bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient Ribosomal Rna Depletion fromDrosophilaTotal Rna for Next-Generation Sequencing Applications
Authors: Koppaka Omkar , Tandon Shweta , Chodankar Ankita , Pandit Awadhesh , Bakthavachalu Baskar
Published: November 2024

We developed a cost-effective enzyme-based rRNA-depletion method tailored forDrosophila melanogaster, addressing the limitations of existing commercial kits and the lack of peer-reviewed alternatives. Our method employs single-stranded DNA probes complementary toDrosophilarRNA, forming DNA-RNA hybrids. These hybrids are then degraded using the RNase H enzyme, effectively removing rRNA and enriching all non-ribosomal RNAs, including mRNA, lncRNA and small RNA. When compared to a commercial rRNA removal kit, our approach demonstrated superior rRNA removal efficiency and mapping percentage, confirming its effectiveness. Additionally, our method successfully enriched the non-coding transcriptome, making it a valuable tool for studying ncRNA inDrosophila. The probe sequences and rRNA-depletion protocol are made freely available, offering a reliable alternative for rRNA-depletion experiments.
Does proactive career behaviour matter with respect to job insecurity? The mediating role of work-related basic needs satisfaction and the moderating role of contract type
Authors: Hu Sanman , Jiang Lixin , Zou Qiong , Liu Mingqian
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Using conservation of resources and self-determination theories, this study explores the negative ties between proactive career behaviour and job insecurity, which are mediated by work-related basic needs satisfaction, and how contract type affects these relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

Two waves of data were collected from 332 Chinese employees. The mediation and moderated mediation models were tested with MPLUS 8.30 and SPSS’s PROCESS macro.

Findings

Proactive career behaviour negatively affects (both quantitatively and qualitatively) job insecurity through work-related basic needs satisfaction. Contract type moderates the relationship between proactive career behaviour and work-related basic needs satisfaction as well as the indirect relationship between proactive career behaviour and quantitative (but not qualitative) job insecurity via work-related basic needs satisfaction. These findings suggest that temporary employees can obtain greater benefits by engaging in proactive career behaviour than can their permanent counterparts.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the limited research on job insecurity antecedents, mechanisms and key moderators.
Career development experiences of policewomen: insights from Ghana
Authors: Quartey Samuel Howard
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study explores the career development experiences of policewomen in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used phenomenology to explore the career development experiences of policewomen. The policewomen were purposively selected from the Ghana Police Service. The data were gathered from 23 policewomen. The data were thematically analyzed with the help of the NVivo 14 qualitative software application.

Findings

Career leadership orientations, career support mechanisms and career environments shaped the career development experiences of policewomen. These major themes, with related sub-themes and codes, enhance our understanding of these experiences.

Practical implications

The senior management of the Ghana Police Service can eliminate institutionalized gender biases against policewomen by formulating and implementing gender-inclusive and women-sensitive staff development policies.

Originality/value

This study first highlights the importance of career leadership orientations, career support mechanisms and career environment in understanding the career development experiences of policewomen.
How do crowd investors prioritize evaluation criteria for equity crowdfunding? A decision support model
Authors: Almubarak Norah , Almulhim Tarifa
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a decision support model to prioritize equity crowdfunding (ECF) evaluation criteria under an uncertain environment.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed decision support model first identifies a holistic list of evaluation criteria and subcriteria. These criteria are then analyzed using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method in an interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy (IVIF) environment to identify the relative importance attached by crowdfunding investors to five sets of evaluation criteria (fundraiser, platform, project, campaign and investment characteristics) and their associated subcriteria. The proposed decision support model and ECF evaluation criteria were empirically examined using a real-life case study from January to February 2023.

Findings

The case study illustrated that the decision support model enhanced fairness and transparency in the prioritization of ECF evaluation criteria. Project characteristics were the most important criterion, followed by fundraiser characteristics and investment characteristics. These results can serve as a benchmark to help crowd investors choose ventures more wisely and make better investment decisions.

Originality/value

The tasks of modeling and prioritizing ECF evaluation criteria are relatively rarely addressed in the literature, especially under uncertainty. This study is one of the first attempts to use the AHP to explore ECF evaluation criteria in an IVIF environment; in particular, it sheds light on the importance that crowd investors attach to criteria related to fundraiser, platform, project, campaign and investment characteristics.
Personality traits, entrepreneurship education and green entrepreneurial intention of technical university students in Ghana: a multiple linear regression analysis
Authors: Amponsah Emefa Akua , Suleiman Maajid Zakaria , Adam Hafiz , Nunfam Victor Fannam
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Inadequate empirical evidence on the effect of personality traits, entrepreneurship education and university entrepreneurial support on green entrepreneurial intention outcomes among technical university students in Africa has hindered concrete policy interventions. Based on the planned behaviour and social cognitive theories, we assess the influence of personality traits and entrepreneurship education on green entrepreneurial intention of undergraduates at technical universities in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

We employed an explanatory cross-sectional survey comprising 1,329 Ghanaian undergraduate students to assess the research gap. An adapted 60-item instrument was used to measure outcomes for ten constructs (six personality traits, entrepreneurship education and green entrepreneurial intention) for the participants. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to model green entrepreneurial intention as a function of personality traits, entrepreneurship education and university entrepreneurial support while controlling for respondents’ background characteristics.

Findings

We observed a significant direct positive effect of all the personality traits, except subjective social norms and need for achievement, on green entrepreneurial intention. There was also a significant direct positive effect of entrepreneurship curriculum, teaching methods and university entrepreneurial support on green entrepreneurial intention. Our findings further provide empirical data to inform educators, researchers, policymakers and practitioners on the design of pragmatic curriculum, policies and interventions to inspire students into green start-ups.

Originality/value

This study is valuable for its novel approach of using an integrated theoretical and conceptual model to provide empirical validation for the burgeoning discourse around the impact of personality traits and entrepreneurship education on the green entrepreneurial intentions of technical university students in a developing nation. By synthesising diverse theoretical perspectives, this research enriches the understanding of how individual characteristics and educational experiences influence environmentally conscious entrepreneurial aspirations.
Capital buffer and bank risk-taking in Vietnam: the moderating role of capital regulation and shadow banking
Authors: Tran Dieu , Nguyen Truc
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of capital buffer on risk-taking in the Vietnam banking sector as well as examine the moderating role of capital regulation based on Basel II standards and shadow banking on this correlation.

Design/methodology/approach

The capital buffer is measured by the bank’s capital adequacy ratio minus the regulatory capital adequacy ratio, whereas risk-taking is the inverse value of the Zscore indicator. To test the hypotheses, the two-step system generalized method of moments estimation and a data set for the period 2010–2022 were used.

Findings

This study reveals the U-shaped nonlinear impact of capital buffer on bank risk-taking, which means that maintaining high capital buffer forces Vietnamese banks to reduce risky activities, but when the capital buffer is thick enough to resist unexpected shocks, an additional level of capital buffer may lead to excessive risky behaviors. The regression outcomes also explore the moderating role of capital regulation based on Basel II standards and shadow banking. To be specific, applying capital regulation following Basel II has caused banks to behave more cautiously and enhance the negative impact of capital buffer on bank risk-taking, whereas engaging in shadow banking activities has caused them to increase risk tolerance and diminish the negative impact of capital buffer on risk-taking.

Originality/value

This study bridges the gap in the literature regarding the impact of capital buffer on bank risk-taking in a typical emerging market. Especially, the article explores evidence that capital regulation and shadow banking play as moderators between two main interest variables.
The impact of green participative leadership on pro-environmental behavior: mediating role of green self-efficacy and moderating role of environmental awareness
Authors: Lili Zhang , Rafiq Muhammad
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the influence of green participative leadership on hotel employees’ pro-environmental behavior. Additionally, we seek to analyze the mediating role of green self-efficacy in this relationship while examining how environmental awareness moderates the connection between green participative leadership and green self-efficacy.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, we distributed questionnaires to 546 employees working in the Chinese hotel industry. We used partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the data and test the hypothesized relationships in our model.

Findings

The present study shows that green participative leadership positively influences employees’ pro-environmental behavior, with this relationship being partially mediated by green self-efficacy. Furthermore, environmental awareness significantly moderates the connection between green participative leadership and green self-efficacy.

Practical implications

The findings of this study offer valuable insights for hotel industry managers and policymakers in developing effective strategies for fostering a sustainable work environment. By embracing green participative leadership, hotels can inspire and engage employees to adopt environmentally friendly practices, ultimately contributing to the hotel’s overall sustainability.

Originality/value

This research expands the existing literature by proposing an integrative model that connects green participative leadership, green self-efficacy, environmental awareness and pro-environmental behavior. As a pioneering study within the Chinese hotel industry, it offers unique contextual insights that can help advance environmental sustainability in this sector.
Bridging high-performance work system and hotel’s innovation performance: a serial mediation of human resource flexibility and knowledge absorptive capacity
Authors: Hassan Saad , Tahir Fatima , Ahmed Zeeshan , Raza Saqlain , Nawaz Muhammad Kashif
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The study advances research on the high-performance work system (HPWS) and innovation performance (IP) linkage by empirically analyzing the serial mediation of human resource flexibility (HRF) and knowledge absorptive capacity (KAC). Previous research on the HPWS–IP linkage underscores the presence of a “black box.” Therefore, the present study aims to unravel the underexplored HPWS–IP relationship through HRF and KAC mediation in the context of the hotel industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey-based time-lagged data were collected from 303 mid-level managers in the hotel industry. Structural equation modeling (SEM) using Smart-PLS 4 was used to test hypothesized relationships.

Findings

The results reveal that HPWS has a significant positive direct relationship with innovation performance, human resource flexibility and knowledge absorptive capacity. Further, both human resource flexibility and knowledge absorptive capacity also serially mediate the HPWS–IP linkage.

Practical implications

The results of the study provide useful insights into the hotel industry in Pakistan by offering empirical evidence that building HPWS in the hotel sector can lead to increased human resource flexibility and enhanced knowledge absorptive capacity, ultimately contributing to improved innovation performance.

Originality/value

Notably, human resource flexibility and knowledge absorptive capacity together as dynamic capabilities represent a novel contribution rarely discussed in the literature, particularly their role as serial mediators between HPWS–IP relationships within the hotel industry.
More cost-effective strategy for 3D printing: technology upgrading or material recycling?
Authors: Meng Ying , Yang Feng
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study addresses the challenge of generating material waste from support structures in 3D printing manufacturing and aims to explore more cost-effective manufacturing strategies for 3D printing manufacturers by considering two strategies: technology upgrading and material recycling.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines the optimal decisions for manufacturers under each scenario (including a benchmark model and models for the two strategies) and explores the most profitable strategy by comparing the optimal profits of the manufacturer and analyzing the impact of key factors.

Findings

This study reveals that the choice of the optimal manufacturing strategy depends on the cost coefficient of technological effort and the fixed cost associated with introducing material recycling. In addition, it finds that material recycling is particularly effective in enhancing consumer surplus.

Practical implications

The analysis provides an important basis for decision-making for 3D printing manufacturers considering technology upgrading and material recycling, which can not only enhance economic benefits but also contribute to the sustainable advancement of 3D printing technology.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to focus on the adverse effects of support structures in 3D printing manufacturing and systematically explore the economic feasibility of improving this issue through both technology upgrading and material recycling.
The early origins of social responsibility in family businesses: constructing strategic philanthropy at Ingenio Manuelita, 1929–1947
Authors: Zuluaga Julio C. , Acosta Pilar
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the early stages of family business philanthropy amid institutional transformations to address the challenges of limited statehood. Despite a growing interest in the historical aspects of corporate responsibility, these dimensions remain relatively unexplored, especially in certain regions and for family businesses. However, they hold valuable insights that can contribute to contemporary discussions.

Design/methodology/approach

The study analyzes the board minutes of Ingenio Manuelita, an emblematic family business in the sugar industry in Colombia, from 1929 to 1947. Using a qualitative approach, the authors categorize the top management’s decisions to respond to various stakeholders’ demands.

Findings

Most early social responsibility in family businesses has been characterized as philanthropy, driven by family owners’ morals and ethical predispositions. The authors argue that depicting these actions as purely entrepreneurial philanthropy or implicit corporate social responsibility fails to capture the strategic dimension of businesses. Ingenio Manuelita implemented a multifaceted approach, comprising charity, providing public goods and increasing wages and social welfare for its employees and communities. The analysis contributes to understanding philanthropy as a practice that arises from the ongoing interaction between the requests formulated by close stakeholders and board members’ willingness, which nonetheless privileges the paternalistic predispositions of the family business board members and systematically reflects strategic business concerns.

Originality/value

The primary contribution of this research is its analysis and explanation of how philanthropic decisions changed within family businesses at the beginning of the 20th century. Specifically, the study proposes that philanthropy in the early 20th century was driven by strategic rationality, in contrast with the paternalistic and charity orientations that characterized philanthropical practices in the 19th century. This work addresses a notable gap in business history literature, which has not adequately explained the emergence and routinization of social responsibility actions. Furthermore, the authors propose the concept of strategic philanthropy to understand the origins of modern social responsibilities of family businesses in Latin America, offering a complementary approach to the paternalist, charity-doing-good hypothesis in traditional (family) business historiography that undervalues the strategic motivations.
Can algorithms ignite the flame of thriving? Exploring how and when gig workers’ perceived algorithmic control leads to thriving at work
Authors: Shi Yunsheng , Yu Haibo , Gao Lei , Yang Muchuan , Song Shanghao
Published: November 2024

Purpose

With the rapid growth of the gig economy worldwide, gig workers’ perceived algorithmic control has been proven to have a crucial impact on the service performance, well-being and mental health of gig workers. However, the literature suggests that gig workers’ perceived algorithmic control may be a double-edged sword. The purpose of this research is to explore how the perceived algorithmic control of gig workers can accelerate thriving at work.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the model of proactive motivation and work design literature, a three-wave survey was employed, yielding 281 completed responses. The structural equation modeling method was used to test the theoretical hypothesis.

Findings

The results indicate that gig workers’ perceived algorithmic control has positive and indirect effects on thriving at work through the mediating role of job crafting. In addition, job autonomy can moderate the mediated relationship; specifically, when job autonomy is high, this mediated relationship will be stronger.

Practical implications

The health and well-being of gig workers is a concern around the world. The findings provide insights for service platform enterprises and gig workers.

Originality/value

Perceived algorithmic control is critical to mental health and positive work experiences during a gig worker’s service process. However, the current literature focuses more on the negative aspects of algorithmic control. This paper provides a comprehensive research agenda for how to accelerate thriving at work for gig workers.
Understanding the importance of therapeutic interventions to support families experiencing child-to-parent abuse: process evaluation insight from the parallel lives programme
Authors: Morgan Gemma , Janes Joe
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the findings from the process evaluation of the Parallel Lives Programme (PLP), a child-to-parent abuse (CPA) prevention programme developed by the Media Academy Cymru in South Wales, UK. Whilst there has been a growing body of research examining CPA, empirical insight into interventions that support families experiencing CPA (including the children who use violence, their parent(s), siblings and wider family members) is lacking.

Design/methodology/approach

A process evaluation was used to examine the design and delivery of PLP from the perspective of the programme staff and the families who had completed the intervention. Several methods were used, including semi-structured interviews, online surveys, overt observations and file reviews. Forty-two people participated in the evaluation, including 6 practitioners, 19 parents and 17 children.

Findings

The findings highlight the need for specialised support/interventions for families that prioritise “children first”, relationship-focused, strength-based practices.

Originality/value

The study centres the experiences and voices of the parents and children who experience CPA and the practitioners who deliver support. Historically, these pivotal voices have been missing from practice and policy developments. The implications of this research extend beyond Wales, and it provides research, policy and practice recommendations aimed at addressing CPA in a therapeutic, non-punitive and responsive manner.
Unlocking resilience and performance: the dynamic impact of collaborative social media integration in operations, marketing and sales
Authors: Cartwright Severina , Um Juneho , Davies Iain
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to theoretically hypothesise and empirically explore the relationships between operations and supply chain management (O&SCM) and marketing/sales (OMS) collaboration, social media (SM) usage, organisational resilience and performance. This paper considers how collaboration through SM can enhance organisational resilience capability and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted among 395 organisations in the UK. Structural equation modelling was applied to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The empirical findings of this study support the significant mediating role of O&SCM–OMS collaborative activities through internal and external SM for better organisational resilience, capability, cost efficiency, customer-focused and business performance. This also extends to exploring differences based on product versus service industries.

Originality/value

Through empirical research, the findings contribute to the theoretical development and managerial guidance on O&SCM–OMS collaboration and resilience capability by emphasising the strategic deployment of SM across functions through the lens of contingency theory and resource-based view.
Nitrate inhibition of germination in Ericaceae relates to seed size and mycoheterotrophy
Authors: Figura Tomáš , Tylová Edita , Matsuda Yosuke , Janoušková Martina , Ponert Jan
Published: November 2024

Nitrate is a well‐known regulator of several processes in plants, including seed germination. It generally induces germination, but its effect is species‐specific, and germination of some species is even inhibited. It is not clear what drives these differences.

Nevertheless, it is striking that the germination of initially mycoheterotrophic orchids is generally inhibited by nitrate, indicating that this may be an adaptive trait allowing the seeds to detect sites with low nutrient availability, favourable for mycoheterotrophic plants. Whether this unusual negative response to nitrate is a general feature of mycoheterotrophic plant germination remains unknown.

We focused on the family Ericaceae, which contains lineages that are either fully or initially mycoheterotrophic together with autotrophic ones, and we tested the germination response of selected species to nitrate.

We found high variability in the germination responses even within members of this family. Fully and initially mycoheterotrophic species reacted more negatively to nitrate compared to autotrophic species. However, the species responses to nitrate also strongly correlated with seed dimensions. As a control, we also tested responses to another common nitrogen form, ammonium ion, but these showed little or no correlations with the tested predictors indicating that the observed germination responses are specific to nitrate.

Two factors may be responsible for the negative response of mycoheterotrophic species of both Ericaceae and orchids to nitrate: seed size and the mode of carbon acquisition (mycoheterotrophy); nevertheless, both factors are closely linked. Thus, mycoheterotrophic plants in general, which nearly all produce tiny dust seeds, are likely to be negatively affected by nitrate.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Superheated steam technology: Recent developments and applications in food industries
Authors: Zhang Huang , Yu Feiying , Yi Junjie , Xu Xueming , Ma Yongshuai
Published: November 2024

Studies focused on superheated steam technology in the field of food processing have progressed rapidly over the past several decades, and this can be attributed to its remarkable heat transfer efficiency, energy‐saving benefits, and environmentally friendly characteristics when compared to those of conventional thermal processing methods. Consequently, superheated steam technology holds great promise for a wider range of applications in the food industry. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the use of superheated steam technology in food processing and its impact on food quality, texture, and microbiological safety. Superheated steam is an effective thermal processing medium for tasks such as food drying, microbial decontamination, reducing the formation of toxic compounds, and enhancing the overall food quality. During superheated steam processing, the products exhibit improved flavor, color, and texture, heightened safety, and better retention of nutritional and bioactive ingredients. Additionally, the limitations and future development trends of superheated steam technology are discussed. Although the commercial adoption of superheated steam technology is still in its early stages, recent advancements suggest a promising future for its integration into the food industry.
Factors associated with dementia among older people in Malaysia: Findings from National Health and Morbidity Survey
Authors: Nasaruddin Nur Hamizah , Ganapathy Shubash Shander , Tham Sin Wan
Published: November 2024

Objective

To identify factors associated with dementia among older people in Malaysia.

Methods

This study used data from a nationwide cross‐sectional survey in Malaysia. Participants involved were older people aged 60 years and above. Data collected were on dementia risk factors as well as dementia screening. Dementia screening was done using the Identification and Intervention for Dementia in Elderly Africans cognitive screening tool. Univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression were carried out to determine the factors associated with dementia.

Results

There were 3774 participants involved in this study. Multiple logistic regression showed factors associated with dementia among older people were those aged 70 years and above, Indian ethnic group, being single, primary or no formal education, as well as those with hypertension. Interestingly, our findings also showed that older people with hypercholesterolemia have lower odds of having dementia.

Conclusions

Multiple factors were associated with dementia in Malaysia, highlighting the need to implement multiple interventions strategies, by taking a lifetime approach emphasizing education, physical as well as social aspects.
A Comparative Analysis of Neurological Soft Signs and Emotional Intelligence in Rapid Cycling and Non‐Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Yingying Feng , Bo Yang , Jun Zhao
Published: November 2024

Background

Rapid cycling (RC) is a special subtype of bipolar disorder (BD). Previous studies have rarely involved the investigation of neurological soft signs (NSS) and emotional intelligence (EI) in rapid cycling patients.

Object

This study aims to compare the differences in NSS and EI between patients with RC and non‐rapid cycling (NRC) in BD.

Methods

The Cambridge Neurological Inventory and The Mayer–Salovey–Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test were used to assess the NSS and EI levels of euthymic patients with BD and healthy controls (HC). Patients were divided into RC and NRC groups.

Results

In terms of NSS, both the RC and NRC groups scored significantly higher than the HC group in the Motor coordination subdomain and total scores. In the Sensory integration subdomain, there was a significant trend of RC group scoring higher than the NRC group, which in turn scored higher than the HC group. In terms of EI, there was a trend of RC group scoring lower than the NRC group, which scored lower than the HC group in the understanding emotions subdomain and MSCEIT total score. In the managing emotions subdomain, the RC group scored lower than the HC group.

Conclusion

Compared to the NRC group, the RC group exhibited higher NSS levels, mainly manifesting in more severe sensory integration impairment. The RC group scored lower in EI, primarily reflected in understanding and managing emotions, and the managing emotions subdomain may serve as a more sensitive indicator to distinguish between the two groups.
Leptospiral infection in domestic mares in North Queensland
Authors: Alayil AL , Horwood PF , Gummow B , Picard JA , Joone CJ
Published: November 2024

Leptospira species are found worldwide, favouring tropical regions, and infect a wide range of animal species. Although renal persistence in infected individuals and excretion in urine is thought to be the primary mechanism of disease transmission, recent reports have suggested that persistence in the reproductive tract may be a feature in certain species, including the horse. The aim of this study was to investigate leptospiral infection, particularly within the reproductive tract, in healthy, non‐breeding mares. Serum and endometrial swab samples were collected from 50 mares from the James Cook University Teaching Animal Herd, as well as, where possible, free‐catch urine (n = 19). Sera were screened for antibodies to 24 Leptospira serovars, using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Endometrial and urine samples underwent real‐time PCR testing, targeting the leptospiral rrs gene. Overall, the seroprevalence of leptospirosis was 48% (95% CI: 34%–62%), with serovars Arborea, Bratislava and Australis detected most frequently. PCR positive results were obtained from 1 of 50 (2%) endometrial swabs and 2 of 19 (11%) urine samples. This is the first report of serovar Bratislava in horses in Australia.
GPNMB is a novel binding partner of FGFR1 that affects tumorigenic potential through AKT phosphorylation in TNBC
Authors: Elhinnawi Manar A. , Okita Yukari , Shigematsu Katsunobu , Abdelaziz Mohammed , Shiratani Rie , Kawanishi Kunio , Hengphasatporn Kowit , Dang Cao Thuy Linh , Shigeta Yasuteru , Kato Mitsuyasu
Published: November 2024

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease and is one of the most prevalent cancers in women. Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a relatively aggressive subtype of breast cancer, which is difficult to treat. Glycoprotein nonmetastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) is a type I transmembrane protein that is overexpressed in various types of cancers, including breast cancer, especially TNBC. In this study, bioinformatic analyses revealed enhanced fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) signaling in patients with invasive breast cancer, and the GPNMBhigh/FGFR1high group exhibited a lower probability of relapse‐free survival (RFS) than the GPNMBlow/FGFR1low group. Additionally, we observed that GPNMB and FGFR1 were essential for sphere formation, cellular migration, and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐like changes in TNBC cells. To explore the mutual interaction between these two molecules, we conducted in silico protein–protein docking studies and molecular dynamics simulations. The results revealed that GPNMB isoform b exhibits high binding affinity for FGFR1 isoform c (FGFR1c), which correlates with cancer aggressiveness. We also confirmed the interaction between GPNMB and FGFR1 in TNBC cells. Furthermore, our study demonstrated that GPNMB is essential for AKT phosphorylation at T308 following FGF2 stimulation, resulting in high affinity for FGFR1c. Inhibition of AKT phosphorylation substantially reduces the tumorigenic potential of TNBC cells.
Hepatic lipogenesis marked by GCKR‐modulated triglycerides increases serum FGF21 in children/teens with obesity
Authors: Maffeis Claudio , Morandi Anita , Zusi Chiara , Olivieri Francesca , Fornari Elena , Cavarzere Paolo , Piona Claudia , Corradi Massimiliano , Emiliani Federica , Da Ros Alessandro , Berni Canani Roberto , Mantovani Alessandro , Targher Giovanni
Published: November 2024

Aims

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) decreases hepatic lipogenesis in animal models, and FGF21 analogues decrease serum triglycerides (TG) in adults in phase‐2 trials. On the other hand, serum FGF21 is associated with higher TG in observational studies of people with obesity, raising a sort of paradox. We tested the hypothesis that FGF21 is induced by TG in youth with obesity, as a compensatory mechanism.

Materials and Methods

We recruited 159 children/adolescents with obesity (80 males, 12.7 ± 2.1 years). Besides serum FGF21 and lipid dosages, we genotyped the Pro446Leu variant at glucokinase regulator (GCKR) as a known marker of genetically increased hepatic de novo lipogenesis, and we used it as an instrumental variable to establish a cause‐and‐effect relationship between FGF21 and TG, according to a Mendelian randomization analysis.

Results

The Pro446Leu variant increased circulating TG (β = +0.35, p < 0.001), which was positively associated with circulating FGF21 (β = +0.42, p < 0.001). The Pro446Leu variant increased FGF‐21 (β = +0.14, p = 0.031) with the expected slope (β‐coefficient) in case of association entirely mediated by TG: 0.35 (slope between Pro446Ala and TG) × 0.42 (slope between TG and FGF21) = 0.14.

Conclusions

Hepatic lipogenesis, marked by GCKR‐modulated triglycerides, is significantly associated with increased serum FGF‐21 in children/adolescents with obesity.
Role of the liver in the sustained normalisation of A1c over 2 years following short‐term insulin therapy in early type 2 diabetes
Authors: Wu Andrew , Pu Jiajie , Emery Alexandra , Harris Stewart B. , Reichert Sonja M. , Gerstein Hertzel C. , McInnes Natalia , Kramer Caroline K. , Zinman Bernard , Retnakaran Ravi
Published: November 2024

Aims

When administered in early type 2 diabetes (T2DM), the strategy of ‘induction’ with short‐term intensive insulin therapy (IIT) followed by ‘maintenance’ with metformin thereafter can yield outstanding glycaemic control, with some patients achieving A1c in the normal range of its assay. We thus sought to identify determinants of sustained normalisation of A1c in response to this treatment strategy.

Materials and Methods

In this study, adults with T2DM of mean duration 1.7 ± 1.4 years received induction IIT (glargine, lispro) for 3 weeks, followed by metformin maintenance either with or without periodic 2‐week courses of IIT every 3 months for 2 years. Sustained glycaemic normalisation was defined by A1c <6.0% at 2 years.

Results

Of 101 participants, 26 achieved A1c <6.0% at 2 years. At baseline, these individuals had lower A1c and fasting glucose than the other participants, along with better beta‐cell function. During maintenance therapy from 3 weeks to 2 years, they had greater reduction of adiposity (body mass index: p = 0.02; waist circumference: p = 0.02), hepatic insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR: p = 0.02) and ALT (p = 0.005), coupled with relative stabilisation of beta‐cell function and glycaemia. On logistic regression analyses, significant independent predictors of normalisation of A1c at 2 years were baseline A1c (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.01 [95% CI 0.001–0.16], p = 0.001) and the changes in waist circumference (aOR = 0.77 [0.63–0.94], p = 0.012) and ALT (aOR = 0.90 [0.82–0.98], p = 0.019) during maintenance therapy from 3 weeks to 2 years.

Conclusions

While lower baseline A1c and greater reduction in central adiposity predicted A1c <6.0% at 2 years as anticipated, the emergence of greater reduction in ALT as a concomitant determinant highlights the role of the liver in the achievement of sustained glycaemic normalisation.
Multimodality Imaging for Transcatheter Tricuspid Regurgitation Interventions: Novel Approaches to the Forgotten Valve
Authors: Coraducci Francesca , Barbarossa Alessandro , Lofiego Carla , Vagnarelli Fabio , Schicchi Nicolo , Fogante Marco , Piva Tommaso , Capestro Filippo , Casella Michela , Di Eusanio Marco , Guerra Federico , Dello Russo Antonio
Published: November 2024

Tricuspid regurgitation (TR) poses a significant healthcare burden and is a major concern for patients who experience debilitating symptoms and face a poorer prognosis. Cardiologists are showing renewed interest in TR, as the previous belief that it was merely a bystander of left‐sided heart disease has evolved. As a result, more transcatheter techniques addressing TR are emerging. Although a clear impact on mortality from these transcatheter tricuspid valve interventions (TTVI) has not yet been demonstrated, the improvement in symptoms and quality of life for patients is substantial, leading to increased use of these procedures in clinical practice. In this review, we focus on multimodality imaging as an essential tool for quantifying TR severity, assessing right ventricular (RV) function, understanding the underlying mechanisms, selecting the appropriate intervention, and ensuring thorough and accurate preprocedural planning to minimize complications.
Soil pH: Techniques, challenges and insights from a global dataset
Authors: Mosley Luke M. , Rengasamy Pichu , Fitzpatrick Rob
Published: November 2024

Soil pH is a critical parameter influencing numerous soil properties including nutrient cycling, microbial activity, inorganic carbon and metal speciation and criteria for classifying acid sulfate soils and soils with reactive aluminium (Podzols and Andosols). Accurate measurement of soil pH is essential for effective soil assessment, management and crop production. This review of soil pH focuses on techniques and challenges for measurement and utilises insights from a comprehensive global soil dataset (n = 655,336). Soil pH has a global average of 6.36 with considerable regional variability. A Random Forest model of the global dataset identified total carbonate content, rainfall, evaporation, clay and organic carbon content as key drivers of soil pH (R2 = 0.77, mean absolute error = 0.46 pH units). The advantages and limitations of various soil pH measurement methods (e.g., glass and solid‐state electrodes, colorimetric and spectrophotometric methods, infrared spectroscopy, remote sensing and specialised field assessment methods) are discussed. Care should be taken in choosing appropriate pH measurement techniques depending on the purpose of the measurement and nature of the soils. The use of electrolytes (e.g., CaCl2 and KCl) introduces variable changes in measured pH and, on average globally, pH measured in a 1:5 soil:0.01 M CaCl2 extract is ~0.7 pH units lower than that measured in a 1:5 soil suspension. Although the use of electrolytes can help stabilise pH measurements in low ionic strength soils, their use requires careful consideration, as they do not eliminate all seasonal variability (which may also be important to assess) and they can introduce large pH perturbations in sodic‐alkaline and acid sulfate soils. Varying soil‐to‐solution ratios have less influence on resultant pH values than electrolytes however the measurements at low soil‐to‐solution ratios (e.g., 1:1 soil:water) are preferable for accuracy. Perturbations from field pH conditions due to CO2 outgassing and oxidation are likely when wet soils, acid sulfate soils and/or sub‐soils are measured in the laboratory. These findings underscore the need for improved field measurement technology and further research on the measurement protocols to ensure accurate and reliable soil pH data, which are crucial for optimising agricultural practices and environmental management.
Intelligent Crack Detection in Infrastructure Using Computer Vision at the Edge
Authors: Rizia Mst. Mousumi , Reyes‐Munoz Julio A. , Ortega Angel G. , Choudhuri Ahsan , Flores‐Abad Angel
Published: November 2024

To fulfil the demands of the industry in autonomous intelligent inspection, innovative frameworks that allow Convolutional Neural Networks to run at the edge in real‐time are required. This paper proposes an end‐to‐end approach and system to enable crack detection onboard a customised embedded system. In order to make possible the deployment and execution on edge, this work develops a dataset by combining new and existing images, it introduces a quantization approach that includes inference optimization, memory reuse, and freezing layers. Real‐time, onsite results from aerial and hand‐held setup images of industrial environments show that the system is capable of identifying and localiszing cracks within the field of view of the camera with a mean average precision (mAP) of 98.44% and at ~2.5 frames per second with real‐time inference. Therefore, it is evidenced that, despite using a full model, the introduced model customization improved the mAP by ~8% with respect to lighter state‐of‐the‐art models, and the quantization technique led to a model inference two times faster. The proposed intelligent and autonomous approach advances common offline inspection techniques to enable on‐site, artificial intelligence‐based inspection systems, which also aid in reducing human errors and enhance safety conditions by automatically performing defect‐recognition in tight and difficult‐to‐reach spots.
Flame‐impingement‐induced superhydrophilicity of soda‐lime‐silica glass surface
Authors: Roy Barsheek , Schmidt Anne , Rosin Andreas , Gerdes Thorsten
Published: November 2024

The importance of superhydrophilicity of glass surfaces lies in their self‐cleaning abilities. The need for antifogging characteristics of soda‐lime‐silica (SLS‐) based window glasses requires feasible solutions. Superhydrophilicity is generally achieved by textured surfaces with suitable features or any chemical modification including thin films. Fabrication of textured surfaces usually involves sophisticated facilities that are often expensive. This paper reveals a novel approach to achieving superhydrophilic SLS surfaces by flame‐impingement. The chemical energy of methane gas was converted into thermal energy by a flame torch to reach temperatures just above the softening point of SLS glass. The glass surface was exposed to the flame at a distance of around 100 mm for 10 s. The surface was transformed into a superhydrophilic state with a static contact angle of nearly zero after the treatment. This property was remarkably retained on exposure of the surface to the ambient atmosphere for 3 years of aging. The subsurface structural modifications accountable for the alteration in wetting behavior by the influence of flame‐impingement were investigated. High‐resolution X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the O1s spectral line evidenced the repolymerization of vicinal silanols into bridging oxygens (BOs), accompanied by the loss of hydrous species (SiOH/H2O) in the near‐surface region. The repolymerized BOs acted as adsorption sites of water molecules to promote superhydrophilicity. Atomic force microscopy exhibited the conversion of an open silica tetrahedral network with nonbridging oxygens into closed rings. The high surface energy of the residual surface nanostructure at the solid/vapor interface was accountable for the superhydrophilicity.
Characteristics of Nurse Managers’ Conflict Management Competency. A Systematic Review
Authors: González‐García Alberto , Pinto‐Carral Arrate , Marqués‐Sánchez Pilar , Quiroga‐Sánchez Enedina , Bermejo‐Martínez David , Pérez‐González Silvia
Published: November 2024

Aim(s)

To identify and describe the characteristics that constitute a nurse manager's conflict management competency.

Design

This study is a systematic review conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024542605).

Data Sources

A systematic search was conducted in Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed databases, covering literature published from 1 January 2014 to 1 April 2024.

Results

This review included 14 studies selected from an initial pool of 86 records. From the included articles, 71 characteristics associated with nurse manager conflict management competency were identified and categorised into seven distinct characteristics: Collaborative resolution (19.72%), collaborative support (18.31%), balanced compromise (14.08%), conflict avoidance (14.08%), supportive accommodation (14.08%), assertive dominance (12.68%) and leadership and resilience in conflict management (7.04%). The most frequent conflicts were interpersonal conflicts (22.22%), resource allocation issues (20.00%) and conflicts between personal values and organisational goals (17.78%).

Conclusions

This review highlights the importance of developing characteristics, such as collaborative resolution, collaborative support and balanced compromise, for effective conflict management by nurse managers. Addressing interpersonal conflicts and aligning personal values with organisational goals is essential for maintaining team cohesion and reducing stress. Ethical leadership and emotional intelligence are crucial for managing conflicts and improving the work environment. Forward‐looking healthcare organisations should prioritise the development of conflict management competencies to create healthy and efficient work environments capable of facing disruptive changes, such as those brought about by artificial intelligence.

Impact

The characterisation of conflict management competency allows the creation of simulated scenarios that are free of associated risks. Additionally, the findings facilitate a comprehensive analysis of how conflict management competency influences leadership competency and ethical principles in nursing teams. This is particularly relevant in the context of profound and disruptive change.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public involvement.