bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integrating rational and irrational factors towards explicating investment satisfaction and reinvestment intentions: a study in the context of direct residential real estate
Authors: R. Sharmila Devi , Perumandla Swamy , Bhattacharyya Som Sekhar
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand the investment decision-making of real estate investors in housing, highlighting the interplay between rational and irrational factors. In this study, investment satisfaction was a mediator, while reinvestment intention was the dependent variable.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative, cross-sectional and descriptive research design was used, gathering data from a sample of 550 residential real estate investors using a multi-stage stratified sampling technique. The partial least squares structural equation modelling disjoint two-stage approach was used for data analysis. This methodological approach allowed for an in-depth examination of the relationship between rational factors such as location, profitability, financial viability, environmental considerations and legal aspects alongside irrational factors including various biases like overconfidence, availability, anchoring, representative and information cascade.

Findings

This study strongly supports the adaptive market hypothesis, showing that residential real estate investor behaviour is dynamic, combining rational and irrational elements influenced by evolutionary psychology. This challenges traditional views of investment decision-making. It also establishes that behavioural biases, key to adapting to market changes, are crucial in shaping residential property market efficiency. Essentially, the study uncovers an evolving real estate investment landscape driven by evolutionary behavioural patterns.

Research limitations/implications

This research redefines rationality in behavioural finance by illustrating psychological biases as adaptive tools within the residential property market, urging a holistic integration of these insights into real estate investment theories.

Practical implications

The study reshapes property valuation models by blending economic and psychological perspectives, enhancing investor understanding and market efficiency. These interdisciplinary insights offer a blueprint for improved regulatory policies, investor education and targeted real estate marketing, fundamentally transforming the sector’s dynamics.

Originality/value

Unlike previous studies, the research uniquely integrates human cognitive behaviour theories from psychology and business studies, specifically in the context of residential property investment. This interdisciplinary approach offers a more nuanced understanding of investor behaviour.
Impact of inventory management on SME performance: a systematic review
Authors: Panigrahi Rashmi Ranjan , Shrivastava Avinash K. , Nudurupati Sai Sudhakar
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Effective inventory management is crucial for SMEs due to limited resources and higher risks like cash flow, storage space, and stockouts. Hence, the aim is to explore how technology and know-how can be integrated with inventory practices and impact operational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The basis of the analysis was collecting papers from a wide range of databases, which included Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. In the first phase of the process, a search string with as many as nine related keywords was used to obtain 175 papers. It further filtered them based on their titles and abstracts to retain 95 papers that were included for thorough analysis.

Findings

The study introduced innovative methods of measuring inventory practices by exploring the impact of know-how. It is the first of its kind to identify and demonstrate how technical, technological, and behavioral know-how can influence inventory management practices and ultimately impact the performance of emerging SMEs. This study stands out for its comprehensive approach, which covers traditional and modern inventory management technologies in a single study.

Research limitations/implications

The study provides valuable insights into the interplay between technical, technological, and behavioral know-how in inventory management practices and their effects on the performance of emerging SMEs in Industry 5.0 in the light of RBV theory.

Originality/value

The RBV theory and the Industry 5.0 paradigm are used in this study to explore how developing SMEs' inventory management practices influence their performance. This study investigates the effects of traditional and modern inventory management systems on business performance. Incorporating RBV theory with the Industry 5.0 framework investigates firm-specific resources and technological advances in the current industrial revolution. This unique technique advances the literature on inventory management and has industry implications.
The effects of knowledge base characteristics on patent pledge financing: the moderating effects of technological munificence and dynamism
Authors: Zhang Zhiqun , Yang Xia , Yang Xue , Gu Xin
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine how the knowledge breadth and depth of a patent affect its likelihood of being pledged. It also seeks to explore whether these relationships change diversely in different technological environments.

Design/methodology/approach

A complementary log-log model with random effects was conducted to test the hypotheses using a unique data set consisting of 348,927 invention patents granted by the China National Intellectual Property Administration from 1985 to 2015 belonging to 74,996 firms.

Findings

The findings reveal that both knowledge breadth and depth of a patent positively affect its likelihood of being pledged. Furthermore, the knowledge breadth and depth entail different degrees of superiority in different technological environments.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on the effect of an individual patent’s knowledge base on its likelihood of being selected as collateral. It does not consider the influence of the overall knowledge characteristics of the selected patent portfolio.

Practical implications

Managers need to pay attention to patents’ knowledge characteristics and the changes in technological environments to select the most suitable patents as collateral and thus improve the success rate of pledge financing.

Originality/value

This study explores the impact of multidimensional characteristics of knowledge base on patent pledge financing within a systematic theoretical framework and incorporates technological environments into this framework.
An integrated QFD framework for smart city strategy development
Authors: Kamvysi Konstantina , Tsironis Loukas K. , Gotzamani Katerina
Published: March 2024

Purpose

In this study, the deployment of an integrated Quality Function Deployment (QFD) decision framework is presented to help cities design targeted strategies to become “smart”. Arguably smart cities leverage advanced technologies to enhance their smartness to improve everyday urban life. To this end, a QFD – Analytic Hierarchy Process – Analytic Network Process (QFD-AHP-ANP) framework is proposed to deliver guidance for selecting the appropriate mix of smart technologies based on the specific smart needs of each city.

Design/methodology/approach

The AHP and ANP methods are incorporated into QFD to enhance its methodological robustness in formulating the decision problem. AHP accurately captures and translates the “Voice of the Experts” into prioritized “Smart City” dimensions, while establishing inter-relationships between these dimensions and “Smart City Technologies”. Meanwhile, ANP explores tradeoffs among the technologies, enabling well-informed decisions. The framework’s effectiveness is evaluated through an illustrative application in the city of Thessaloniki.

Findings

Applying the framework to this real-world context confirms its practicality and utility, demonstrating its ability to particularize local, social, political, environmental and economic trends through the resulting mix of technologies in smart urban development strategies.

Originality/value

The importance of this study lies in several aspects. Firstly, it introduces a novel QFD decision framework tailored for smart city strategic planning. Secondly, it contributes to the operationalization of the smart city concept by providing guidance for cities to effectively adopt smart technologies. Finally, this study represents a new field of application for QFD, expanding its scope beyond its traditional domains.
Emigration and radical right populism
Authors: Dancygier Rafaela , Dehdari Sirus H. , Laitin David D. , Marbach Moritz , Vernby Kåre
Published: March 2024

An extensive literature links the rise of populist radical right (PRR) parties to immigration. We argue that another demographic trend is also significant: emigration. The departure of citizens due to internal and international emigration is a major phenomenon affecting elections via two complementary mechanisms. Emigration alters the composition of electorates, but also changes the preferences of the left behind. Empirically, we establish a positive correlation between PRR vote shares and net‐migration loss at the subnational level across Europe. A more fine‐grained panel analysis of precincts in Sweden demonstrates that the departure of citizens raises PRR vote shares in places of emigration and that the Social Democrats are the principal losers from emigration. Elite interviews and newspaper analyses explore how emigration produces material and psychological grievances on which populists capitalize and that established parties do not effectively address. Emigration and the frustrations it generates emerge as important sources of populist success.
Organizational dehumanization fuelling opportunistic behaviour: A social exchange perspective
Authors: Bibi Afshan , Al Hassan Sidrah , Zahur Hafsah
Published: March 2024

Organizations generally treat their employees as tools for attaining maximum efficiency to achieve their production targets. In this regard, it is important to note that the global post‐pandemic era spiced up with technological advent has further catalysed the existing mechanistic approach towards the workforce. Moreover, the investigation of organizational dehumanization in the Asian region has its unique significance. This pervasive phenomenon needs scholarly attention to realize its deleterious outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between organizational dehumanization and opportunistic behaviour. Moreover, the underlying mechanism of calculative commitment was proposed along with the negative reciprocity norms moderating the indirect effect of organization dehumanization to opportunistic behaviour through calculative commitment. The proposed model was grounded on the assumptions of social exchange theory. The survey method was utilized to collect from the service sector organizations operating in both private and public sector organizations in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. The data were collected in three‐time lags (2 weeks), with peer‐reported opportunistic behaviour. The CFA was done, followed by the utilization of model 4 and model 7 to test hypotheses. The results established a positive relationship between organizational dehumanization and opportunistic behaviour. Moreover, the mediation of calculative commitment was proven empirically with the high levels of negative reciprocity norms strengthening the indirect effect of organizational dehumanization to opportunistic behaviour through calculative commitment.
Exploring sexual function in adrenal insufficiency: findings from the Dual RElease hydrocortisone versus conventionAl glucocorticoid replaceMent therapy in hypocortisolism (DREAM) trial
Authors: Hasenmajer Valeria , De Alcubierre Dario , Ferrari Davide , Minnetti Marianna , Bonaventura Ilaria , Pofi Riccardo , Simeoli Chiara , Tomaselli Alessandra , Sciarra Francesca , Bottillo Grazia , Angelini Francesco , Cozzolino Alessia , Venneri Mary Anna , Jannini Emmanuele A. , Gianfrilli Daniele , Pivonello Rosario , Isidori Andrea M.
Published: March 2024

Background

Data on sexual function in patients with adrenal insufficiency are scarce and largely controversial.

Objectives

To investigate sexual dysfunction in patients with primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency and the effects of switching to once‐daily dual‐release hydrocortisone on sexual function in outcome assessors blinded, randomized, multicenter, active comparator clinical trial.

Materials and methods

Eighty‐nine adrenal insufficiency patients on conventional, multiple daily doses of glucocorticoid replacement, enrolled in the Dual RElease hydrocortisone versus conventionAl glucocorticoid replaceMent in hypocortisolism (DREAM) trial, were randomly assigned to continue their therapy or to switch to an equivalent dose of dual‐release hydrocortisone. Sixty‐three patients (34 women) consented to sex steroid measurements and questionnaires completion for quality of life (Addison's disease‐specific quality‐of‐life questionnaire) and sexual function evaluation (female sexual function index for women, International Index of Erectile Function‐Erectile Function for men) at baseline and 24 weeks after randomization.

Results

At baseline, sexual dysfunction was observed in 41% of women and 59% of men with adrenal insufficiency. In both sexes, no associations were found between sexual function and hormone levels, whereas Addison's disease‐specific quality‐of‐life questionnaire total and fatigue domain scores positively correlated with total female sexual function index and International Index of Erectile Function‐Erectile Function scores. At 24 weeks, there was no significant difference either in sexual function or sex steroid levels between study groups. In the dual‐release hydrocortisone group, the variation in the female sexual function index desire domain score was positively associated with the change in Addison's disease‐specific quality‐of‐life questionnaire's symptom domain score (ρ = 0.478, p = 0.045).

Discussion

Sexual dysfunction is common in adrenal insufficiency patients and is likely explained by multiple factors. dual‐release hydrocortisone treatment is not directly associated with sexual function improvement, but an indirect effect mediated by quality‐of‐life amelioration cannot be excluded.
Method for evaluating milk production in mouse mammary gland
Authors: Sakai Hibiki , Kamikawa Akihiro
Published: March 2024

Lactation is a characteristic physiological function of mammals and is important for nourishing infants and the dairy industry; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying the function remain to be elucidated. A technique to directly evaluate the quantity and quality of milk in mice is necessary for the study of the lactation mechanism in vivo. By measuring the changes in milk amount after different durations of milk accumulation (0–24 h) using a ductal cannulation technique and oxytocin supplementation, we estimated the milk production rate at a single mammary gland level. In addition, collected milk was available to assess milk quality, including creamatocrit, osmolarity, and concentrations of ions, lactose, and total protein. Moreover, as a proof of principle, the effects of intraductal administration of a hypertonic solution to the abdominal mammary gland were examined. This stimulation increased milk amount, possibly by osmosis, compared with the contralateral control gland. These results demonstrated that this method is useful for examining the lactation ability and mechanisms in vivo. Studies using this method will contribute to the further understanding of lactation mechanisms in mammals.
Assessing the value orientation preferences and the importance given to principled moral reasoning of Generation Zs: A cross‐generational comparison
Authors: Weber James
Published: March 2024

Within the past few years, a new generation has joined the ranks of business managers or is preparing to become business managers: Generation Z (Gen Z), described as individuals born between 1995 and 2010. This paper has two aims: (1) to assess the Gen Z cohort framed by their value orientation preferences (VOP) and the importance given to principled moral reasoning (PMR) using values and cognitive moral reasoning theories and (2) to compare this information about the Gen Z cohort to prior generations. Using the Rokeach Value Survey and the Moral Reasoning Inventory, we uncovered support for our expectations that Gen Zs would have a balanced set of VOP—that is, similar preferences for a personal and a social value orientation and similar preferences for a competence and moral value orientation. Further, Gen Z preferences are unlike prior generations. The importance given to principled moral reasoning to resolve ethical dilemmas is lower than Baby Boomers and Gen Xers but surprisingly higher than Millennials as found in prior studies. Implications of these discoveries and suggestions for future research are presented.
The utility of Martius fat pad in the repair of urogenital fistulae: review of current evidence
Authors: Kapriniotis Konstantinos , Loufopoulos Ioannis , Gresty Helena C.M. , Greenwell Tamsin J. , Ockrim Jeremy L.
Published: March 2024

Objective

To present the contemporary evidence on transvaginal urogenital fistulae (UGF) repair with Martius fat pad (MFP), compared to direct graftless fistula repair.

Methods

We reviewed all available studies reporting lower UGF repair via the transvaginal approach in MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). The primary outcome of interest was the fistula closure rates. When available, patients’ baseline characteristics, indications for surgery, and early and late postoperative complications with focus on MFP‐related complications are reported.

Results and Discussion

In obstetric fistulae, tissue interposition has been almost completely abandoned, with contemporary large series reporting closure rates of >90% with graftless repair, even for complex fistulae. Similarly, most simple, non‐irradiated iatrogenic fistulae can be closed safely without or with tissue interposition with success rates ranging between 86% and 100%. However, MFP is valuable in fistulae with difficulty achieving tension‐free and layered closure, with significant tissue loss, urethral involvement and with poorly vascularised tissues after radiotherapy, with reported success rates between 80% and 97% in those challenging situations.

Conclusion

A UGF repair should be individualised after considering the specific characteristics and complexity of the procedure. MFP interposition is probably unnecessary for the majority of low (obstetric) fistulae within otherwise healthy tissues. However, MFP may still have a place to maximise outcomes in low‐income settings, in select cases with higher (iatrogenic) fistulae, and in most cases with radiotherapy.
Large‐scale data decipher children's scale errors: A meta‐analytic approach using the zero‐inflated Poisson models
Authors: Hagihara Hiromichi , Ishibashi Mikako , Moriguchi Yusuke , Shinya Yuta
Published: March 2024

Scale errors are intriguing phenomena in which a child tries to perform an object‐specific action on a tiny object. Several viewpoints explaining the developmental mechanisms underlying scale errors exist; however, there is no unified account of how different factors interact and affect scale errors, and the statistical approaches used in the previous research do not adequately capture the structure of the data. By conducting a secondary analysis of aggregated datasets across nine different studies (n = 528) and using more appropriate statistical methods, this study provides a more accurate description of the development of scale errors. We implemented the zero‐inflated Poisson (ZIP) regression that could directly handle the count data with a stack of zero observations and regarded developmental indices as continuous variables. The results suggested that the developmental trend of scale errors was well documented by an inverted U‐shaped curve rather than a simple linear function, although nonlinearity captured different aspects of the scale errors between the laboratory and classroom data. We also found that repeated experiences with scale error tasks reduced the number of scale errors, whereas girls made more scale errors than boys. Furthermore, a model comparison approach revealed that predicate vocabulary size (e.g., adjectives or verbs), predicted developmental changes in scale errors better than noun vocabulary size, particularly in terms of the presence or absence of scale errors. The application of the ZIP model enables researchers to discern how different factors affect scale error production, thereby providing new insights into demystifying the mechanisms underlying these phenomena. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at https://youtu.be/1v1U6CjDZ1Q

Research Highlights

We fit a large dataset by aggregating the existing scale error data to the zero–inflated Poisson (ZIP) model.

Scale errors peaked along the different developmental indices, but the underlying statistical structure differed between the in‐lab and classroom datasets.

Repeated experiences with scale error tasks and the children's gender affected the number of scale errors produced per session.

Predicate vocabulary size (e.g., adjectives or verbs) better predicts developmental changes in scale errors than noun vocabulary size.
Ecosystem functions and functional traits for the study of phytophagous scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)
Authors: García‐Atencia Sandy , Bonilla‐Gómez Maria Argenis , Moreno Claudia E.
Published: March 2024

Owing to the rapid and ongoing anthropogenic changes impacting ecosystem functions and their interplay with biodiversity, there is a growing focus on assessing insect functional diversity. This emphasis helps to unravel key roles of insects on ecosystem processes and to identify the assembly mechanisms that regulate species coexistence.

The ecological functions of phytophagous scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae) have been relatively unexplored, and potential functional traits are scattered throughout the literature. Species within this group exhibit diverse lifestyles, forms and sizes. They exploit various resources such as decomposing wood, foliage, roots and flowers, with a small subset identified as predators. Although many of their representatives are significant agricultural pests, information on their contributions in natural ecosystems has not been consolidated.

This study reviews the ecological functions potentially carried out by phytophagous scarab beetles and proposes functional traits to be incorporated into studies of functional diversity. Through this, the goal is to integrate the scattered information, stimulate the generation of questions that go beyond classical ecological theory and contribute to advancing our knowledge of their ecosystem functions, as well as the foundations for understanding community structure. We propose to use trophic groups to define functions such as bioturbation, organic matter decomposition, biological control and potential pollination.

A simplified list of functional traits was obtained by conducting correlation analyses using a trait matrix from a region in northern Colombia. This represents a significant advance for the study of traits within the framework of functional ecology, applicable to territorial planning and biodiversity conservation.
Pathways from the superior colliculus and the nucleus of the optic tract to the posterior parietal cortex in macaque monkeys: Functional frameworks for representation updating and online movement guidance
Authors: Ugolini Gabriella , Graf Werner
Published: March 2024

The posterior parietal cortex (PPC) integrates multisensory and motor‐related information for generating and updating body representations and movement plans. We used retrograde transneuronal transfer of rabies virus combined with a conventional tracer in macaque monkeys to identify direct and disynaptic pathways to the arm‐related rostral medial intraparietal area (MIP), the ventral lateral intraparietal area (LIPv), belonging to the parietal eye field, and the pursuit‐related lateral subdivision of the medial superior temporal area (MSTl). We found that these areas receive major disynaptic pathways via the thalamus from the nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) and the superior colliculus (SC), mainly ipsilaterally. NOT pathways, targeting MSTl most prominently, serve to process the sensory consequences of slow eye movements for which the NOT is the key sensorimotor interface. They potentially contribute to the directional asymmetry of the pursuit and optokinetic systems. MSTl and LIPv receive feedforward inputs from SC visual layers, which are potential correlates for fast detection of motion, perceptual saccadic suppression and visual spatial attention. MSTl is the target of efference copy pathways from saccade‐ and head‐related compartments of SC motor layers and head‐related reticulospinal neurons. They are potential sources of extraretinal signals related to eye and head movement in MSTl visual‐tracking neurons. LIPv and rostral MIP receive efference copy pathways from all SC motor layers, providing online estimates of eye, head and arm movements. Our findings have important implications for understanding the role of the PPC in representation updating, internal models for online movement guidance, eye‐hand coordination and optic ataxia.
Evaluation of an Impulse‐Response Emulator for Groundwater Contaminant Transport Modeling
Authors: Heerspink Brent P. , Fienen Michael N. , Reeves Howard W.
Published: March 2024

There is a significant need to develop decision support tools capable of delivering accurate representations of environmental conditions, such as ground and surface water solute concentrations, in a timely and computationally efficient manner. Such tools can be leveraged to assess a large number of potential management strategies for mitigating non‐point source pollutants. Here, we assess the effectiveness of the impulse‐response emulation approach to approximate process‐based groundwater model estimates of solute transport from MODFLOW and MT3D over a wide range of model inputs and parameters, with the goal of assessing where in parameter space the assumptions underlying this emulation approach are valid. The impulse‐response emulator was developed using the sensitivity analysis utilities in the PEST++ software suite and is capable of approximating MODFLOW/MT3D estimates of solute transport over a large portion of the parameter space tested, except in cases where the Courant number is above 0.5. Across all runs tested, the highest percent errors were at the plume fronts. These results suggest that the impulse‐response approach may be suitable for emulation of solute transport models for a wide range of cases, except when high‐resolution outputs are needed, or when very low concentrations at plume edges are of particular interest.
Oral isotretinoin with desloratadine compared with oral isotretinoin alone in the treatment of moderate to severe acne: a randomized, assessor‐blinded study
Authors: Hazarika Neirita , Yadav Piyush , Bagri Manmohan , Chandrasekaran Divya , Bhatia Riti
Published: March 2024

Background

Our aim was to measure the effectiveness of oral isotretinoin with desloratadine compared with oral isotretinoin alone in treating moderate to severe acne at a tertiary care teaching hospital in North India. In this study, 90 patients with moderate to severe acne were enrolled to participate based on their fulfilling the inclusion criteria.

Methods

A randomized, assessor‐blinded, parallel‐arm study was conducted. Randomization was done using computer‐generated tables to allocate treatments in a 1:1 ratio. A low‐dose oral isotretinoin at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg/day with tab desloratadine at 5 mg/day was applied to the study group and compared against the same patients going without the dosage when controls were conducted. Follow‐up was at 4, 8, and 12 weeks.

Results

The primary outcome was an improved global acne grading system (GAGS) score and decreased acne lesion count. Secondary outcome: patient satisfaction with treatment. The 90 participants were randomized and 15 participants dropped out of the study, leaving 75 participants for intention to treat analysis (n = 41, n = 30). At week 12, the GAGS score and acne lesion count between the study and control groups were comparable (P > 0.05). Pruritus reported was 9.76% in the study versus 33.33% in the control group (P = 0.018). Also, 53.66% of participants reported “excellent” treatment satisfaction in the study group versus 36.67% in the control group.

Conclusions

The addition of desloratadine to an isotretinoin regimen has a role in reducing disease and therapy‐related pruritus in acne and leads to improved patient satisfaction.
Intersecting pathways: evaluating inflammatory markers and metabolism in chronic spontaneous urticaria with a multi‐marker approach
Authors: Metin Zuhal , Akca Hanife Merve , Tur Kaan , Akogul Serkan
Published: March 2024

Background

Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is an inflammatory skin disease with intricate mechanisms. This study comprehensively assessed markers from diverse metabolic pathways, including novel inflammatory indicators, to evaluate their potential for diagnosing and monitoring CSU.

Materials and methods

In the study involving 90 CSU patients and 90 healthy controls, the levels of albumin, high‐density lipoprotein (HDL), fibrinogen, uric acid, D‐dimer, C‐reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cells (WBC) values were analyzed. The D‐dimer/albumin ratio (DAR), fibrinogen/albumin ratio (FAR), and uric acid/HDL ratio (UHR), considered novel inflammatory markers, were calculated. The Urticaria Activity Score 7 (UAS7) was also calculated. Pearson chi‐squared test, Mann–Whitney U test, Spearman correlation coefficient, and univariate logistic regression analysis were employed for data analysis.

Results

In the patient group, significant elevations were observed in DAR, FAR, fibrinogen, CRP, D‐dimer, and UHR values. Additionally, albumin, HDL, and uric acid values exhibited significant decreases. HDL and albumin provided the most accurate results in the univariate logistic regression analysis. CRP had less accuracy, FAR exhibited greater accuracy than fibrinogen, and DAR demonstrated higher accuracy than D‐dimer. There was no statistically significant correlation between the UAS7 and parameters. The considerable correlation of CRP with other parameters, except D‐dimer, was also remarkable.

Conclusions

Indicators from diverse metabolic pathways, including albumin, HDL, uric acid, fibrinogen, D‐dimer, and CRP, can be valuable in assessing CSU. In particular, FAR and DAR are emerging as potential markers to consider in the assessment of CSU.
KLF transcription factors in bone diseases
Authors: Wang Haixia , Han Juanjuan , Dmitrii Gorbachev , Ning Ke , Zhang Xin‐an
Published: March 2024

Krüppel‐like factors (KLFs) are crucial in the development of bone disease. They are a family of zinc finger transcription factors that are unusual in containing three highly conserved zinc finger structural domains interacting with DNA. It has been discovered that it engages in various cell functions, including proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, stemness, invasion and migration, and is crucial for the development of human tissues. In recent years, the role of KLFs in bone physiology and pathology has received adequate attention. In addition to regulating the normal growth and development of the musculoskeletal system, KLFs participate in the pathological process of the bones and joints and are intimately linked to several skeletal illnesses, such as osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoporosis (OP) and osteosarcoma (OS). Consequently, targeting KLFs has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for an array of bone disorders. In this review, we summarize the current literature on the importance of KLFs in the emergence and regulation of bone illnesses, with a particular emphasis on the pertinent mechanisms by which KLFs regulate skeletal diseases. We also discuss the need for KLFs‐based medication‐targeted treatment. These endeavours offer new perspectives on the use of KLFs in bone disorders and provide prognostic biomarkers, therapeutic targets and possible drug candidates for bone diseases.
Prescribing in pregnant women with inflammatory bowel disease and its relationship to congenital malformations in Japan
Authors: Takahashi Sayumi , Kakuta Yoichi , Obara Taku , Ishikawa Tomofumi , Nagai Hiroshi , Shimoyama Yusuke , Naito Takeo , Moroi Rintaro , Shiga Hisashi , Mano Nariyasu , Kinouchi Yoshitaka , Masamune Atsushi
Published: March 2024

Background and Aim

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) frequently affects younger patients and poses various challenges concerning pregnancy and childbirth. Maintaining good disease control throughout pregnancy is crucial, but expectant and pregnant patients may worry about the fetal impact of medications, leading to treatment discontinuation due to uncertainty about this issue. This study investigated the real‐world drug‐prescribing practices for pregnant patients with IBD in Japan and their potential connection to major congenital malformations (MCMs).

Methods

Overall, 277 female IBD patients who gave birth between 2010 and 2019 were selected from the JMDC claims database. The prescribing patterns of IBD medications and MCMs in the patients' offspring were analyzed.

Results

Among pregnant IBD patients, 74.4% received at least one medication from 90 days before pregnancy to 90 days after delivery. Trends in medication prescriptions during pregnancy in 2010–2019 revealed consistent use of oral 5‐ASA, variable use of topical medications, a decrease in systemic steroids, and an increase in biologics. The prevalence of MCMs in children born to IBD‐affected mothers did not differ significantly between those who did and did not receive IBD medications (8.6% vs 6.8%). Although circulatory system MCMs were slightly more common in the IBD medication group (4.9% vs 1.4%), this difference was not significant. Logistic regression analysis did not reveal an association between MCM risk and first‐trimester use of IBD medications, including corticosteroids and biologics.

Conclusions

This study provides insights into medication patterns in pregnant IBD patients and suggests no increased risk of MCMs associated with first‐trimester IBD medication use.
Hospice providers serving assisted living residents: Association of higher volume with lower quality
Authors: Guo Wenhan , Temkin‐Greener Helena , McGarry Brian E.
Published: March 2024

Background

Assisted living (AL) community caregivers are known to report lower quality of hospice care. However, little is known about hospice providers serving AL residents and factors that may contribute to, and explain, differences in quality. We examined the association between hospice providers' AL patient‐day volume and their quality ratings based on Hospice Item Set (HIS) and Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Hospice Surveys.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study employed information from the Medicare Compare website and Medicare claims data. Medicare‐eligible AL residents were identified using previously validated methods and merged with hospice claims. Linear probability models adjusting for county fixed effects were used to examine the association between hospice provider AL volume, measured as the share of annual hospice patient days from AL residents, and quality measures obtained from HIS and CAHPS. Models controlled for hospice providers' profit status and daily patient census.

Results

Higher AL‐volume hospice providers were 7 percentage points more likely to have caregivers reporting lower median scores on domains of pain assessment, dyspnea treatment, and emotional support. Their caregivers also reported lower scores in team communications and training family to provide care. Higher AL‐volume hospice providers also were 5 percentage points less likely to get higher aggregated scores from all CAHPS domains and 7 percentage points less likely to have higher HIS composite scores.

Conclusions

Hospice providers serving higher volumes of AL patient days had lower quality scores. In order to identify targeted opportunities for quality improvement, research is needed to understand why lower quality providers are concentrated in the AL market.
Which older adults are at highest risk of prescribing cascades? A national study of the gabapentinoid–loop diuretic cascade
Authors: Growdon Matthew E. , Jing Bocheng , Morris Earl J. , Deardorff W. James , Boscardin W. John , Byers Amy L. , Boockvar Kenneth S. , Steinman Michael A.
Published: March 2024

Background

Prescribing cascades are important contributors to polypharmacy. Little is known about which older adults are at highest risk of experiencing prescribing cascades. We explored which older veterans are at highest risk of the gabapentinoid (including gabapentin and pregabalin)–loop diuretic (LD) cascade, given the dramatic increase in gabapentinoid prescribing in recent years.

Methods

Using Veterans Affairs and Medicare claims data (2010–2019), we performed a prescription sequence symmetry analysis (PSSA) to assess loop diuretic initiation before and after gabapentinoid initiation among older veterans (≥66 years). To identify the cascade, we calculated the adjusted sequence ratio (aSR), which assesses the temporality of LD relative to gabapentinoid initiation. To explore high‐risk groups, we used multivariable logistic regression with prescribing order modeled as a binary dependent variable. We calculated adjusted odds ratios (aORs), measuring the extent to which factors are associated with one prescribing order versus another.

Results

Of 151,442 veterans who initiated a gabapentinoid, there were 1,981 patients who initiated a LD within 6 months after initiating a gabapentinoid compared to 1,599 patients who initiated a LD within 6 months before initiating a gabapentinoid. In the gabapentinoid–LD group, the mean age was 73 years, 98% were male, 13% were Black, 5% were Hispanic, and 80% were White. Patients in each group were similar across patient and health utilization factors (standardized mean difference <0.10 for all comparisons). The aSR was 1.23 (95% CI: 1.13, 1.34), strongly suggesting the cascade's presence. People age ≥85 years were less likely to have the cascade (compared to 66–74 years; aOR 0.74, 95% CI: 0.56–0.96), and people taking ≥10 medications were more likely to have the cascade (compared to 0–4 drugs; aOR 1.39, 95% CI: 1.07–1.82).

Conclusions

Among older adults, those who are younger and taking many medications may be at higher risk of the gabapentinoid–LD cascade, contributing to worsening polypharmacy and potential drug‐related harms. We did not identify strong predictors of this cascade, suggesting that prescribing cascade prevention efforts should be widespread rather than focused on specific subgroups.
Verification of policy information and citizen attitudes toward government under COVID‐19 pandemic: Evidence from survey experiment in South Korea
Authors: Song Junmo , Kang Jeong‐han , Cho Yoon Jik
Published: March 2024

This study examines how citizens' attitudes toward government are affected by verifying or correcting their prior knowledge of governmental policy concerning the COVID‐19 pandemic. Using a survey experiment, we asked respondents about their knowledge of the stimulus check provided by local governments in South Korea. We then provided the correct answer to half of the respondents at random. For outcome variables, we measured satisfaction with the stimulus check, trust in the government, and intention to pay extra taxes. We found that only verifying correct prior knowledge, not correcting incorrect knowledge, improved respondents' attitudes. Subgroup analysis revealed that the verification effect occurred specifically among those whose income remained stable during the pandemic, regardless of whether their political orientation was congruent with their local government. Our findings suggest that rather than publicly releasing policy‐related information to citizens indiscriminately, verifying the information through closer communication with well‐informed citizens can be a more effective strategy to improve citizens' policy efficacy and attitudes toward the government.
Effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Wang Miaomiao , Liu Qiao , Zhu Zhengrong , Guo Xiaodi , Hu Xiling , Cheng Li
Published: March 2024

Background

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a psychotherapy technique, which promotes psychological flexibility and enables patients to change behaviors based on value‐directed goals. However, the beneficial effects of ACT on glycemic control, self‐care behaviors, acceptance of diabetes, self‐efficacy, and psychological burden are still unclear among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Aims

This study aimed to systematically synthesize scientific evidence to determine the effectiveness of ACT among patients with T2DM on glycemic control, self‐care behaviors, acceptance of diabetes, self‐efficacy, and psychological burden and identify the optimal characteristics of effective interventions.

Methods

Nine electronic databases were searched to identify eligible studies of randomized controlled trials from inception to June 2023. Two reviewers independently assessed the study eligibility, extracted the data, and performed the quality appraisal using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 Tool. The meta‐analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.3. The certainty of the evidence was rated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation system.

Results

Ten studies involving 712 participants were included. ACT demonstrated significant improvements on patients' glycemic control (mean difference [MD]: 0.95%; p < .001), self‐care behaviors (MD: 1.86; p = .03), diabetes acceptance (MD: 7.80; p < .001), self‐efficacy (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 1.04; p < .001), anxiety (SMD: −1.15; p = .006), and depression (SMD: −1.10; p = .04). However, favorable but nonsignificant improvements were found in diabetes distress. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that ACT offered more than five sessions using individualized format, with theoretical underpinnings and professional input from multidisciplinary therapists are recommended to yield better results on glycemic control and self‐care behaviors.

Linking Evidence to Action

Acceptance and commitment therapy could generate beneficial effectiveness on glycemic control, self‐care behaviors, acceptance of diabetes, self‐efficacy, anxiety, and depression among patients with T2DM. Large‐scale trials with rigorous design and representative samples are warranted to strengthen the current evidence.
Dynamics of Water Sighting and Injection Mechanisms in Fishbone Branch Wells in Bottom Water Reservoirs
Authors: Zhang Guoqing , Cui Chunxue , Zhou Zhijun , Wang Juan , Zhang Jian , Hou Guifeng
Published: March 2024

Herringbone wells are effective in improving productivity for bottom water reservoirs; however, the main problem faced in the exploitation of bottom water reservoir is the ridge and cone of bottom water during the process of waterflooding, which leads to the decline of oil production. Therefore, predicting the breakthrough time and location of herringbone wells in bottom water reservoirs and then adjusting the water injection measures are of great significance for improving production and development. In this paper, we establish a three-dimensional coning model of bottom water to study the dynamic performance of bottom water rise, and the sequence of breakthrough position is determined by studying the breakthrough time along the wellbore. Based on the reservoir numerical simulation, we carry out a comprehensive adjustment of the water injection mechanism and develop a water injection scheme under the combination arrangement of vertical wells and herringbone wells. The results show that the bottom water breakthrough position of the branch well is mainly near the heel of the main branch or near the middle subsidence, and the recovery rate is the highest when the branch angle is 45 deg. The longer the shut-in time, the higher the recovery. The study is of great significance to optimize the layout and spatial structure, determine a reasonable working system, delay water channeling, and increase the cumulative production of herringbone wells.
Impact of Imperfect Kolsky Bar Experiments Across Different Scales Assessed Using Finite Elements
Authors: Hannah Thomas , Martin Valerie , Ellis Stephen , Kraft Reuben H.
Published: March 2024

Typical Kolsky bars are 10–20 mm in diameter with lengths of each main bar being on the scale of meters. To push 104+ strain rates, smaller systems are needed. As the diameter and mass decrease, the precision of the alignment must increase to maintain the same relative tolerance, and the potential impacts of gravity and friction change. Finite element models are typically generated assuming a perfect experiment with exact alignment and no gravity. Additionally, these simulations tend to take advantage of the radial symmetry of an ideal experiment, which removes any potential for modeling nonsymmetric effects, but has the benefit of reducing computational load. In this work, we discuss results from these fast-running symmetry models to establish a baseline and demonstrate their first-order use case. We then take advantage of high-performance computing techniques to generate half symmetry simulations using Abaqus® to model gravity and misalignment. The imperfection is initially modeled using a static general step followed by a dynamic explicit step to simulate the impact events. This multistep simulation structure can properly investigate the impact of these real-world, nonaxis symmetric effects. These simulations explore the impacts of these experimental realities and are described in detail to allow other researchers to implement a similar finite element (FE) modeling structure to aid in experimentation and diagnostic efforts. It is shown that of the two sizes evaluated, the smaller 3.16-mm system is more sensitive than the larger 12.7 mm system to such imperfections.
Biodegradable ferroelectric molecular crystal with large piezoelectric response
Authors: Zhang Han-Yue , Tang Yuan-Yuan , Gu Zhu-Xiao , Wang Peng , Chen Xiao-Gang , Lv Hui-Peng , Li Peng-Fei , Jiang Qing , Gu Ning , Ren Shenqiang , Xiong Ren-Gen
Published: March 2024

Transient implantable piezoelectric materials are desirable for biosensing, drug delivery, tissue regeneration, and antimicrobial and tumor therapy. For use in the human body, they must show flexibility, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. These requirements are challenging for conventional inorganic piezoelectric oxides and piezoelectric polymers. We discovered high piezoelectricity in a molecular crystal HOCH
2
(CF
2
)
3
CH
2
OH [2,2,3,3,4,4-hexafluoropentane-1,5-diol (HFPD)] with a large piezoelectric coefficient
d
33
of ~138 picocoulombs per newton and piezoelectric voltage constant
g
33
of ~2450 × 10
−3
 volt-meters per newton under no poling conditions, which also exhibits good biocompatibility toward biological cells and desirable biodegradation and biosafety in physiological environments. HFPD can be composite with polyvinyl alcohol to form flexible piezoelectric films with a
d
33
of 34.3 picocoulombs per newton. Our material demonstrates the ability for molecular crystals to have attractive piezoelectric properties and should be of interest for applications in transient implantable electromechanical devices.