bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retailing during the COVID-19 lifecycle: a bibliometric study
Authors: Gupta Astha Sanjeev , Mukherjee Jaydeep , Garg Ruchi
Published: May 2023

Purpose

COVID-19 disrupted the lives of consumers across the globe, and the retail sector has been one of the hardest hits. The impact of COVID-19 on consumers' retail choice behaviour and retailers' responses has been studied in detail through multiple lenses. Now that the effect of COVID-19 is abating, there is a need to consolidate the learnings during the lifecycle of COVID-19 and set the agenda for research post-COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

Scopus database was searched to cull out academic papers published between March 2020 and June 6, 2022, using keywords; shopping behaviour, retailing, consumer behaviour, and retail channel choice along with COVID-19 (171 journals, 357 articles). Bibliometric analysis followed by selective content analysis was conducted.

Findings

COVID-19 was a black swan event that impacted consumers' psychology, leading to reversible and irreversible changes in retail consumer behaviour worldwide. Research on changes in consumer behaviour and consumption patterns has been mapped to the different stages of the COVID-19 lifecycle. Relevant research questions and potential theoretical lenses have been proposed for further studies.

Originality/value

This paper collates, classifies and organizes the extant research in retail from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It identifies three retail consumption themes: short-term, long-term reversible and long-term irreversible changes. Research agenda related to the retailer and consumer behaviour is identified; for each of the three categories, facilitating the extraction of pertinent research questions for post-COVID-19 studies.
Commensuration of health-care quality standards through hospital accreditation: from measurement weapon to management tool?
Authors: Vega Miguel , Cunha Joao Vieira da
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the management perceptions towards calculative practices behind the reconstruction of a mandatory hospital accreditation (HA) system that transforms multiple facets of health-care quality into a single performance index.

Design/methodology/approach

This study contributes to the sociology of quantification mobilising the concept of commensuration as a social process to reflect on contemporary changes in managing HA systems. Data are collected adopting a case study of a Spanish public hospital drawing on semi-structured interviews, observation and documentary review.

Findings

Findings emphasise a shift from standards’ compliance to a more comprehensive view encouraging continuous quality improvement. Accreditation acts as a tin opener to facilitate external inspection removing contextual differences amongst hospitals and reducing organisational practices into controllable objects. It also reveals underlying ethical concerns as the system was built as a care quality measure that promptly developed into an attainment goal.

Practical implications

The valuable role of HA to enhance quality standards and the limitations resulting from its commensuration practices will be of interest to policymakers, organisational managers and researchers.

Originality/value

Despite a growing emphasis on audit and valuation practices in health care, accounting studies examining the capacity of public hospitals to manage quality improvement are scarce. This study inspires further research on accreditation to overcome commensuration flaws regarding external transparency, evaluation ambiguity and extra incentives.
How improved understanding of what constitutes “value” may lead to better underpinning of corporate social responsibility (CSR)
Authors: Richardson Neil , Cassop Thompson Michael
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The aim of this conceptual paper, predicated on a hermeneutic literature review, is to improve understanding of the nature of value continues to be extensively studied with its ability to create competitive advantage. Understanding what constitutes value improves corporate social responsibility (CSR) comprehension, including managerial CSR values. This paper aligns with studies into value and/or CSR, whether hermeneutic or otherwise.

Design/methodology/approach

This study provides a reflexively critical understanding of the value literature. It focuses on the “identifying” stage of a hermeneutic circle (identifying central terms, core journals and seminal authors). A hermeneutic helix is proposed to better reflect the need of constant re-interpretation of the relevant literature.

Findings

Themes include value location (value in exchange, value in use, value in meaning and value in context); architecture (pathways, constellations and networks); creation versus determination; and value types.

Research limitations/implications

This paper neither seeks to define value nor delve into the overarching value discourses. It does, however, refer to the antecedents for these areas. As a hermeneutic literature review, it lacks empirical testing.

Practical implications

CSR practices are strongly influenced by personal values. Hence, CSR practitioners must identify the processes involved and differentiate between the sought value and value types.

Social implications

The paper could engender better understanding gaps between stakeholder attitudes and practices, i.e. consumers self-identifying as “green” may not engage in ecologically sound practices. As discussed herein, the value sought by university students influences where (and what) to study.

Originality/value

Outdated notions such as value propositions are widely used; value may be proposed; however, only stakeholders can take value. What constitutes value is under-represented in the CSR literature. Hence, terms such as value and values (i.e. value types) are incorrectly used interchangeably.
Knowledge sharing and theory of planned behavior: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Fauzi Muhammad Ashraf , Nguyen Mai , Malik Ashish
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to review the role of knowledge-sharing and its association with the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). TPB is the most used theory in understanding knowledge-sharing behavior in many contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the bibliometric approach, this study extracted and analyzed 229 journal articles on the Web of Science. In addition, two analyses (bibliographic coupling and co-word) were performed to provide science mapping in presenting the knowledge structure on the present and future research direction on knowledge-sharing and TPB.

Findings

The findings of this study suggest that two stand-out clusters are determinants and antecedents of knowledge-sharing behavior based on TPB and the role of the virtual platform and social media in facilitating knowledge-sharing among users.

Research limitations/implications

This study will benefit researchers and scholars in studying individual behavioral traits underpinning TPB in achieving organizational excellence.

Originality/value

This study extends the findings of the previous review because of their limitations on methods. This study confirms the determinants of knowledge-sharing intention and behavior. However, this study suggests integrating TPB with other theories to provide more insights into knowledge-sharing behavior and use online and technology-based platforms to facilitate knowledge-sharing behavior.
Corporate governance and financial inclusion
Authors: Ozili Peterson K.
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This paper examines the association between corporate governance and financial inclusion in terms of correlation. This paper examines whether countries that have a strong corporate governance environment also experience better financial inclusion outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The indicators of financial inclusion are automated teller machines (ATMs) per 100,000 adults, bank accounts per 1,000 adults and bank branches per 100,000 adults, while the indicators of corporate governance are extent of corporate transparency index, the extent of director liability index, the extent of disclosure index, the extent of ownership and control index, the extent of shareholder rights index, minority investors protection index and ease of shareholder suits index. The association was analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis and granger causality test.

Findings

Strong corporate governance is significantly associated or correlated with better financial inclusion outcomes. The regional analyses show that corporate governance has a significant positive association with financial inclusion in Asian countries and in Middle East countries. However, a positive and negative association was observed between some indicators of corporate governance and financial inclusion in European countries, North American countries, South American countries, African countries and in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries, implying that strong corporate governance has a positive and negative association with financial inclusion depending on the indicators of corporate governance and financial inclusion used. There is also evidence of uni-directional granger causality between corporate governance and financial inclusion.

Originality/value

Little is known about the association between corporate governance and financial inclusion. This paper is the first to examine this association.
The links between financial depth and economic variables: evidence from Poland
Authors: Afzal Ayesha , Firdousi Saba Fazal , Mahmood Kamil
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship that exists between financial depth and economic growth in Poland for the years 1995–2019. This paper utilizes integration and co-integration techniques to capture the long-term and short-term linkages between various determinants of financial deepening, economic growth and a few selected growth variables. Financial depth is measured using two distinct measures: the monetization ratio (i.e. the ratio of broad money in the economy to the gross domestic product (GDP)) and the domestic credit provided to private sector by banks.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses a combination of Augmented Dickey–Fuller (ADF) and Phillips–Perron unit root tests, autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) model and Granger causality tests to estimate results.

Findings

This paper finds that there is a bidirectional causal relationship between financial deepening and economic growth in the short run, but this relationship does not hold in the long run. The control variables comprising trade volume, investment, government spending and volatility in oil prices and inflation have a significant, positive relationship with economic development in the long run.

Originality/value

The findings are indicative of the need for further strengthening of the financial sector in Poland, such that the relationship between financial depth and economic growth is substantiated in the long run. This paper also finds room for more stringent regulation of the financial system and transparency in information available.
Sailing the tide of over consumption: applying a business history approach to explore the rising demand of luxury yachts and travel since 1979
Authors: Connors Duncan Philip
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify how the socio-economic trends caused by the economic deregulation of the last four decades have led to a high-net-worth strata of individuals and families that conspicuously consumes luxury items and are the main customers in the luxury yacht market.

Design/methodology/approach

A selected cross-section review and discussion of relevant publications and theories within the field of tourism, social sciences, business and economic history are synthesised with relevant data to outline the factors leading to socio-economic change and conspicuous consumption.

Findings

This paper advocates for the synthesis of scholarly techniques found within the discipline of Business History to illuminate the development of a luxury yachting industry over the past four decades. Using the varieties of capitalism approach this paper demonstrates that the local characteristics of the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) in combination with the international globalisation and trade deregulation since 1980 has led to a new super wealthy class that engages in conspicuous consumption. Using a schema based on critical juncture theory, light has been shed on the specific factors underpinning the demand for luxury yachts as part of this conspicuous consumption.

Originality/value

This paper adds a new set of methodologies and theoretical tools to the student of luxury tourism that embed the practice within the context of socio-economic changes brought forth by economic globalisation since 1979, opening up new avenues of research.
Inferring geological structural features from geophysical and geological mapping data using machine learning algorithms
Authors: Xu Limin , Green Eleanor C. R.
Published: May 2023

We present an automated approach for inferring surface geological structures from geophysical survey data. Our method employs machine learning, using mapped geological structures as labels and filtered geophysical surveys as reference maps. We compared the performance of the eight main machine learning algorithms and their 32 branches. Applied to the Geological Survey of Victoria's database for the Bendigo Zone, following an appropriate choice of geological features, the 3‐class classification model using subspace K‐nearest neighbour methods achieves a stable and validated 92% accuracy in around 1 min. The fault‐only classification model achieves a stable and validated 97% accuracy in around 6 min. This shows that geological structural features on the surface may be inferred from between one and three of the following geophysical data types: gravity, airborne total magnetic intensity and first vertical derivative of total magnetic intensity. It shows the prospect of machine learning in geological research and suggests that geophysical data combined with machine learning may be useful and efficient in determining the existence of geological structural features.
Does access to improved grain storage technology increase farmers' welfare? Experimental evidence from maize farming in Ethiopia
Authors: Negede Betelhem M. , De Groote Hugo , Minten Bart , Voors Maarten
Published: May 2023

Seasonal price variability for cereals is two to three times higher in Africa than on the international reference market. Seasonality is even more pronounced when access to appropriate storage and opportunities for price arbitrage are limited. As smallholder farmers typically sell their production after harvest, when prices are low, this leads to lower incomes as well as higher food insecurity during the lean season, when prices are high. One solution to reduce seasonal stress is the use of improved storage technologies. Using data from a randomised controlled trial, in a major maize‐growing region of Western Ethiopia, we study the impact of hermetic bags, a technology that protects stored grain against insect pests, so that the grain can be stored longer. Despite considerable price seasonality—maize prices in the lean season are 36% higher than after harvesting—we find no evidence that hermetic bags improve welfare, except that access to these bags allowed for a marginally longer storage period of maize intended for sale by 2 weeks. But this did not translate into measurable welfare gains as we found no changes in any of our welfare outcome indicators. This ‘near‐null’ effect is due to the fact that maize storage losses in our study region are relatively lower than previous studies suggested—around 10% of the quantity stored—likely because of the widespread use of an alternative to protect maize during storage, for example a cheap but highly toxic fumigant. These findings are important for policies that seek to promote improved storage technologies in these settings.
Antibiotic resistance mechanism and diagnosis of common foodborne pathogens based on genotypic and phenotypic biomarkers
Authors: Liao Xinyu , Deng Ruijie , Warriner Keith , Ding Tian
Published: May 2023

The emergence of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria due to the overuse or inappropriate use of antibiotics has become a significant public health concern. The agri‐food chain, which serves as a vital link between the environment, food, and human, contributes to the large‐scale dissemination of antibiotic resistance, posing a concern to both food safety and human health. Identification and evaluation of antibiotic resistance of foodborne bacteria is a crucial priority to avoid antibiotic abuse and ensure food safety. However, the conventional approach for detecting antibiotic resistance heavily relies on culture‐based methods, which are laborious and time‐consuming. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop accurate and rapid tools for diagnosing antibiotic resistance in foodborne pathogens. This review aims to provide an overview of the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance at both phenotypic and genetic levels, with a focus on identifying potential biomarkers for diagnosing antibiotic resistance in foodborne pathogens. Furthermore, an overview of advances in the strategies based on the potential biomarkers (antibiotic resistance genes, antibiotic resistance‐associated mutations, antibiotic resistance phenotypes) for antibiotic resistance analysis of foodborne pathogens is systematically exhibited. This work aims to provide guidance for the advancement of efficient and accurate diagnostic techniques for antibiotic resistance analysis in the food industry.
Unbiased evaluation of rapamycin's specificity as an mTOR inhibitor
Authors: Artoni Filippo , Grützmacher Nina , Demetriades Constantinos
Published: May 2023

Rapamycin is a macrolide antibiotic that functions as an immunosuppressive and anti‐cancer agent, and displays robust anti‐ageing effects in multiple organisms including humans. Importantly, rapamycin analogues (rapalogs) are of clinical importance against certain cancer types and neurodevelopmental diseases. Although rapamycin is widely perceived as an allosteric inhibitor of mTOR (mechanistic target of rapamycin), the master regulator of cellular and organismal physiology, its specificity has not been thoroughly evaluated so far. In fact, previous studies in cells and in mice hinted that rapamycin may be also acting independently from mTOR to influence various cellular processes. Here, we generated a gene‐edited cell line that expresses a rapamycin‐resistant mTOR mutant (mTORRR) and assessed the effects of rapamycin treatment on the transcriptome and proteome of control or mTORRR‐expressing cells. Our data reveal a striking specificity of rapamycin towards mTOR, demonstrated by virtually no changes in mRNA or protein levels in rapamycin‐treated mTORRR cells, even following prolonged drug treatment. Overall, this study provides the first unbiased and conclusive assessment of rapamycin's specificity, with potential implications for ageing research and human therapeutics.
Outpatient psychiatric service use is associated with a reduced risk of 1‐year readmission and mortality following alcohol‐related hospitalizations: A historical cohort study
Authors: Friesen Erik Loewen , Yu Winnie , Kurdyak Paul
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Alcohol‐related hospitalizations are common and associated with high rates of short‐term readmission and mortality. Providing rapid access to physician‐based mental health and addiction (MHA) services post‐discharge may help to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes in this population. This study used population‐based data to evaluate the prevalence of outpatient MHA service use following alcohol‐related hospitalizations and its association with downstream harms.

Methods

This was a population‐based historical cohort study of individuals who experienced an alcohol‐related hospitalization between 2016 and 2018 in Ontario, Canada. The primary exposure was whether an individual received follow‐up outpatient MHA services from either a psychiatrist or primary care physician within 30 days of discharge from the index hospitalization. The outcomes of interest were alcohol‐related hospital readmission and all‐cause mortality in the year following discharge from the index alcohol‐related hospitalization. Information on health service use and mortality was captured using comprehensive health administrative databases. The associations between receiving outpatient MHA services and the time to each outcome were assessed using multivariable time‐to‐event regression.

Results

A total of 43,343 individuals were included. 19.8% of the cohort received outpatient MHA services within 30 days of discharge. Overall, 19.1% of the cohort was readmitted to hospital and 11.5% of the cohort died in the year following discharge. Receiving outpatient MHA services was associated with a reduced hazard of alcohol‐related hospital readmission (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.88–0.99) and all‐cause mortality (aHR: 0.74, 95% CI: 0.66–0.83) after adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates.

Conclusions

Short‐term outcomes following alcohol‐related hospitalizations are poor. Facilitating rapid access to follow‐up MHA services may help to reduce the risk of recurrent harm and death in this population.
The economic disparity between Hispanic and non‐Hispanic White households: An analysis of middle‐class achievement
Authors: Zan Hua , Fan Jessie X. , Lozada Benvin
Published: May 2023

We utilize data from the 2010–2019 Consumer Expenditure Surveys to examine middle‐class achievement of English‐speaking and non‐English‐speaking Hispanic households compared to non‐Hispanic white households in the United States. Using an innovative expenditure‐based middle‐class measure, our findings show that non‐English‐speaking Hispanics lag English‐speaking Hispanics, and English‐speaking Hispanics lag whites, in middle‐class attainment. We also identify significant structural differences among the three groups, particularly in how education, marriage, and employment affect middle‐class achievement. Non‐English‐speaking Hispanics have a lower rate of return on education compared to both whites and English‐speaking Hispanics. Non‐English‐speaking Hispanics experience lower marriage and employment premiums compared to their English‐speaking Hispanic counterparts, and English‐speaking Hispanics experience lower marriage and employment premiums compared to whites. This study contributes to the literature by introducing the innovative expenditure‐based middle‐class measure and emphasizing the importance of considering within‐group differences among Hispanics to reduce the Hispanic‐white economic disparity.
Student views on recognition and payment options for gamete donation in New Zealand
Authors: Cornthwaite Kelsey , Goedeke Sonja , Shepherd Daniel , Rodino Iolanda
Published: May 2023

Background

Demand for donor gametes in New Zealand significantly outweighs the number of willing donors. Payment for donation has been suggested as a viable solution to increase the supply and attract more donors in acknowledging the time, effort and inconvenience associated with donation.

Aims

Internationally, university students are a commonly targeted group for paid gamete donation. This study aims to explore the views of university students in New Zealand to gauge their support and concerns relating to a range of options to recognise donors, including payment.

Methods

Two hundred and three tertiary students completed a questionnaire exploring their views on various forms of recognition for donation and concerns relating to payment.

Results

Participants indicated the greatest support for reimbursement for expenses directly related to the donation process. Payment constituting explicit financial advantage was regarded least favourably. Participants held concerns that payment would attract people donating for the ‘wrong’ reasons and lead to donors concealing relevant histories. Further concerns included payment increasing costs for recipients and causing disparities in access to gametes.

Conclusions

The findings of this study suggest that within a New Zealand context a culture of gift‐giving and altruism are strongly held principles towards reproductive donation, including among the student population. This highlights the need to consider alternative strategies to commercial models to overcome donor shortages which are in line with the cultural and legislative context of New Zealand.
“It would taste better with sugar”—Navigating deprivation and confidence in everyday life on a tea plantation in Assam
Authors: Wolf Anna‐Lena
Published: May 2023

This story focuses on an ordinary working day on a tea plantation in Assam from the perspective of Jiya—a tea plucker on Dolani Tea Estate. It illustrates how Jiya navigates fundamental deprivations in her everyday life structured by the company's relentless siren without losing track of the scope for confident action. The photos, the plantation, the protagonist, and the incidents described in the story are based on real places, persons, and observations I encountered during thirteen months of fieldwork on Assam tea plantations between 2014 and 2017. However, the compilation of multiple observations into one day is a work of fiction. All names of persons and places in the story are pseudonyms. Quotations in the text are my own translations from Hindi into English.
Retinal damage extends beyond the border of the detached retina in fovea‐on retinal detachment
Authors: Ng Hei Jan , Vermeer Koenraad A. , La Heij Ellen C. , Kuip Caroline P. , van Meurs Jan C.
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The aim of this study was to investigate the preoperative and postoperative change in retinal sensitivity in relation to the distance to the retinal detachment (RD) in patients with fovea‐on RD.

Methods

We prospectively evaluated 13 patients with fovea‐on RD and a healthy control eye. Preoperatively, OCT scans of the RD border and the macula were obtained. The RD border was highlighted on the SLO image. Microperimetry was used to assess the retinal sensitivity at the macula, the RD border and the retina around the RD border. At 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months postoperatively, follow‐up examinations of OCT and microperimetry were performed in the study eye. Microperimetry was performed once in control eyes. Microperimetry data were overlaid on the SLO image. The shortest distance to the RD border was calculated for each sensitivity measurement. The change in retinal sensitivity was calculated as control‐study. The relation between the change in retinal sensitivity and the distance to the RD border was assessed using a locally weighted scatterplot smoothing curve.

Results

Preoperatively, the greatest loss in retinal sensitivity was 21 dB at 3° inside the RD which decreased linearly, through the RD border, and reached a plateau of 2 dB at 4°. For 6 weeks and 3 months postoperatively, the greatest retinal sensitivity loss remained at 3° inside the RD but was 4 dB and sensitivity loss decreased linearly to a plateau of 0 dB at 5° outside the RD. At 6 months postoperatively, the greatest sensitivity loss was 2 dB at 3° inside the RD, and decreased linearly to a plateau of 0 dB at 2° outside the RD.

Conclusions

Retinal damage extends beyond the detached retina. Retinal sensitivity loss of the attached retina decreased drastically as the distance to the RD increased. Postoperative recovery occurred for both attached and detached retina.
Engineering bacteria to modulate host metabolism
Authors: Ciocan Dragos , Elinav Eran
Published: May 2023

The microbial community of the gut, collectively termed the gut microbiota, modulates both host metabolism and disease development in a variety of clinical contexts. The microbiota can have detrimental effects and be involved in disease development and progression, but it can also offer benefits to the host. This has led in the last years to the development of different therapeutic strategies targeting the microbiota. In this review, we will focus on one of these strategies that involve the use of engineered bacteria to modulate gut microbiota in the treatment of metabolic disorders. We will discuss the recent developments and challenges in the use of these bacterial strains with an emphasis on their use for the treatment of metabolic diseases.
The intersectional effects of motivational and affective factors on managers' performance
Authors: Junça‐Silva Ana , Mendes Simão
Published: May 2023

Drawing from the effort‐recovery model, the authors analyzed the role of daily sleep quality as a driver for self‐regulatory resources and consequently of task and contextual performance. Specifically, the authors hypothesized that self‐regulatory resources would be a potential mechanism for enhancing workers' performance after a good night's sleep. Moreover, relying on the COR theory, the authors proposed health‐related indicators (mental health and vitality) as intensifiers of the previously proposed indirect effect. Daily diary data were collected from 97 managers over five consecutive working days (485 daily observations) and analyzed using multilevel analyses. Sleep quality was positively associated with managers' self‐regulatory resources and (task and contextual) performance at the person and day levels. Additionally, results provided support for most of the assumed indirect effects of sleep quality on both performance dimensions via self‐regulatory resources. At last, the findings evidenced that these indirect effects were moderated by health indicators in a way that lower scores on health intensified such positive effects. Organizations should create mechanisms that could promote their workers' awareness of the potential benefits of sleeping well at night as well as its impacts on both self‐regulatory resources and performance. The current intensification of workload together with working after hours may pose a risk to this important resource source for managers. These findings emphasize the day‐to‐day variation in self‐regulatory resources needed to perform and that workers' sleep quality has the potential to stimulate a resource‐building process for such benefits.
Deprescribing interventions for gabapentinoids in adults: A scoping review
Authors: Anderson Prue A. , McLachlan Andrew J. , Abdel Shaheed Christina , Gnjidic Danijela , Ivers Rowena , Mathieson Stephanie
Published: May 2023

The emerging issue of rising gabapentinoid misuse is being recognized alongside the lack of current evidence supporting the safe and effective deprescribing of gabapentinoids. This scoping review aimed to assess the extent and nature of gabapentinoid deprescribing interventions in adults, either in reducing dosages, or prescribing of, gabapentinoids. Electronic databases were searched on 23 February 2022 without restrictions. Eligible studies included randomized, non‐randomized and observational studies that assessed an intervention aimed at reducing/ceasing the prescription/use of a gabapentinoid in adults for any indication in a clinical setting. The research outcomes investigated the type of intervention, prescribing rates, cessations, patient outcomes and adverse events. Extracted outcome data were categorized as either short (≤3 months), intermediate (>3 but <12 months) or long (≥12 months) term. A narrative synthesis was conducted. The four included studies were conducted in primary and acute care settings. Interventions were of dose‐reducing protocols, education and/or pharmacological‐based approaches. In the randomized trials, gabapentinoid use could be ceased in at least one third of participants. In the two observational trials, gabapentinoid prescribing rates decreased by 9%. Serious adverse events and adverse events specifically related to gabapentinoids were reported in one trial. No study included patient‐focused psychological interventions in the deprescribing process, nor provided any long‐term follow‐up. This review highlights the lack of existing evidence in this area. Due to limited available data, our review was unable to make any firm judgements on the most effective gabapentinoid deprescribing interventions in adults, highlighting the need for more research in this area.
Menstrual abnormalities after COVID‐19 vaccination in the Netherlands: A description of spontaneous and longitudinal patient‐reported data
Authors: Duijster Janneke W. , Schoep Mark E. , Nieboer Theodoor E. , Jajou Rana , Kant Agnes , van Hunsel Florence
Published: May 2023

Aims

During the COVID‐19 vaccination campaigns, the number of reports of menstrual abnormalities increased rapidly. Here, we describe the nature and potential risk factors associated with menstrual abnormalities based on spontaneously reporting data as well as data from a prospective cohort event monitoring (CEM) study as these are poorly studied.

Methods

Reports of menstrual abnormalities received by the Netherlands Pharmacovigilance Centre Lareb in the spontaneous reporting system between February 2021 and April 2022 were summarized. In addition, logistic regression analysis was performed on the reported menstrual abnormalities in the CEM study to assess the association between person characteristics, prior SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and use of hormonal contraceptives and the occurrence of menstrual abnormalities after vaccination.

Results

We analysed over 24 000 spontaneous reports of menstrual abnormalities and over 500 episodes (among 16 929 included women) of menstrual abnormalities in the CEM study. The CEM study showed an incidence of 41.4 per 1000 women aged ≤54 years. Amenorrhoea/oligomenorrhoea and heavy menstrual bleeding collectively accounted for about half of all abnormalities reported. Significant associations were observed for the age group 25–34 years (odds ratio 2.18; 95% confidence interval 1.45–3.41) and the Pfizer vaccine (odds ratio 3.04; 95% confidence interval 2.36–3.93). No association was observed for body mass index and presence of most comorbidities assessed.

Conclusion

The cohort study showed a high incidence of menstrual disorders among women aged ≤54 years, and this observation was supported by the analysis of spontaneous reports. This suggests that a relation between COVID‐19 vaccination and menstrual abnormalities is plausible and should be further investigated.
Recent advances in antifungal drug development targeting lanosterol 14α‐demethylase (CYP51): A comprehensive review with structural and molecular insights
Authors: Singh Atamjit , Singh Karanvir , Sharma Aman , Kaur Kirandeep , Chadha Renu , Bedi Preet Mohinder Singh
Published: May 2023

Fungal infections are posing serious threat to healthcare system due to emerging resistance among available antifungal agents. Among available antifungal agents in clinical practice, azoles (diazole, 1,2,4‐triazole and tetrazole) remained most effective and widely prescribed antifungal agents. Now their associated side effects and emerging resistance pattern raised a need of new and potent antifungal agents. Lanosterol 14α‐demethylase (CYP51) is responsible for the oxidative removal of 14α‐methyl group of sterol precursors lanosterol and 24(28)‐methylene‐24,25‐dihydrolanosterol in ergosterol biosynthesis hence an essential component of fungal life cycle and prominent target for antifungal drug development. This review will shed light on various azole‐ as well as non‐azoles‐based derivatives as potential antifungal agents that target fungal CYP51. Review will provide deep insight about structure activity relationship, pharmacological outcomes, and interactions of derivatives with CYP51 at molecular level. It will help medicinal chemists working on antifungal development in designing more rational, potent, and safer antifungal agents by targeting fungal CYP51 for tackling emerging antifungal drug resistance.
The Association between Inflammation, Testosterone and SHBG in men: A cross‐sectional Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Osmancevic Amar , Daka Bledar , Michos Erin D. , Trimpou Penelope , Allison Matthew
Published: May 2023

Context

Earlier studies have investigated the role of obesity‐related inflammation and endogenous sex hormones in men. The role of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) with testosterone and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) levels in men is still debated.

Objective

To investigate the independent association between levels of high sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) and IL‐6 with endogenous sex hormones in men.

Design

Cross‐sectional observational study using data from the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Patients or Other Participants

A community‐based sample of 3212 men aged 45–84 years was included. After exclusions, 3041 men remained for the analyses.

Main Outcome Measure(s)

Serum concentrations of testosterone, SHBG, hsCRP, IL‐6, and sTNFR were measured from the baseline exam. Multivariable linear regressions were used to examine the association of inflammatory markers with sex hormones.

Results

An inverse association was found between levels of hsCRP and levels of testosterone and SHBG, even after adjustment for confounders and IL‐6 (Total Testosterone; B = −0.14, Bioavailable Testosterone; B = −0.06, and SHBG; B = −0.66). Similar results were found for IL‐6, although a positive association was found for SHBG (B = 0.95). Notably, an inverse association was found for IL‐6 with bioavailable testosterone in African Americans and Hispanic Americans aged 45–54 years. No associations were found for sTNFR and endogenous sex hormones.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that inflammatory markers have independent associations with levels of testosterone (total and bioavailable) and furthermore, appear to associate differently with SHBG levels.
The European freshwater landscape and hotspot areas of mass effects and regional connectivity
Authors: Cunillera‐Montcusí David , Bou Jordi , Mehner Thomas , Brucet Sandra , Arim Matías , Borthagaray Ana I.
Published: May 2023

Aim

The maintenance of broad‐scale connectivity patterns is suggested as a sustainable strategy for biodiversity preservation. However, explicit approaches for quantifying the functional role of different areas in biogeographic connectivity have been elusive. Freshwaters are spatially structured ecosystems critically endangered because of human activities and global change, demanding connectivity‐based approaches for their conservation. Mass effects—the increase in local diversity by immigration—and corridor effects—the connections with distant communities—are basic and relevant mechanisms connecting diversity with landscape configuration. Here, we identified freshwater hotspots areas for mass and corridor effects across Europe.

Location

Europe.

Methods

Using satellite images, we quantified the areas of ephemeral, temporal and permanent freshwaters. The landscape structure of the freshwater ecoregions was represented as a directed‐graph, and the link weights were determined by the distance between cells and the water cover. Three centrality metrics were used to rank freshwater areas with respect to their potential role in dispersal‐mediated mechanisms. Out‐degree represents the potential of an area to operate as a diversity source to other regions. In‐degree reflects the importance that incoming dispersal may have in local diversity. Betweenness refers to the importance of local areas for connecting other distant areas.

Results

We detected great concentrations of source hotspots on the northern regions associated to lentic ecosystems, main European rivers acting as ecological corridors for all freshwaters, and a mixed distribution of connectivity hotspots in southern and Mediterranean ecoregions, associated with lentic and/or lotic systems.

Main Conclusions

We showed an explicit connection between landscape structure and dispersal process at large geographic scales, highlighting hotspots of connectivity for the European waterscape. The spatial distribution of hotspots points to differences in landscape configurations potentially accounting for biogeographic diversity patterns and for mechanisms that have to be considered in conservation planning.
Inequalities in the management of diabetic kidney disease in UK primary care: A cross‐sectional analysis of a large primary care database
Authors: Phillips Katherine , Hazlehurst Jonathan M. , Sheppard Christelle , Bellary Srikanth , Hanif Wasim , Karamat Muhammad Ali , Crowe Francesca L. , Stone Anna , Thomas G. Neil , Peracha Javeria , Fenton Anthony , Sainsbury Christopher , Nirantharakumar Krishnarajah , Dasgupta Indranil
Published: May 2023

Aims

To determine differences in the management of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) relevant to patient sex, ethnicity and socio‐economic group in UK primary care.

Methods

A cross‐sectional analysis as of January 1, 2019 was undertaken using the IQVIA Medical Research Data dataset, to determine the proportion of people with DKD managed in accordance with national guidelines, stratified by demographics. Robust Poisson regression models were used to calculate adjusted risk ratios (aRR) adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity and social deprivation.

Results

Of the 2.3 million participants, 161,278 had type 1 or 2 diabetes, of which 32,905 had DKD. Of people with DKD, 60% had albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) measured, 64% achieved blood pressure (BP, <140/90 mmHg) target, 58% achieved glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c, <58 mmol/mol) target, 68% prescribed renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitor in the previous year. Compared to men, women were less likely to have creatinine: aRR 0.99 (95% CI 0.98–0.99), ACR: aRR 0.94 (0.92–0.96), BP: aRR 0.98 (0.97–0.99), HbA1c: aRR 0.99 (0.98–0.99) and serum cholesterol: aRR 0.97 (0.96–0.98) measured; achieve BP: aRR 0.95 (0.94–0.98) or total cholesterol (<5 mmol/L) targets: aRR 0.86 (0.84–0.87); or be prescribed RAAS inhibitors: aRR 0.92 (0.90–0.94) or statins: aRR 0.94 (0.92–0.95). Compared to the least deprived areas, people from the most deprived areas were less likely to have BP measurements: aRR 0.98 (0.96–0.99); achieve BP: aRR 0.91 (0.8–0.95) or HbA1c: aRR 0.88 (0.85–0.92) targets, or be prescribed RAAS inhibitors: aRR 0.91 (0.87–0.95). Compared to people of white ethnicity; those of black ethnicity were less likely to be prescribed statins aRR 0.91 (0.85–0.97).

Conclusions

There are unmet needs and inequalities in the management of DKD in the UK. Addressing these could reduce the increasing human and societal cost of managing DKD.
The lifetime health and economic burden of obesity in five European countries: what is the potential impact of prevention?
Authors: Hoogendoorn Martine , Galekop Milanne , van Baal Pieter
Published: May 2023

Aim

Estimating the burden of obesity in five European countries (Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK) and the potential health benefits and changes in health care costs associated with a reduction in body mass index (BMI).

Materials and Methods

A Markov model was used to estimate the long‐term burden of obesity. Health states were based on the occurrence of diabetes, ischaemic heart disease and stroke. Multiple registries and literature sources were used to derive the demographic, epidemiological and cost input parameters. For the base‐case analyses, the model was run for a starting cohort of healthy obese people with a BMI of 30 and 35 kg/m2 aged 40 years to estimate the lifetime impact of obesity and the impact of a one‐unit decrease in BMI. Different scenario and sensitivity analyses were performed.

Results

The base‐case analyses showed that total lifetime health care costs (for obese people aged 40 and BMI 35 kg/m2) ranged from €75 376 in Greece to €343 354 in the Netherlands, with life expectancies ranging from 37.9 years in Germany to 39.7 years in Spain. A one‐unit decrease in BMI showed gains in life expectancy ranging from 0.65 to 0.68 year and changes in total health care costs varying from −€1563 to +€4832.

Conclusions

The economic burden of obesity is substantial in the five countries. Decreasing BMI results in health gains, reductions in obesity‐related health care costs, but an increase in non‐obesity related health care costs, which emphasizes the relevance of including all costs in decision making on implementation of preventive interventions.
Trade agreements and subnational income of border regions
Authors: Adam Hanna L. , Larch Mario , Stadelmann David
Published: May 2023

This paper analyses the differential effect of trade agreements on income per capita of subnational regions with international borders. We construct an extensive panel dataset covering 1350 regions in 86 countries worldwide between 1950 and 2017. Our results show that trade agreements are positively associated with income per capita of regions sharing contiguous borders with trading partners, relative to regions sharing borders with countries with whom no trade agreements exist. For border regions, the positive relationship of trade agreements and regional income roughly compensates potential income disadvantages of having international borders. These insights help in explaining and mitigating regional inequalities.
Factors influencing engagement in in‐person and remotely delivered lifestyle interventions for young adults with serious mental illness: A qualitative study
Authors: Browne Julia , Naslund John A. , Salwen‐Deremer Jessica K. , Sarcione Carrie , Cabassa Leopoldo J. , Aschbrenner Kelly A.
Published: May 2023

Aim

Young adults (ages 18–35) are underrepresented in lifestyle interventions for people with serious mental illness (SMI), such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression, and little is known about factors influencing their engagement in these programmes. This qualitative study examined factors affecting engagement amongst young adults with SMI who were enrolled in a lifestyle intervention trial at community mental health centres.

Methods

Seventeen young adults with SMI participated in this qualitative study. Participants were drawn from a 12‐month randomized controlled trial (n = 150) comparing an in‐person group lifestyle intervention augmented with mobile health technology (PeerFIT) to one‐on‐one personalized remote health coaching (BEAT) using purposive sampling. The 17 participants completed semi‐structured qualitative interviews at post‐intervention to explore their perceived benefits of the intervention and factors impacting engagement. We used a team‐based descriptive qualitative approach to code transcripts and identify themes in the data.

Results

Participants across both interventions reported experiencing improved ability to engage in health behaviour change. Participants described managing psychosocial stressors and family and other responsibilities that limited their ability to attend in‐person PeerFIT sessions. The remote and flexible BEAT remote health coaching intervention appeared to facilitate engagement even in the context of challenging life circumstances.

Conclusions

Remotely delivered lifestyle interventions can facilitate engagement amongst young adults with SMI navigating social stressors.