodology/approach

The study draws on data from a representative random sample of 411 German school leaders. Respondents were asked to detail their engagement in open and closed innovation activity and their school's external collaborations during the last 12 months. A latent class distal outcome model was developed to examine whether different types of collaboration associate with different knowledge mobilisation processes.

Findings

The study findings suggest that schools in Germany mainly use internal knowledge for innovation, with external knowledge exchange taking place on a very limited basis. Knowledge mobilisation varies depending on the innovation network. The authors use the findings to indicate new insights for how schools can further innovate learning and teaching in future.

Originality/value

Although there is increasing discussion on Professional Learning Networks in schools, the discourse on knowledge mobilisation within educational networks is limited, making concept of open innovation so far completely absent from discourses on school improvement. This paper initiates the population of this new research space.
Sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems: interdependencies of infrastructure and capital and the effects of local culture
Authors: Weerasekara Sumedha , Bhanugopan Ramudu
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem research is an emerging trend within the entrepreneurship domain. Drawing from resource dependency theory, this study examines the interdependent nature of sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem factors and the mediating role of local culture as it relates to entrepreneurial action. The authors collected data from 12 entrepreneurial ecosystems in Australia and developed a model of the interdependencies of sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected through an e-survey of Small and Medium Entreprise (SME) owners in New South Wales, Australia. The authors applied partial least squares structural equation methodology to assess the structural models, validate the outer models and examine the inner model.

Findings

The findings reinforce empirical support for sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems. The environment where sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems are evolved influences their functionality. Further, entrepreneurial culture mediates the relationship with other ecosystem factors. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Originality/value

This study focuses on understanding the interdependent nature of sustainable ecosystem factors. The authors identified entrepreneurial culture as a mediator to business support services, educational institutional support and financial capital availability with business and social networks.
A mixed-methods approach for the relationship between organizational attributes, reputation, employer brand and intention to apply for a job vacancy
Authors: Elbendary Israa , Elsetouhi Ahmed Mohamed , Marie Mohamed , Aljafari Abdullah M.
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the direct effect of organizational reputation (OR), employer brand (EB) and organizational attributes (OA) on the intention to apply for a job vacancy (IAJV); further, it examined the mediating effect of employer brand in the OA-IAJV relationship while taking into consideration the moderating effect of organizational reputation.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-method approach was employed, with ten in-depth interviews followed by a questionnaire with additional 356 job seekers in Cairo and Giza cities; the sample includes both fresh graduates and experienced job applicants in the job market. The qualitative analysis confirmed that some respondents use organizational reputation as a signal of its performance. The path analysis technique tests the research hypotheses using a partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The findings revealed that the most influential variable in the intention to apply is organizational attributes, followed by organizational reputation and finally employer brand. There is a significant relationship between organizational attributes and intention to apply for a job vacancy via employer brand. In addition, the results indicate a noteworthy moderating impact of organizational reputation on the association between employer brand intentions to apply for a job and the relationship between organizational attributes and intention to apply for a job opening.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study contributes to the understanding of the direct and indirect effects of organizational reputation and organizational attributes on intention to apply through the mediating role of the employer brand. This research opens new avenues for recruitment research, considering the moderating effect of organizational reputation on strengthening the impact of the independent variables on the intention to apply and the interaction between the variables affecting the intention. Further, this study focuses on the needs of the job applicants when perceiving the organizational factors and identifies which signals can generate the intention to apply according to the signaling theory.
Leveraging digital technologies for circular economy in construction industry: a way forward
Authors: Rodrigo Navodana , Omrany Hossein , Chang Ruidong , Zuo Jian
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the literature related to the use of digital technologies for promoting circular economy (CE) in the construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive approach was adopted, involving bibliometric analysis, text-mining analysis and content analysis to meet three objectives (1) to unveil the evolutionary progress of the field, (2) to identify the key research themes in the field and (3) to identify challenges hindering the implementation of digital technologies for CE.

Findings

A total of 365 publications was analysed. The results revealed eight key digital technologies categorised into two main clusters including “digitalisation and advanced technologies” and “sustainable construction technologies”. The former involved technologies, namely machine learning, artificial intelligence, deep learning, big data analytics and object detection and computer vision that were used for (1) forecasting construction and demolition (C&D) waste generation, (2) waste identification and classification and (3) computer vision for waste management. The latter included technologies such as Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain and building information modelling (BIM) that help optimise resource use, enhance transparency and sustainability practices in the industry. Overall, these technologies show great potential for improving waste management and enabling CE in construction.

Originality/value

This research employs a holistic approach to provide a status-quo understanding of the digital technologies that can be utilised to support the implementation of CE in construction. Further, this study underlines the key challenges associated with adopting digital technologies, whilst also offering opportunities for future improvement of the field.
Pressure sensitive adhesives and paper spray‐mass spectrometry for the collection and analysis of fentanyl‐related compounds from shipping materials
Authors: Prunty Sarah , Carmany Daniel , Dhummakupt Elizabeth S. , Manicke Nicholas E.
Published: July 2023

The rise of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs in the drug supply pose serious threats to public health. Much of these compounds enter the United States through shipping routes. Here we provide a method for fentanyl screening and analysis that utilizes pressure‐sensitive adhesive (PSA) lined paper to recover drug residues from parcel‐related surfaces. The paper used is commercially available repositionable notes (also called post‐it or sticky notes). From this paper, mass spectra were obtained by paper spray‐mass spectrometry (PS‐MS), where PSA paper served as both a sampling and analysis substrate. Seven fentanyl‐related compounds were analyzed: fentanyl, 4‐anilino‐N‐phenethylpiperidine (4‐ANPP), N,1‐diphenethyl‐N‐phenylpiperidin‐4‐amine (phenethyl‐4‐ANPP), valerylfentanyl, 4‐fluoroisobutyrylfentanyl (4‐FIBF), carfentanil, and p‐fluorofentanyl. These compounds were recovered by PSA paper and identified by PS‐MS from packaging tape and plastic at 50 ng and from cardboard and shipping labels at 100 ng. The impact of cutting agents on PS‐MS analysis of fentanyl analogs was explored. No trends of analyte suppression were found at high concentrations of the cutting agents caffeine, diphenhydramine, and lidocaine when recovered from surfaces. A cartridge that required no precise cutting of PSA paper prior to sampling or analysis was evaluated for use in PS‐MS for fentanyl screening. Recovery and detection of fentanyl from plastic sheeting was demonstrated with this cut‐free cartridge. The cut‐free cartridge showed somewhat less consistency and lower analyte signal than the standard cartridge, but performance was suitable for potential screening applications. In combining PSA surface sampling with PS‐MS for drug screening, both sampling and detection of fentanyl‐related compounds is simple, rapid, and low‐cost.
Less Livestock in North‐western Europe? Discourses and Drivers Behind Livestock Buyout Policies
Authors: Boezeman Daan , de Pue David , Graversgaard Morten , Möckel Stefan
Published: July 2023

Direct intervention in the size of livestock numbers is not considered a main option in European agri‐environmental policies nor in policy studies. Nevertheless, the governments of the Netherlands and Flanders (Belgium) have announced livestock buyout schemes. This article contributes to the scarce literature on this policy instrument by sketching the characteristics of different types of buyout schemes. We analyse how the issue of reducing livestock numbers is being framed in four EU Member States with high livestock dense regions: the Netherlands, Belgium (Flanders), Denmark and Germany. While the debate on ‘technology versus volume’ can be observed in all four countries, the ‘nitrogen crises’ in the first two has led to a reframing of concerns over livestock numbers in relation to place‐based deterioration of habitats and the possibility of granting permits for new economic activities, rather than as a global issue of mitigating climate change. Pre‐existing institutional frameworks influence the introduction and design of new buyout policies. In the context of high political pressure, existing policies to close down farms were reinforced and nutrient emission rights systems offered the opportunity to take production rights out of the market. Notwithstanding the policies and available budgets, the issue of direct intervention to reduce livestock numbers remains controversial.
Underwater macrophotogrammetry to monitor in situ benthic communities at submillimetre scale
Authors: Gouezo Marine , Doropoulos Christopher , Slawinski Dirk , Cummings Ben , Harrison Peter
Published: July 2023

Larval settlement and recruitment of sessile organisms are key ecological processes for population recovery and maintenance that occur at scales invisible to the human eye. Accordingly, proxies of recruitment have commonly been quantified using artificial substrata such as settlement tiles made of diverse materials and shapes, which are typically transported to the laboratory for examination. However, it is unknown how much bias is introduced with this sampling strategy and how recruitment quantified on tiles relates to recruitment on nearby natural substrata.

Here, we applied techniques that combine macrophotography with photogrammetry (macrophotogrammetry) underwater to monitor benthic communities at submillimetre scale. This application allows the investigation of recruitment and community succession of the earliest life‐history stages in situ and on natural substrata.

We tested the use of four different imaging systems, varying in costs from US$ 1400 to US$ 5440. While the most expensive SONY αRiv system provided the best visual output and ground resolution (up to 5 μm/pixel with a + 4 close‐up lens); regardless of systems, 3D models always had a ground resolution ≤23 μm/pixel and errors in planar measurements of submillimetre features were similar among systems. This level of resolution compares well with stereomicroscopy in the range of 5:1 to 10:1 magnification, while providing detailed 3D digital records through time.

Using a coral reef example, we apply this approach to demonstrate how it can be used to monitor small reef areas (~300–600 cm2) through time, including the quantification of biophysical metrics such as cover of small facilitative and competitive organisms and microhabitat complexity. We further show that organisms as small 0.5 mm in size, such as 2‐month‐old coral settlers, can be located accurately within the 3D models and measured with a good level of confidence. This method can be readily applied to other benthic environments to elucidate drivers of early recruitment and recovery of benthic organisms following disturbance impacts at very fine scales, directly on natural substrata, to avoid biases inherent with laboratory‐based analyses of artificial surfaces.
No Evidence that Measuring Moderators Alters Treatment Effects
Authors: Sheagley Geoffrey , Clifford Scott
Published: July 2023

Social scientists are frequently interested in who is most responsive to a treatment. By necessity, such moderation experiments often rely on observed moderators, such as partisan identity. These designs have led to an ongoing debate about where to measure moderators—immediately prior to the treatment, after the treatment, or in a prior wave of a panel survey. Measuring a moderator prior to the treatment is the most efficient and avoids posttreatment bias, but it raises concerns about priming. We contribute to this debate by systematically studying whether measuring moderators prior to an experiment affects the results. Across six different experiments, each involving a commonly used moderator, we find little evidence of priming effects, even when a moderator is placed immediately before the experiment. Our findings thus help resolve the debate, suggesting that researchers should measure moderators pretreatment. We conclude with advice on designing well‐powered moderation experiments.
Contraceptive use among women seeking an early induced abortion in Sweden
Authors: Niemeyer Hultstrand Jenny , Törnroos Elin , Tydén Tanja , Larsson Margareta , Makenzius Marlene , Gemzell‐Danielsson Kristina , Sundström‐Poromaa Inger , Ekstrand Ragnar Maria
Published: July 2023

Introduction

In spite of societal efforts to strengthen women's sexual and reproductive health in Sweden, many women have unmet contraceptive needs and the abortion rate remains high. The aim of this study was to investigate contraceptive use among abortion‐seeking women.

Material and methods

Swedish‐speaking women seeking an induced abortion up to the end of gestational week 12 at seven hospitals filled out an anonymous paper questionnaire between January and June 2021. Data were analyzed using frequencies and cross‐tabulations, and the Chi‐square test was used to compare age‐groups. Valid percentages are presented.

Results

In total, 623 women participated. Median age was 29 years and 13% were born outside the Nordic countries. In the year preceding the abortion, condoms (37%, n = 228) were the most commonly used contraceptive method, followed by short‐acting reversible contraception (SARC) (35%, n = 213) and withdrawal (25%, n = 152). Around one in five (n = 113) had not used any method in the year preceding the abortion. Sixteen percent (n = 96) had changed contraceptive method in the last year. At the time around conception, 15% (n = 90) reported use of SARC and 2% (n = 12) of long‐acting reversible contraception (LARC). Four out of 10 women (n = 268) reported non‐use of contraception at the time around conception, with a higher proportion among adolescents (70%, n = 30, P = 0.001). Among the women who responded to why they had not used any method (n = 387), the main reasons were that they did not believe they could become pregnant at that time (37%, n = 144) or had negative experiences from using contraceptives (32%, n = 123). A majority (88%, n = 527) planned to use contraception after the abortion. Of the women who had decided on method, 55% (n = 271) planned to use LARC, and 38% (n = 188) planned to use SARC.

Conclusion

The unmet need for contraception appears to be high among abortion‐seeking women in Sweden. Many had discontinued contraception use during the last year, and the main reasons for avoidance were beliefs that one could not become pregnant and negative experiences of contraceptives. The underestimation of pregnancy risk indicates limited fertility awareness, thus our recommendation would be to strengthen the sexual and reproductive knowledge among this group.
Not all green innovations are equally green: State ownership, green innovation generality and contingencies
Authors: Qu Guannan , Pan Xin
Published: July 2023

This research scrutinises the correlation between state ownership and the attributes of green innovation, specifically underscoring generality as a primary trait of innovation favoured by governments. Green innovation with generality, due to its applicability across diverse contexts at reduced expense, becomes an appealing strategy for states to address environmental concerns. Consequently, we suggest that state ownership encourages the prevalence of green innovation characterised by generality. Furthermore, we delve into two contingencies related to ascribed and achieved political connections, positing that they, respectively, impose negative and positive moderating influences. Support for our propositions comes from data gathered from Chinese listed firms during the period 2004–2019. By emphasising the importance of green innovation characteristics over their quantity, our research offers a significant contribution to the literature on green innovation in the context of state ownership.
Motivations to learn genomic information are not exceptional: Lessons from behavioral science
Authors: Taber Jennifer M. , Peters Ellen , Klein William M. P. , Cameron Linda D. , Turbitt Erin , Biesecker Barbara B.
Published: July 2023

Whether to undergo genome sequencing in a clinical or research context is generally a voluntary choice. Individuals are often motivated to learn genomic information even when clinical utility—the possibility that the test could inform medical recommendations or health outcomes—is low or absent. Motivations to seek one's genomic information can be cognitive, affective, social, or mixed (e.g., cognitive and affective) in nature. These motivations are based on the perceived value of the information, specifically, its clinical utility and personal utility. We suggest that motivations to learn genomic information are no different from motivations to learn other types of personal information, including one's health status and disease risk. Here, we review behavioral science relevant to motivations that may drive engagement with genome sequencing, both in the presence of varying degrees of clinical utility and in the absence of clinical utility. Specifically, we elucidate 10 motivations that are expected to underlie decisions to undergo genome sequencing. Recognizing these motivations to learn genomic information will guide future research and ultimately help clinicians to facilitate informed decision making among individuals as genome sequencing becomes increasingly available.
Randomized controlled pilot study comparing small buccal defects around dental implants treated with a subepithelial connective tissue graft or with guided bone regeneration
Authors: Zuercher A. N. , Strauss F. J. , Paqué P. N. , Bienz S. P. , Jung R. E. , Thoma D. S.
Published: July 2023

Aim

To compare subepithelial connective tissue grafts (SCTG) versus guided bone regeneration (GBR) for the treatment of small peri‐implant dehiscence defects in terms of profilometric (primary outcome), clinical, and patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Methods

Sixteen patients who presented with small buccal bone dehiscences (≤3 mm) following single implant placement were recruited. Following implant placement, buccal bone defect sites were randomly treated either with a SCTG or GBR. Six patients who lacked bone dehiscences after implant placement were assigned to a negative control. Transmucosal healing was applied in all patients. Patients were examined prior (T1) and after (T2) implant placement, at suture removal (T3), at implant impression (T5), at crown delivery (T6), and 12 (T7) months after crown delivery. Measurements included profilometric outcomes, marginal bone levels, buccal bone and soft tissue thickness, PROMs, and clinical parameters. All data were analyzed descriptively.

Results

The median changes in buccal contour as assessed by profilometric measures between T1 and T5 showed a decrease of 1.84 mm for the SCTG group and 1.06 mm for the GBR group. Between T2 and T7, the median change in the buccal contour amounted to 0.45 mm for SCTG and −0.94 mm (=loss) for GBR. Patients' pain perception tended to be higher in SCTG than in GBR. All peri‐implant soft tissue parameters showed healthy oral tissues and no clinically relevant differences between groups.

Conclusion

Within the limitations of this pilot study, treating small peri‐implant dehiscence defects with a SCTG might be a viable alternative to GBR. The use of a SCTG tended to result in more stable profilometric outcomes and comparable clinical outcomes to GBR. However, patient‐reported outcome measures tended to favor GBR.
From haematuria to nephroureterectomy via urine cytology—A case study
Authors: Turner Richard , Powari Manish , Stevenson Tracey
Published: July 2023

Upper urinary tract urothelial carcinomas (UTUCs) are uncommon, accounting for only 5%‐10% of urothelial carcinomas. Radical nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision is the standard treatment of high‐risk UTUC. Therefore, accurate preoperative diagnosis, including the use of urine cytology, is essential for appropriate patient management. This case study details a patient's pathway from haematuria to nephroureterectomy.
Bankruptcy and international intervention: The case of Addiko bank
Authors: Gabriel Hannah C.
Published: July 2023

In 2014, the Austrian bank Hypo Group Alpe Adria was purchased by the American banking group Advent International, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and re‐branded as Addiko bank. In this paper, I explore how this purchase of Addiko Bank by an international multilateral development bank (MDB) affected exporting firms in Croatia. Using a difference‐in‐differences specification to investigate whether there was a meaningful effect of this turnover on firm performance, I find that the turnover of Addiko bank led to a $160,000 decrease in loans taken out by firms. However, this effect seems to occur immediately after the turnover, and vanishes over time. This effect is seen among domestically‐owned firms and non‐manufacturing firms, but not multinational affiliates and manufacturing firms. Additionally, I find no effect of this turnover on firm revenues. These results indicate that after an initial period of turmoil, the intervention by EBRD and Advent International had no lasting negative effects on firms in Croatia. The intervention by a MDB can help reform a financial sector and will not necessarily lead to detrimental effects at the micro‐level.
REDD1 (regulated in development and DNA damage 1) modulates the glucocorticoid receptor function in keratinocytes
Authors: Chudakova D. A. , Trubetskoy D. , Baida G. , Bhalla P. , Readhead B. , Budunova I.
Published: July 2023

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases despite significant adverse effects including skin atrophy. Effects of GCs are mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a well‐known transcription factor. Previously, we discovered that one of the GR target genes, REDD1, is causatively involved in skin atrophy. Here, we investigated its role in GR function using HaCaT REDD1 knockout (KO) keratinocytes. We found large differences in transcriptome of REDD1 KO and control Cas9 cells in response to glucocorticoid fluocinolone acetonide (FA): both the scope and amplitude of response were significantly decreased in REDD1 KO. The status of REDD1 did not affect GR stability/degradation during self‐desensitization, and major steps in GR activation—its nuclear import and phosphorylation at activating Ser211. However, the amount of GR phosphorylated at Ser226 that may play negative role in GR signalling, was increased in the nuclei of REDD1 KO cells. GR nuclear import and transcriptional activity also depend on the composition of GR chaperone complex: exchange of chaperone FKBP51 (FK506‐binding protein 5) for FKBP52 (FK506‐binding protein 4) being a necessary step in GR activation. We found the increased expression and abnormal nuclear translocation of FKBP51 in both untreated and FA‐treated REDD1 KO cells. Overall, our results suggest the existence of a feed‐forward loop in GR signalling mediated by its target gene REDD1, which has translational potential for the development of safer GR‐targeted therapies.
Integrating freshwater biodiversity data sources: Key challenges and opportunities
Authors: Jarvis Susan G. , Mackay Eleanor B. , Risser Hannah A. , Feuchtmayr Heidrun , Fry Matthew , Isaac Nick J. B. , Thackeray Stephen J. , Henrys Peter A.
Published: July 2023

In order to better quantify spatial and temporal patterns in freshwater biodiversity, and potential underlying drivers of change, we must utilise the increasingly broad range of data available on freshwater ecosystems. Statistical advances in the field of integrated modelling provide new opportunities to further our understanding through the combined and simultaneous analysis of these diverse datasets.

We briefly introduce integrated modelling in the context of freshwater biodiversity and outline the key steps involved in its implementation, from data collection to analysis. We highlight both opportunities and challenges for the application of integrated approaches.

To illustrate the potential for integrated models to improve our understanding of freshwater biodiversity compared to standard approaches, we combine two datasets collected using different methods to model the distribution of Agabus water beetles in England. The integrated model had greater power to detect covariate effects on Agabus distribution, and reduced parameter uncertainty compared with analysis using only a single dataset.

We show that integrated methods have the potential to increase our understanding of freshwater systems and enable us to make full use of the diversity of freshwater data available.
Rare sequence variants associated with the risk of non‐syndromic biliary atresia
Authors: Tamaoka Satoshi , Fukuda Akinari , Nakabayashi Kazuhiko , Matsubara Keiko , Ogata‐Kawata Hiroko , Muranishi Yuki , Hata Kenichiro , Kato‐Fukui Yuko , Sakamoto Seisuke , Kasahara Mureo , Fukami Maki
Published: July 2023

Aim

The etiology of non‐syndromic biliary atresia (BA) remains largely unknown. In this study, we performed genome‐wide screening of genes associated with the risk of non‐syndromic BA.

Methods

We analyzed exome data of 15 Japanese patients with non‐syndromic BA and 509 control individuals using an optimal sequence kernel association test (SKAT‐O), a gene‐based association study optimized for small‐number subjects. Furthermore, we examined the frequencies of known BA‐related single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in the BA and control groups.

Results

SKAT‐O showed that rare damaging variants of MFHAS1, a ubiquitously expressed gene encoding a Toll‐like receptor‐associated protein, were more common in the BA group than in the control group (Bonferroni corrected p‐value = 0.0097). Specifically, p.Val106Gly and p.Arg556Cys significantly accumulated in the patient group. These variants resided within functionally important domains. SKAT‐O excluded the presence of other genes significantly associated with the disease risk. Of 60 known BA‐associated single‐nucleotide polymorphisms, only eight were identified in the BA group. In particular, p.Ile3421Met of MYO15A and p.Ala421Thr of THOC2 were more common in the BA group than in the control group. However, the significance of these two variants is questionable, because MYO15A has been linked to deafness, but not to BA, and the p.Ala421Thr of THOC2 represents a relatively common single‐nucleotide polymorphism in Asia.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that rare damaging variants in MFHAS1 may constitute a risk factor for non‐syndromic BA, whereas the contribution of other monogenic variants to the disease predisposition is limited.
Revisiting resistant hypertension: a comprehensive review
Authors: Chan Ryan J. , Helmeczi Wryan , Hiremath Swapnil S.
Published: July 2023

Resistant hypertension (RHT) is typically defined as blood pressure that remains above guideline‐directed targets despite the use of three anti‐hypertensives, usually including a diuretic, at optimal or maximally tolerated doses. It is generally estimated to affect 10–30% of those diagnosed with hypertension, though the true incidence might be lower after one factor in the prevalence of non‐adherence. Risk factors for its development include diabetes, obesity and other adverse lifestyle factors, and a diagnosis of RHT confers a greater risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, such as stroke, heart failure and mortality. It is essential to exclude pseudoresistance and secondary hypertension and to ensure non‐pharmacologic management is optimised prior to consideration of fourth‐line anti‐hypertensive agents or advanced interventions, such as device therapies. In this review, we will cover the different definitions of RHT, along with the importance of careful diagnosis and management strategies, and discuss newer agents and research needs.
A study on learning analytics of using mobile augmented reality application to enhance cultural competence for design cultural creation in higher education
Authors: Cheng Ching‐I.
Published: July 2023

Background

Taiwan's higher education institutions prioritize interdisciplinary knowledge and cultural competence in cultural design, emphasizing the value of immersion in the local environment to develop cultural competence. However, challenges arise from the disappearance of traditional local lifestyles and limitations of traditional outdoor lectures such as group size and learning environment. Mobile augmented reality technology serves as a personal learning tool to overcome these challenges, enabling learners to uncover hidden knowledge in scenic locations and improving learning efficiency.

Objective

The study utilized learning analytics to investigate the impact of using mobile augmented reality on enhancing learners' cultural competence.

Methods

The study used both qualitative and quasi‐experimental quantitative research to evaluate the effects of mobile augmented reality on cultural competence. A total of 78 third‐year university students participated in the study, with 37 of them using mobile augmented reality to learn about culture. The researchers utilized both the Mann–Whitney U test and interviews to compare the effectiveness of mobile augmented reality with that of a ‘real’ tour guide in field courses.

Results

The experimental results indicate that learners were able to continuously seek and find information about local culture through field exploration with mobile augmented reality, resulting in similar effects to those of attending a live lecture.

Conclusions

It showed that incorporating mobile AR into field visits can create gamified and active learning scenarios that enhance immersion and drive active learning in local culture. The results in greater cultural knowledge and understanding, leading to the development of cultural competence in students.