bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Governing buyer–supplier relationships to foster relational rents in organic short food supply chains
Authors: Cislaghi Tatiane Pellin , Wegner Douglas , Vieira Luciana Marques , Zanandrea Gabriela
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the influence of governance mechanisms in the generation of relational rents for supplier in short food supply chains (SFSCs).

Design/methodology/approach

This study used data from a survey of 181 organic producers in SFSCs, using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with the aid of the SmartPLS® 3 software for the analysis.

Findings

The results show the relationship between formal and informal governance mechanisms and relational rents. The predominance of informal mechanisms enabled a higher explanatory power than that provided by formal governance mechanisms. Further, the authors found that the complementary use of governance mechanisms has a stronger impact on generating relational rents. However, contextual factors such as relationship time, power asymmetry and uncertainty in demand have not shown any influence on governance mechanisms for generating relational rents.

Originality/value

The result sheds new light on the relevance of governance mechanisms to foster relational rents to suppliers in SFSCs. It also shows that contextual factors that affect relationships in traditional supply chains do not play a relevant role in SFSCs due to their specific characteristics.
A strategic approach to sustainable agricultural tourism “case study of Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia”
Authors: Ahmed Hanady , Almahish Mohamed , Aleid Haya
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The percentage of tourism revenues from the national income decreased during the period (2000: 2020) which necessitates diversification in tourism activity and tourism revenues through agricultural tourism as one of the types of tourism activities. On other hand, Al-Ahsa governorate is the largest governorate in Saudi Arabia, covering an area of about 2,500 square kilometers. Moreover, it includes an oasis that is the largest irrigated agricultural oases in the world. It is distinguished by its strategic geographical location, in addition to being one of the most famous palm oasis in the world. Although Al-Ahsa governorate has many ingredients for agricultural tourism; the number of farms approved in the Aryaf program reached about 101 farms at the level of Al-Ahsa with a rate that not exceed about 0.5% of farms in 2018 of the total farms. That means it still Agricultural tourism has not received sufficient attention from investors and farm owners.

Design/methodology/approach

The study targeted planning for agricultural tourism activities in Al-Ahsa Governorate using a long-term sustainable approach to achieve sustainable development and diversification of sources income in agriculture sector. The study depended on the sample size was determined from Al-Ahsa farms in light of the fact that the number of farm owners in Al-Ahsa. In addition the study relied on the use of descriptive and quantitative statistical analysis through the use of percentages, chi-square test and Likert's triple test.

Findings

The results of the study strategic plans of farms in Al-Ahsa points to the importance of enhancing agricultural tourism services in Al-Ahsa, including health, environmental, recreational and food services, which may have an impact on increasing the economic return of farms in a better way in order to gain competitive advantage by focusing on developing the farms themselves in line with the Aryaf program of the Ministry of Tourism in the Kingdom to ensure safe and sustainable growth of revenues Economic.

Originality/value

This study is concerned with Agricultural Tourism. The study is helpful in policy formation to target sustainable development and diversification of sources income in Saudi Arabia. The authors whose names are listed immediately below certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers' bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements), or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.
Pathways to corporate entrepreneurship: do HRM practices and organizational learning capability matter?
Authors: Hooi Lai Wan
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The present study aims to examine which aspects of human resource management (HRM) practices and organizational learning capability (OLC) are crucial for corporate entrepreneurship (CE) of retail small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional design was adopted, where data were collected from a sample of 271 managerial staff of retail SMEs, utilizing a survey questionnaire. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results reveal that both HRM practices and OLC are crucial in influencing CE, albeit partially.

Originality/value

The study advances knowledge on entrepreneurship of retail SMEs by proposing aspects of HRM practices and OLC that enhance each dimension of CE.
The role of artificial intelligence in lean construction management
Authors: Dumrak Jantanee , Zarghami Seyed Ashkan
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to analyze the existing studies on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in lean construction management (LCM). Further, this study offers a classification scheme that specifies different categories of AI tools, as applied to the field of LCM to support various principles of LCM.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopts the systematic literature review (SLR) process, which consists of five consecutive steps: planning, searching, screening, extraction and synthesis and reporting. As a supplement to SLR, a bibliometric analysis is performed to examine the quantity and citation impact of the reviewed papers.

Findings

In this paper, seven key areas related to the principles of LCM for which AI tools have been used are identified. The findings of this research clarify how AI can assist in bolstering the practice of LCM. Further, this article presents directions for the future evolution of AI tools in LCM based on the current emerging trends.

Practical implications

This paper advances the LCM systems by offering a lens through which construction managers can better understand key concepts in the linkage of AI to LCM.

Originality/value

This research offers a new classification scheme that allows researchers to properly recall, identify and group various applications of AI categories in the construction industry based on various principles of LCM. In addition, this study provides a source of references for researchers in the LCM discipline, which advances knowledge and facilitates theory development in the field.
Business cycles, stock market wealth, and gambling at the racetracks
Authors: Ramezani Cyrus A. , Ahern James J.
Published: July 2023

Purpose

As digital technologies expand access to new forms of legalized gambling, including sports betting and online gaming, it is important to assess the impact of macroeconomic and equity market outcomes on fund flows into gambling. The authors’ findings will be of interest to policymakers and the gambling industry, as various forms of gambling, including day trading, gain broad public acceptance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examine the impact of macroeconomic forces, business cycles, and financial market wealth on gambling. The authors propose a nonlinear model linking aggregate gambling expenditures to macroeconomic, stock market, and gambling industry variables. The authors estimate the proposed model using nonlinear estimation procedures.

Findings

The authors find that price of wagering, incomes, and supply of gambling opportunities are the primary determinants of wagering demand. Aggregate wagering is negatively impacted by realized stock returns and market volatility, but rises during recessions.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the questions posed and addressed in this manuscript have not been addressed in prior literature.
It's a comparison game! The roles of social comparison, perceived exclusivity and perceived financial benefits in non-fungible token marketing
Authors: Xie Quan , Muralidharan Sidharth
Published: July 2023

Purpose

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are gaining popularity as investments and personal indulgences, prompting brands to integrate them into marketing campaigns. Thus, understanding consumer personality traits toward NFTs is essential for success. This study presents a model that explores how social comparison orientation (SCO) influences perceived exclusivity and financial benefits of NFT marketing, subsequently impacting experiential evaluations, willingness to purchase NFTs and brand loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

We conducted two experiments to test our model. Study 1 used a quasi-experiment with 1,053 participants and tested the model using partial least squares–based structural equation modeling. In Study 2, we aimed to investigate the causal influence of SCO on NFT marketing effectiveness. We employed a one-factor experiment (social comparison prime: high SCO vs. control) with 123 participants.

Findings

NFT users frequently engage in social comparisons and prefer branded NFTs that offer exclusivity (social value) and financial benefits (economic value). Social and financial superiority derived from NFTs enhances branded NFT experiences, leading to a stronger willingness to purchase NFTs and building brand loyalty. Perceived exclusivity, financial benefits and experiential evaluation mediate the effects of SCO on willingness to purchase NFTs and brand loyalty.

Originality/value

This study explores the effectiveness of NFT marketing through the lens of social comparison theory. In doing so, we examined the relationship between SCO and NFT marketing outcomes, revealed the causal influence of SCO on perceived exclusivity and perceived benefits in NFT marketing and shed light on the serial mediation of value- and experience-related constructs.
The effect of entrepreneurial intentions on depression: the mediating role of job insecurity and moderating roles of person vocation fit, and entrepreneurial leadership in the longitudinal study
Authors: Shabeer Sobia
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The understanding regarding the impact of entrepreneurial intentions on the job insecurity and depression is limited in the longitudinal settings, organizations need to know which factors can be added to decrease the psychological and career issues of visiting or contract employees. Thus, this research aims to investigate the person vocation fit and entrepreneurial leadership as a moderator in the relation of entrepreneurial intentions, job insecurity and depression in within- and between-person level with the time of 4 months' time lag.

Design/methodology/approach

The data was gathered by using survey method from visiting faculty of universities located in Punjab, in the longitudinal design of 4-wave months and M.plus software was used to do the mediation and moderation analysis.

Findings

Results revealed that job insecurity mediated the entrepreneurial intentions and depression, the person vocation fit and entrepreneurial leadership moderated the entrepreneurial intentions and job insecurity link in the following month.

Research limitations/implications

This paper contributes in the literature of entrepreneurship and career management, by considering the role of person vocation fit and entrepreneurial leadership in the organizations of emerging countries that have high unemployment rate and mental health issues. This paper provides nuanced understanding of how these two constructs have influenced the entrepreneurial intentions-job insecurity-depression within- and between-person level in the visiting or contract employees. Therefore, made strong contribution to the theory of person- environment fit, the entrepreneurial event theory and the contingency theory in the longitudinal data. In addition, to generalize the results, this theoretical framework should be tested in the other geographic area and industries.

Practical implications

The findings give practitioners, e.g. managers, policy- makers and counselors, with an idea how to decrease the feelings of job insecurity and depression in visiting or contract employees. They can promote the culture of innovation by giving training of entrepreneurial leadership and hiring the employees who have person vocation fit, all of these factors can lead to enhance the positive organizational image in potential and existing employees as well as it will also decrease the unemployment issue in emerging countries.

Originality/value

In past, scholars focused on the consequences of job insecurity and its harms but none emphasized on the aspects of entrepreneurship regarding the visiting faculty of universities. Like how entrepreneurial intentions can gradually decrease the job insecurity and depression among them and how the strengthen of person vocation fit and entrepreneurial leadership role their play monthly in this regard.
Examining the impacts of social media on the psychological well-being in a patriarchal culture: a study of women in Pakistan
Authors: Aksar Iffat Ali , Firdaus Amira , Gong Jiankun , Anwar Pasha Saadia
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The unstoppable and exponential growth of social media use has given rise to concerns about the consequent effects on users. Among the major concerns are the psychological consequences, which have received considerable academic attention. The current mixed-methods research aims to examine women's social media use and its effects on their psychological well-being in a patriarchal culture, namely Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs a mixed-method research methodology. The quantitative section collected data from 240 women and used structural equation modelling to test the proposed hypotheses. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the in-depth interviews with ten women.

Findings

The integration of the findings revealed increased use of social media by women and its beneficial effects (communication and socialisation, escapism and self-presentation), though qualitative findings revealed the cultural implications and obstacles that women face (online anonymity and digital asylum). The study calls attention to women's social media usage patterns and the resulting effects on women's psychological well-being in a low-income country with a patriarchal social structure.

Originality/value

Most research remains limited to Western societies and young populations. The situation is somewhat different in developing economies with traditionally preserved cultures compared to Western societies. This study uniquely examines the influence of social media on psychological well-being in a developing country with a special cultural context.
Factors in the development of smart villages regarding tourism in the Baltic states
Authors: Dembovska Iveta , Klavinska Antra , Dimanta-Svilpe Zanda , Raupeliene Asta
Published: July 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the nature of smart villages and the factors in their development in relation to the tourism industry in the Baltic states.

Design/methodology/approach

This research employed theoretical literature analysis to conceptualize the factors contributing to smart village development, discourse analysis (analysis of good smart village branding practice), a qualitative approach and descriptive analysis to analyse semi-structured expert survey e-questionnaires to identify the nature of smart villages, as well as to analyse factors in the development of smart villages in relation to tourism in the Baltic states. Specialists who represent tourism, other businesses and the discipline of economics were chosen as experts.

Findings

The experts indicated that the development of smart villages can contribute to essential and important factors in the development of tourism such as the growth of a creative economy, the development of community culture, values, traditions and symbols, the production of local food, the establishment of unique natural, cultural and recreational objects, as well as improvement in infrastructure and the introduction of new technologies.

Originality/value

The study contributes to an understanding of the development of smart villages, given the important factors that were examined. The smart village approach is a relatively new approach to sustainable rural development and tourism promotion. In Europe, it is a better-known approach to developing local areas and tourism, yet each region has its own distinctive features.
Sampling effect in predicting the evolutionary response of populations to climate change
Authors: Aguirre‐Liguori Jonás A. , Morales‐Cruz Abraham , Gaut Brandon S. , Ramírez‐Barahona Santiago
Published: July 2023

Genomic data and machine learning approaches have gained interest due to their potential to identify adaptive genetic variation across populations and to assess species vulnerability to climate change. By identifying gene–environment associations for putatively adaptive loci, these approaches project changes to adaptive genetic composition as a function of future climate change (genetic offsets), which are interpreted as measuring the future maladaptation of populations due to climate change. In principle, higher genetic offsets relate to increased population vulnerability and therefore can be used to set priorities for conservation and management. However, it is not clear how sensitive these metrics are to the intensity of population and individual sampling. Here, we use five genomic datasets with varying numbers of SNPs (NSNPs = 7006–1,398,773), sampled populations (Npop = 23–47) and individuals (Nind = 185–595) to evaluate the estimation sensitivity of genetic offsets to varying degrees of sampling intensity. We found that genetic offsets are sensitive to the number of populations being sampled, especially with less than 10 populations and when genetic structure is high. We also found that the number of individuals sampled per population had small effects on the estimation of genetic offsets, with more robust results when five or more individuals are sampled. Finally, uncertainty associated with the use of different future climate scenarios slightly increased estimation uncertainty in the genetic offsets. Our results suggest that sampling efforts should focus on increasing the number of populations, rather than the number of individuals per populations, and that multiple future climate scenarios should be evaluated to ascertain estimation sensitivity.
Carbon‐ion radiotherapy for oligometastatic liver disease: A national multicentric study by the Japan Carbon‐Ion Radiation Oncology Study Group (J‐CROS)
Authors: Shiba Shintaro , Wakatsuki Masaru , Toyama Shingo , Terashima Kazuki , Uchida Hirofumi , Katoh Hiroyuki , Shibuya Kei , Okazaki Shohei , Miyasaka Yuhei , Ohno Tatsuya , Tsuji Hiroshi
Published: July 2023

Reports on the therapeutic efficacy and safety of carbon‐ion radiotherapy (C‐ion RT) for oligometastatic liver disease are limited, with insufficient evidence. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of C‐ion RT for oligometastatic liver disease at all Japanese facilities using the nationwide cohort data. We reviewed the medical records to obtain the nationwide cohort registry data on C‐ion RT between May 2016 and June 2020. Patients (1) with oligometastatic liver disease as confirmed by histological or diagnostic imaging, (2) with ≤3 synchronous liver metastases at the time of treatment, (3) without active extrahepatic disease, and (4) who received C‐ion RT for all metastatic regions with curative intent were included in this study. C‐ion RT was performed with 58.0–76.0 Gy (relative biological effectiveness [RBE]) in 1–20 fractions. In total, 102 patients (121 tumors) were enrolled in this study. The median follow‐up duration for all patients was 19.0 months. The median tumor size was 27 mm. The 1‐year/2‐year overall survival, local control, and progression‐free survival rates were 85.1%/72.8%, 90.5%/78.0%, and 48.3%/27.1%, respectively. No patient developed grade 3 or higher acute or late toxicity. C‐ion RT is a safe and effective treatment for oligometastatic liver disease and may be beneficial as a local treatment option in multidisciplinary treatment.
Clinical, microbiological and osteoimmunological findings in different peri‐implant conditions – A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Jezdic Marija , Nikolic Nadja , Krasavcevic Ana Djinic , Milasin Jelena , Aleksic Zoran , Carkic Jelena , Jankovic Sasha , Milinkovic Iva
Published: July 2023

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of certain microbiota and their potential correlation with clinical parameters, expression of proinflammatory cytokines, Notch signalling pathway molecules and bone remodelling mediators among different peri‐implant conditions.

Materials and Methods

Included participants had at least one dental implant minimally 1 year in function. They were divided into peri‐implantitis (PI), peri‐implant mucositis (PM) and healthy implants (HIs) groups. Prevalence of P. ginigvalis, Fusobacterium spp., EBV and C. albicans was detected in participants' crevicular fluid (CF) using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction, different markers' expression, as well as clinical data, were correlated with the microbial presence.

Results

CF samples taken from one chosen implant from each of the 102 participants were analyzed. Significantly higher levels of P. gingivalis were found in PI compared with HI (p = .012) and PM (p = .026). Fusobacterium spp. was also more prevalent in PI (p = .041) and PM (0.008) than in HI. P. gingivalis was a predictor of PPDi (p = .011, R2 = 0.063) and CALi (p = .049, R2 = 0.038). A positive correlation was found in PI for the level of Fusobacterium spp. and TNFα expression (ρ = 0.419, p = .017) while in PM, P. gingivalis and Notch 2 expression were correlated (ρ = 0.316, p = .047).

Conclusions

P. gingivalis appears to be involved in the osteolysis in patients with PI, while the positive correlation of its level with Notch 2 expression in patients with PM suggests a potential involvement of P. gingivalis in the progression of PM into PI.
Altered large‐scale individual‐based morphological brain network in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3
Authors: Su Shu , Sha Runhua , Qiu Haishan , Chu Jianping , Lin Liping , Qian Long , Hu Manshi , Wu Chao , Cheung Gerald L. , Yang Zhiyun , Chen Yingqian , Zhao Jing
Published: July 2023

Background

Accumulating evidences indicate regional gray matter (GM) morphology atrophy in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3); however, whether large‐scale morphological brain networks (MBNs) undergo widespread reorganization in these patients remains unclear.

Objective

To investigate the topological organization of large‐scale individual‐based MBNs in SCA3 patients.

Methods

The individual‐based MBNs were constructed based on the inter‐regional morphological similarity of GM regions. Graph theoretical analysis was taken to assess GM structural connectivity in 76 symptomatic SCA3, 24 pre‐symptomatic SCA3, and 54 healthy normal controls (NCs). Topological parameters of the resulting graphs and network‐based statistics analysis were compared among symptomatic SCA3, pre‐symptomatic SCA3, and NCs groups. The inner association between network properties and clinical variables was further analyzed.

Results

Compared to NCs and pre‐symptomatic SCA3 patients, symptomatic SCA3 indicated significantly decreased integration and segregation, a shift to “weaker small‐worldness”, characterized by decreased Cp, lower Eloc, and Eglob (all p < 0.005). Regarding nodal properties, symptomatic SCA3 exhibited significantly decreased nodal profiles in the central executive network (CEN)‐related left inferior frontal gyrus, limbic regions involving the bilateral amygdala, left hippocampus, and bilateral pallidum, thalamus; and increased nodal degree, efficiency in bilateral caudate (all pFDR <0.05). Meanwhile, clinical variables were correlated with altered nodal profiles (pFDR ≤0.029). SCA3‐related subnetwork was closely interrelated with dorsolateral cortico‐striatal circuitry extending to orbitofrontal‐striatal circuits and dorsal visual systems (lingual gyrus‐striatal).

Conclusion

Symptomatic SCA3 patients undergo an extensive and significant reorganization in large‐scale individual‐based MBNs, probably due to disrupted prefrontal cortico‐striato‐thalamo‐cortical loops, limbic‐striatum circuitry, and enhanced connectivity in the neostriatum. This study highlights the crucial role of abnormal morphological connectivity alterations beyond the pattern of brain atrophy, which might pave the way for therapeutic development in the future.
Prognostic value of preoperative thyroid autoantibodies for post‐thyroidectomy patient pathology: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Al‐Angari Samiah S. , AlAngari Hussam S. , Al‐Dhahri Saleh F.
Published: July 2023

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical value of preoperative thyroid autoantibodies with reference to the post‐thyroidectomy patient pathology.

Design

A retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Two tertiary care academic hospitals.

Materials and Methods

A total of (n = 473) subjects who underwent thyroidectomy from 2009 to 2019 were included. Preoperative serum thyroid autoantibodies (anti‐thyroglobulin [anti‐Tg] and anti‐thyroperoxidase [anti‐TPO]) were measured, and the potential predictors of postoperative pathological diagnosis (age, gender, and thyroid autoantibodies) were assessed using multivariable regression models.

Results

Patients with positive thyroid autoantibodies were more likely to have malignant disease than benign disease; adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.6 (1.3–2.7, p = 0.002) for anti‐Tg, and AOR = 1.6 (1.1–2.5, p = 0.027) for anti‐TPO. A subset analysis of the same predictors performed on patients with cancer (malignant vs. microcarcinoma) showed that patients with ages ≥40 were more likely to develop microcarcinoma as opposed to malignant disease; AOR = 1.8 (1.1–3.1, p = 0.03) for anti‐TPO, and AOR = 1.7 (1.0–2.9, p = 0.04) for anti‐Tg.

Conclusion

Preoperative thyroid autoantibodies could be used clinically to predict the risk of malignancy in thyroid nodules, thus helping guide treatment decisions in patients with thyroid nodules and speeding up the decision to undergo surgical intervention.
The macroeconomic impact of automation: Applications to elderly care
Authors: Lu Chia‐Hui
Published: July 2023

When automation technology can both help a firm's production and be widely used in the provision of long‐term care for the elderly, developments in automation can potentially help alleviate the situation of a declining birthrate in an aging society and increase production and household welfare. In addition, this paper obtains results consistent with the real‐world situation in which population aging and a declining birthrate arise simultaneously. Considering the case where automation technology is developed by firms does not change the main findings. Therefore, the government should encourage people to engage in the development of automation.
Long‐term effects of air pollution on hospital admissions and mortality for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Beijing, China
Authors: Zhu Rui‐xia , Chen Jin
Published: July 2023

Objective

We aimed to clarify the association between air pollution and hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and mortality in Beijing, China.

Methods

In this retrospective study, we recruited 510 COPD patients from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2009. The patient data were obtained from the electronic medical records of Peking University Third Hospital in Beijing. Air pollution and meteorological data were obtained from the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Monthly COPD hospital admissions, mortality and air pollution data were analysed using Poisson regression in generalised additive models adjusted for mean temperature, pressure and relative humidity.

Results

There were positive correlations between sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm (PM10) and COPD hospital admissions in the single‐pollutant model. An increase of 10 μg/m3 in SO2 and PM10 were associated with an increase of 4.053% (95% CI: 1.470–5.179%) and 1.401% (95%CI: 0.6656–1.850%) in COPD hospital admissions. In the multiple‐pollutant model [SO2 and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) combinations], there was only a positive correlation between SO2 and COPD hospital admissions. An increase of 10 μg/m3 in SO2 were associated with an increase of 1.916% (95% CI: 1.118–4.286%) in COPD hospital admissions. There was no correlation between three pollutant combinations and COPD hospital admissions.

We did not find correlations between air pollution and COPD mortality in either single‐ or multiple‐pollutant models.

Conclusions

SO2 and PM10 may be important factors for the increase in COPD hospital admissions in Beijing, China.
Multicenter study of universal prophylaxis versus pre‐emptive therapy for patients at intermediate risk (R+) for CMV following heart transplantation
Authors: Lerman Joseph B. , Green Cynthia L. , Molina Maria R. , Maharaj Valmiki , Ortega‐Legaspi Juan M. , Sen Sounok , Flattery Maureen , Maziarz Eileen K. , Shah Keyur B. , Martin Cindy M. , Alexy Tamas , Shah Palak , Morris Alanna A. , DeVore Adam D. , Cole Robert T.
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Heart transplant (HT) recipients with prior exposure to cytomegalovirus (CMV R+) are considered intermediate risk for CMV‐related complications. Consensus guidelines allow for either universal prophylaxis (UP) or preemptive therapy (PET) (serial CMV testing) approaches to CMV prevention in such patients. Whether an optimal approach to mitigate CMV related risks exists in this setting remains uncertain. We therefore assessed the utility of PET as compared to UP in CMV R+ HT recipients.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of all CMV R+ HT recipients from 6 U.S. centers between 2010 and 2018 was performed. The primary outcome was the development of CMV DNAemia or end‐organ disease resulting in the initiation/escalation of anti‐CMV therapy. The secondary outcome was CMV‐related hospitalization. Additional outcomes included incidence of acute cellular rejection (ACR) ≥ grade 2R, death, cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), and leukopenia.

Results

Of 563 CMV R+ HT recipients, 344 (61.1%) received UP. PET was associated with increased risk for the primary (adjusted HR 3.95, 95% CI: 2.65–5.88, p < .001) and secondary (adjusted HR 3.19, 95% CI: 1.47–6.94, p = .004) outcomes, and with increased ACR ≥ grade 2R (PET 59.4% vs. UP 34.4%, p < .001). Incidence of detectable CAV was similar at 1 year (PET 8.2% vs. UP 9.5%, p = .698). UP was associated with increased incidence of leukopenia within 6 months post‐HT (PET 34.7% vs. UP 43.6%, p = .036).

Conclusion

The use of a PET CMV prophylaxis strategy in intermediate risk HT recipients associated with increased risk of CMV infection and CMV‐related hospitalization, and may associate with worse post‐HT graft outcomes.
Optimizing expert and patient input in pediatric trial design: Lessons learned and recommendations from a collaboration between conect4children and European Patient‐CEntric ClinicAl TRial PLatforms
Authors: Dhaenens Britt A. E. , Mahler Fenna , Batchelor Hannah , Dicks Pamela , Gaillard Segolene , Nafria Begonya , Kopp‐Schneider Annette , Ribeiro Maria Alexandra , Schwab Matthias , Sparber‐Sauer Monika , Leubner Jonas , de Wildt Saskia N. , Oostenbrink Rianne
Published: July 2023

Advice from multiple stakeholders is required to design the optimal pediatric clinical trial. We present recommendations for acquiring advice from trial experts and patients/caregivers, derived from advice meetings that were performed through a collaboration of the Collaborative Network for European Clinical Trials for Children (c4c) and the European Patient‐CEntric ClinicAl TRial PLatforms (EU‐PEARL). Three advice meetings were performed: (1) an advice meeting for clinical and methodology experts, (2) an advice meeting for patients/caregivers, and (3) a combined meeting with both experts and patients/caregivers. Trial experts were recruited from c4c database. Patients/caregivers were recruited through a patient organization. Participants were asked to provide input on a trial protocol, including endpoints, outcomes, and the assessment schedule. Ten experts, 10 patients, and 13 caregivers participated. The advice meetings resulted in modification of eligibility criteria and outcome measures. We have provided recommendations for the most effective meeting type per protocol topic. Topics with limited options for patient input were most efficiently discussed in expert advice meetings. Other topics benefit from patient/caregiver input, either through a combined meeting with experts or a patients/caregivers‐only advice meeting. Some topics, such as endpoints and outcome measures, are suitable for all meeting types. Combined sessions profit from synergy between experts and patients/caregivers, balancing input on protocol scientific feasibility and acceptability. Both experts and patients/caregivers provided critical input on the presented protocol. The combined meeting was the most effective methodology for most protocol topics. The presented methodology can be used effectively to acquire expert and patient feedback.
Miscategorized subset‐knowers: Five‐ and six‐knowers can compare only the numbers they know
Authors: Krajcsi Attila , Reynvoet Bert
Published: July 2023

Initial acquisition of the first symbolic numbers is measured with the Give a Number (GaN) task. According to the classic method, it is assumed that children who know only 1, 2, 3, or 4 in the GaN task, (termed separately one‐, two‐, three‐, and four‐knowers, or collectively subset‐knowers) have only a limited conceptual understanding of numbers. On the other hand, it is assumed that children who know larger numbers understand the fundamental properties of numbers (termed cardinality‐principle‐knowers), even if they do not know all the numbers as measured with the GaN task, that are in their counting list (e.g., five‐ or six‐knowers). We argue that this practice may not be well‐established. To validate this categorization method, here, the performances of groups with different GaN performances were measured separately in a symbolic comparison task. It was found that similar to one to four‐knowers, five‐, six‐, and so forth, knowers can compare only the numbers that they know in the GaN task. We conclude that five‐, six‐, and so forth, knowers are subset‐knowers because their conceptual understanding of numbers is fundamentally limited. We argue that knowledge of the cardinality principle should be identified with stricter criteria compared to the current practice in the literature.

Research Highlights

Children who know numbers larger than 4 in the Give a Number (GaN) task are usually assumed to have a fundamental conceptual understanding of numbers.

We tested children who know numbers larger than 4 but who do not know all the numbers in their counting list to see whether they compare numbers more similar to children who know only small numbers in the GaN task or to children who have more firm number knowledge.

Five‐, six‐, and so forth, knowers can compare only the numbers they know in the GaN task, similar to the performance of the one, two, three, and four‐knowers.

We argue that these children have a limited conceptual understanding of numbers and that previous works may have miscategorized them.
Post‐cardiac injury syndrome after surgical repair of atrial septal defect: Reporting a rare occurrence
Authors: Verma Beni R. , Kumar Ashwin , Furqan Muhammad , Yesilyaprak Abdullah , Agrawal Ankit , Mahalwar Gauranaga , Majid Muhammad , Singh Harjit , Xu Bo , Klein Allan L.
Published: July 2023

A 16‐year‐old male with past medical history of congenital atrial septal defect surgical repair, presented with recurrent pericarditis secondary to post‐cardiotomy injury syndrome (PCIS), After failing medical therapy, he ultimately underwent pericardiectomy for symptom resolution, PCIS is underdiagnosed in children and should be considered in patients with recurrent chest, pain.
External information seeking and organizational ambidexterity in SMEs: Does empowerment climate matter?
Authors: Bérard Céline , Cloutier L. Martin
Published: July 2023

Access to external information is considered crucial to achieving organizational ambidexterity (OA) while presenting specific challenges for SMEs due to their limited resources. However, little is known about how SMEs can best benefit from their external information‐seeking activities for OA purposes, given specific organizational practices. Our paper addresses this research gap by analyzing the effects of external information seeking (i.e., environmental scanning and external managerial networking) on OA while considering the moderating role of empowerment climate in SMEs. Based on a survey administered to CEOs of 1439 French manufacturing SMEs, our main results indicate that empowerment climate positively moderates the effect of scanning breadth on OA but negatively moderates the effect of networking depth. This suggests that SMEs should emphasize external information‐seeking activities that are appropriate to their level of empowerment climate so that the positive effects on OA can be fully realized.
Myoclonus in patients with COVID‐19: Findings of autoantibodies against brain structures in cerebrospinal fluid
Authors: Lindqvist Isa , Cunningham Janet L. , Mulder Jan , Feresiadou Amalia , Rostami Elham , Virhammar Johan , Kumlien Eva
Published: July 2023

Background and purpose

COVID‐19 is associated with multiple neurological manifestations. The clinical presentation, trajectory, and treatment response for three cases of myoclonus during COVID‐19 infection, with no previous neurological disease, are decsribed.

Metods

Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid from the cases using indirect immunohistochemistry.

Results

Antibodies against rodent brain tissue, and similarities in staining patterns were observed, indicating the presence of antineuronal immunoglobulin G autoantibodies targeting astrocytes in the hippocampus.

Conclusion

Our results demontrate cerebrospinal fluid antineuronal antibodies indicating an an autoimmune involvment in the pathogenesis in COVID‐19 associated myoclonus.
Effect and mechanism of hydrogen‐rich bath on mice with imiquimod‐induced psoriasis
Authors: Zhang Xinyu , Yu Pan , Hong Nan , Liu Fang , Shan Yuxin , Wu Yingying , An Binyi , Sang Hong , Kong Qingtao
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether hydrogen‐rich bath has therapeutic effect on psoriasis and its molecular mechanism. Mice with imiquimod‐induced psoriasis were established and divided into groups. The mice were respectively treated with hydrogen‐rich water bath and distilled water bath. The changes of skin lesions and PSI scores of mice were compared after their treatments. HE staining was used to observe the pathological feature. The changes of inflammatory indexes and immune factors were analysed by ELISA and immunohistochemical staining. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was measured by the thiobarbituric assay (TBA) method. By naked eye, the severity of skin lesions in hydrogen‐rich water bath group was lower than that in distilled water bath group, and the psoriasis severity index (PSI) was lower (p < 0.01). The results of HE staining showed that the mice with distilled water bath had more abnormal keratosis, thickening of the spinous layer and prolongation of the dermal process, and more Munro abscess than the mice with hydrogen‐rich water bath. During the course of disease, the overall levels and peaks of IL‐17, IL‐23, TNF‐α, CD3+ and MDA in mice with hydrogen‐rich bath were lower than those in mice with distilled water bath (p < 0.05). In the skin, the mice treated with the hydrogen‐rich water bath also had lower peak of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) levels. It is concluded that hydrogen‐rich water bath can inhibit psoriasis inflammation and oxidative stress, relieve psoriasis skin lesions and accelerate the end of abnormal skin proliferation state, which shows a therapeutic and improving effect on psoriasis.
The effects of temperature and flooding duration on the structure and magnitude of a floodplain prey subsidy
Authors: Rezek Ryan J. , Massie Jordan A. , Nelson James A. , Santos Rolando O. , Viadero Natasha M. , James W. Ryan , Boucek Ross E. , Rehage Jennifer S.
Published: July 2023

Riverine floodplains serve as an important link between terrestrial and aquatic systems, as the rising and falling of water drive spatial food web subsidies that are critical to the functioning and stability of ecosystems. As these systems are increasingly impacted by hydrological alterations and climate change, it is important to understand how floodplain spatial food web subsidies may respond to changing environmental conditions.

Here, we examine the interannual variation in the structure of a sunfish (Lepomis spp.) prey subsidy from freshwater marshes into the mangrove‐lined creeks of Rookery Branch in the Florida Coastal Everglades that occurs during seasonal dry downs. We evaluate how the structure of this subsidy relates to prior temperature and hydrological regimes based on a 16‐year electrofishing dataset. We also characterise the intra‐annual relationship between marsh water depths and sunfish migration patterns that underlie this subsidy.

We found that interannual variation in the abundance and diversity of the sunfish prey subsidy was best explained by the minimum water temperature occurring within 90 days prior to peak abundance sampling periods, with lower minimum water temperatures associated with higher sunfish abundance and diversity. In contrast, interannual variations in the biomass of the sunfish prey subsidy were positively related to marsh flooding duration over 30 cm depth during the prior wet season. Intra‐annual models estimated peak sunfish abundance and biomass values in riverine habitats to occur during the transition between wet and dry periods when marsh depths are between 10 and 15 cm.

Multivariate analysis of community abundance and biomass composition revealed that minimum water temperatures played an important role in structuring the prey subsidy, while the effect of flooding duration was weak. These results provide important insight into how floodplain prey subsidies may be altered under future climate and hydrological regimes and inform ecosystem‐based water management decisions.
Automated Estimation of Aquifer Parameters from Arbitrary‐Rate Pumping Tests in Python and MATLAB
Authors: Benson David A.
Published: July 2023

Inspired by the analysis by Mishra et al. (2012) of variable pumping rate tests using piecewise‐linear reconstructions of the pumping history, this article contains a derivation of the convolutional form of pumping tests in which the pumping history may take any possible form. The solution is very similar to the classical Theis (1935) equation but uses the Green's function for a pumped aquifer given by taking the time derivative of the well function . This eliminates one integration inside another and renders the convolution including the pumping history about as computationally demanding as calculating the well function alone, so that the convolution can be completed using handy mathematical software. It also allows nonlinear well losses, and because an easily‐computed deterministic model exists for all data points and pumping history, an objective function may include all data, so that errors are reduced in calculating any nonlinear‐well losses. In addition, data from multiple observation wells may be used simultaneously in the inversion. We provide codes in MATLAB and Python to solve for drawdown resulting from an arbitrary pumping history and compute the optimal aquifer parameters to fit the data. We find that the subtleties in parameter dependencies and constructing an appropriate objective function have a substantial effect on the interpreted parameters. Furthermore, the optimization from step‐drawdown tests is typically nonunique and strongly suggests that a Bayesian inversion should be used to fully estimate the joint probability density of the parameter vector.
Molecular biomarkers for objective assessment of symptomatic pulpitis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Karrar Riham N. , Cushley Siobhan , Duncan Henry F. , Lundy Fionnuala T. , Abushouk Salma A. , Clarke Mike , El‐Karim Ikhlas A.
Published: July 2023

Background

Inflammatory biomarkers are potentially useful targets for pulpal diagnostic tests that can identify pulp status and predict vital pulp treatment (VPT) outcome, however, their accuracy is unknown.

Objectives

(1) Calculate sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of previously investigated pulpitic biomarkers; (2) Determine if biomarker levels discriminate between clinical diagnoses of pulpitis based on the presence or absence of spontaneous pain (3) Evaluate if biomarker level can predict VPT outcome.

Methods

Searches: PubMed/MEDLINE, Ovid SP, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), ClinicalTrials.gov, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus in May 2023. Inclusion: prospective and retrospective observational studies and randomized trials. Participants were humans with vital permanent teeth and a well‐defined pulpal diagnosis. Exclusion: deciduous teeth, in vitro and animal studies. Risk of bias was assessed with modified‐Downs and Black quality assessment checklist. Meta‐analysis was performed using bivariate random effect model in Meta‐DiSc 2.0 and RevMan and the quality of the evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation.

Results

Fifty‐six studies were selected, reporting >70 individual biomolecules investigating pulpal health and disease at the gene and protein level. Most studies were of low and fair quality. Among the biomolecules investigated, IL‐8 and IL‐6 demonstrated a level of diagnostic accuracy with high sensitivity, specificity and DOR to discriminate between healthy pulps and those exhibiting spontaneous pain suggestive of IRP (low‐certainty evidence). However, none was shown to have high DOR and the ability to discriminate between pulpitic states (very low certainty evidence). Limited data suggests high levels of matrix metalloproteinase 9 correlate with poorer outcomes of full pulpotomy.

Discussion

The inability of identified molecular inflammatory markers to discriminate between dental pulps with spontaneous and non‐spontaneous pain should shift the focus to improved study quality or the pursuit of other molecules potentially associated with healing and repair.

Conclusions

Low‐quality evidence suggests IL‐8 and IL‐6 demonstrated level of diagnostic accuracy to discriminate between healthy pulps and those exhibiting spontaneous pain. There is a need for standardized biomarker diagnostic and prognostic studies focusing on solutions that can accurately determine the degree of pulp inflammation.

Registration

PROSPERO CRD42021259305.
LABOR SUPPLY IN THE EXTENDED HOUSEHOLD: ECONOMIES OF SCALE, SELF‐SELECTION, AND THE INTRAHOUSEHOLD DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Authors: Donni Olivier , Badaoui Eliane El
Published: July 2023

This article studies labor supply in the extended household (composed of two families living together). The extended household structure affects the incentives to work of household members for at least three reasons: economies of scale, cash transfers between the families living in the extended household, and easier childcare arrangements. We develop a structural model incorporating these components and taking into account the self‐selection process into extended households. We then estimate this model with South African data and provide an explanation for the differences in participation rates between nuclear and extended households.