bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pain and associated functional impairment in the Danish general population: the role of mental well-being
Authors: Santini Ziggi Ivan , Ekholm Ola , Koyanagi Ai , Stewart-Brown Sarah , Nielsen Line , Meilstrup Charlotte , Koushede Vibeke , Thygesen Lau Caspar
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Prior research on relations between mental health and pain has focused on negative mental health aspects (e.g. depression), while the literature is scarce in terms of positive aspects, such as mental well-being. This study aims to investigate prospective associations of mental well-being at baseline with pain and functional impairment due to pain in the following year.

Design/methodology/approach

Data stem from a Danish nationally representative survey of 5,000 adults (aged 15+) conducted in 2019 and 2020, which was linked to register data. The Short Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale was used to assess mental well-being, both continuously (range 7–35) and categorically (low, moderate, high). Logistic regressions were conducted to assess associations between mental well-being in 2019 and pain and functional impairment due to pain (among those reporting any pain) in 2020.

Findings

In the fully adjusted models, each point increase in mental well-being was inversely associated with pain (OR = 0.97, 95%CI 0.95–0.99) and functional impairment due to pain (OR = 0.96, 95%CI 0.94–0.99). As compared to low mental well-being, moderate mental well-being was associated with an OR of 0.76 (95%CI 0.58–0.99) for pain and an OR of 0.63 (95%CI 0.46–0.87) of functional impairment due to pain, while high mental well-being was associated with an OR of 0.56 (95%CI 0.40–0.77) for pain and an OR of 0.53 (95%CI 0.34–0.79) for functional impairment due to pain.

Originality/value

Higher mental well-being levels may be protective against pain and functional impairment due to pain. Wider mental health promotion may be considered to prevent pain and associated functional impairments in the general population.
Perpetrators' perspective on cyberbullying: a qualitative systematic review with bibliometric analysis
Authors: Bansal Suhans , Garg Naval , Singh Jagvinder
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Cyberbullying has become one of the reasons behind the increase in psychological and medical problems. A need to prevent recurrences of cyberbullying incidents and discourage bullies from further bullying the victims has risen. This problem has attracted the attention of all stakeholders across the globe. Various researchers have developed theories and interventions to detect and stop bullying behavior. Previously, researchers focused on helping victims, but as the times have changed, so has the focus of researchers. This study aims to analyze scientific research articles and review papers to understand the development of the knowledge base on the topic.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzes the performance of literature on cyberbullying perpetration (CBP) using the widely accepted bibliometric analysis techniques: performance analysis and science mapping. The study is based on a dataset extracted from the Web of Science database. Initially, 2,792 articles between 2007 and 2022 were retrieved, which were filtered down to 441. The filter was based on various criteria, but primarily on CBP. VOSViewer and MS Excel were used to analyze the data. In addition, VOSViewer was used to create “bibliometric citations, co-citations, and co-word maps.”

Findings

The findings include publication and citation quantum and trends, the top 20 active countries, the most significant research articles and leading journals in this domain. Major themes or clusters identified were “Cyberbullying and victim behavior,” bullying behavior, adolescents and intervention, “cyberbullying associations,” and “cyberbullying personality associations.”

Originality/value

The study is unique because it analyses research articles based on cyberbullies, whereas past studies explored only the victims' side. Further, the present study used the Web of Science database, whereas most studies use the Scopus database.
The role of headquarters in managing coopetition within MNCs: a tale of two paradoxes
Authors: Schweizer Roger , Lagerström Katarina , Leite Emilene , Pahlberg Cecilia
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the discussion on how multinational company (MNC) headquarters (HQs) can manage the existing coopetition paradox to ensure innovation within the MNC. In contrast to the rather scarce previous research, the authors argue that HQ needs to solve the coopetition paradox under the sway of a parenting paradox. Hence, HQ faces a dual paradox.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the literature on HQ’s role during MNCs’ innovation processes, this conceptual paper revisits the previously suggested HQ measures to enable coopetition among subsidiaries. By applying a sheer ignorance perspective, the authors contribute with a more nuanced understanding of the HQ’s role in innovation activities.

Findings

The article identifies four challenges as the HQ faces a parenting paradox that hinders its ability to solve the coopetition paradox: context specificity of subsidiaries’ innovation work, normative expectations of subsidiary managers, potential opportunistic behavior of HQ manager and HQ underestimation of needed resources. The article suggests that HQ needs to become more informed and preferably even embedded in the local innovation networks of its most important subsidiaries and that coopetition should not be managed solely on an HQ level.

Originality/value

Advocating a sheer ignorance perspective, the article pioneers in discussing the role that HQ plays in managing coopetition among subsidiaries in innovation activities.
Local communities at the heart of tourism development: the Azores tourism strategy 2030
Authors: Cabral Berta
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to present the Azores tourism strategy and outline how local communities are centered at the heart of tourism development.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyzes the development of tourism in the Azores Archipelago and how it contributes to value creation and retention, as well as job creation. It explores the role of local communities in the tourism experience, and the strategic options on the 2030 horizon.

Findings

Tourism has become a main driver for economic growth and social prosperity in the Azores, with sustainability acting as a definitive driver of tourism development. However, to fully leverage the potential of tourism to impact local communities and the regional economy, it is of the utmost importance to stimulate the dispersal of inbound tourism across the nine islands. This will help to spread out value and job creation, help in reducing pressure on fragile resources and at the same time, mitigate seasonality and provide more stable income throughout the year.

Originality/value

A new approach to tourism development is proposed, where the success of tourism is to be measured by the quality of the tourist experience and the benefits that tourism adds to the Azores, assigning the local community with a central role in decision-making processes related to tourism. To reinforce the focus on the sustainable development of the territory, anchored on its certification as a sustainable tourist destination, the first archipelago in the world with this distinction, a strong focus on Nature (Land and Sea), is adopted as the main priority. Communication with the end consumer is strongly proposed as a way of stimulating the desire to travel, supported by the positioning proposed in the new tourism strategy (PEMTA, 2030) – Azores: Nine islands, the experience of a lifetime.
MAC in India: a rocky road or smooth ride
Authors: Srivastava Shefali , Singh Bindu
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Known for its motto “All Ages, All Races, All Genders,” MAC cosmetics reflects the brand’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity. It has been at the forefront of promoting a wide range of skin tones, ethnicities and gender identities in the beauty industry. If you have ever wondered about the secret behind the success of this mega-brand in the beauty industry, this case study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the company’s history from its early days to the present and discusses the factors that might build or ruin a brand. Moreover, players in the industry will need to adapt to changing consumer preferences, focus on sustainability and leverage digital technologies to remain relevant and capture market opportunities. Therefore, would it be wise for MAC cosmetics to take forward their expansion plans in India, and what is the motivation behind the expansion? Alternatively, would the implementation of a proactive strategy for product innovation, combined with a stronger presence, result in a more viable and sustainable proposition?

Design/methodology/approach

This study relies on online resources for data collection. The data was collected from the secondary sources in the month of November and December 2022. Moreover, the information provided in the case study was validated and supplemented via using different websites, including the company’s website and social media profiles.

Findings

The commitment shown and the roles played will have a lasting impact on the society. Additionally, student will be able to learn when and how to seize opportunities, as well as how to manage obstacles that will arise in their entrepreneurial journey. Through this case study, they will be able to learn a variety of business strategies that can be implemented in emerging markets. The conclusion of the study provides the obstacles and hurdles faced by the industry in expanding in the Indian market. The potential solutions were made through providing information for the students, academicians, entrepreneurs and others to compete in the Indian market situation.

Originality/value

This is a real-world case that provides the audience with first-hand experience to comprehend the event and apply their knowledge to form a conclusion and is also effective for decision-making in the dynamic environment of the present day. However, the authors provide a comprehensive overview of the company’s history from its early days to the present and discuss the factors that might build or ruin a brand.
Loss functions in machine learning for seismic random noise attenuation
Authors: Jun Hyunggu , Kim Han‐Joon
Published: October 2023

Seismic random noise is one of the main factors that degrade the quality of seismic data. Therefore, seismic random noise attenuation should be performed appropriately through several stages during seismic data processing, and this requires sufficient experience and knowledge because the proper hyperparameters need to be determined based on the features of the noise in the target seismic data. Recently, machine learning–based seismic noise attenuation has been widely studied because it provides suitable results by learning noise features from noisy data, unlike conventional physics‐based approaches. There are many important factors in machine learning, and, here, we focus on the loss functions of machine learning in terms of seismic random noise attenuation. The most widely used loss function is l2, but we train a model with various kinds of single and multiple loss functions and attenuate seismic random noise. We analyse the efficiency of loss functions by comparing the noise‐attenuated results of synthetic and field seismic data qualitatively and quantitatively. Our analysis indicates that the multiple loss function with the l1 norm can be a proper choice for random noise suppression of seismic data.
Integrated community models: A framework combining multispecies data sources to estimate the status, trends and dynamics of biodiversity
Authors: Zipkin Elise F. , Doser Jeffrey W. , Davis Courtney L. , Leuenberger Wendy , Ayebare Samuel , Davis Kayla L.
Published: October 2023

Data deficiencies among rare or cryptic species preclude assessment of community‐level processes using many existing approaches, limiting our understanding of the trends and stressors for large numbers of species. Yet evaluating the dynamics of whole communities, not just common or charismatic species, is critical to understanding and the responses of biodiversity to ongoing environmental pressures.

A recent surge in both public science and government‐funded data collection efforts has led to a wealth of biodiversity data. However, these data collection programmes use a wide range of sampling protocols (from unstructured, opportunistic observations of wildlife to well‐structured, design‐based programmes) and record information at a variety of spatiotemporal scales. As a result, available biodiversity data vary substantially in quantity and information content, which must be carefully reconciled for meaningful ecological analysis.

Hierarchical modelling, including single‐species integrated models and hierarchical community models, has improved our ability to assess and predict biodiversity trends and processes. Here, we highlight the emerging ‘integrated community modelling’ framework that combines both data integration and community modelling to improve inferences on species‐ and community‐level dynamics.

We illustrate the framework with a series of worked examples. Our three case studies demonstrate how integrated community models can be used to extend the geographic scope when evaluating species distributions and community‐level richness patterns; discern population and community trends over time; and estimate demographic rates and population growth for communities of sympatric species. We implemented these worked examples using multiple software methods through the R platform via packages with formula‐based interfaces and through development of custom code in JAGS, NIMBLE and Stan.

Integrated community models provide an exciting approach to model biological and observational processes for multiple species using multiple data types and sources simultaneously, thus accounting for uncertainty and sampling error within a unified framework. By leveraging the combined benefits of both data integration and community modelling, integrated community models can produce valuable information about both common and rare species as well as community‐level dynamics, allowing for holistic evaluation of the effects of global change on biodiversity.
New Reproductive Technologies and Genetic Relatedness
Authors: Scott Rosamund
Published: October 2023

At the heart of the use of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) is the attempt to realise a commonly anticipated future – the opportunity, if desired, to create and raise a genetically related child. For some, existing ARTs cannot assist, yet upcoming ones such as in vitro derived gametes (IVGs) may do so. However, the desire for genetically related children is frequently critiqued in debates about new ARTs. Since most heterosexual couples can have such children without assistance, and same‐sex couples are equally likely to desire them, this is highly problematic. This article presents the moral and legal case for the legalisation of IVGs, if and when judged sufficiently safe. It analyses development of the concept of ‘treatment’ in relevant UK law; argues that it is reasonable (that is, not unreasonable) to value the project of procreative parenting, thereby refuting the arguments that there is a moral duty to adopt, or that the alternatives of adoption or donor conception should suffice; explores legal recognition of the ordinary place of reproduction in social life; and considers the implications of the rights to private and family life and to non‐discrimination, particularly under the European Convention on Human Rights, highlighting the disabling nature of infertility.
Technological innovations in environmental sustainability: A quantitative exploration of their impact on carbon dioxide emissions
Authors: Bozkaya Şeyma , Duran Mahmut Sami , Awan Ashar
Published: October 2023

The increasing concerns about climate change demand a more profound understanding of the elements influencing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, particularly in nations with high carbon footprints. This study embarks on a quantitative exploration of how renewable energy consumption, economic growth, and environmental technologies impact CO2 emissions across eight nations with the highest carbon emission levels. Leveraging annual data from the period 1990–2019, we undertake a meticulous empirical analysis to unearth the factors shaping the environmental quality in these countries. Our findings reveal that per capita income and environmental technologies wield a significant influence on CO2 emission levels. Delving further into causality relationships, we discern a fascinating bidirectional causal link between CO2 emissions and renewable energy consumption. In parallel, a similar bidirectional causality is spotted between renewable energy consumption and environmental technology. From CO2 emissions to environmental technology and GDP per capita to CO2 emissions and environmental technology, unidirectional causal links are also perceived. In light of these compelling results, we propose several policy recommendations aimed at promoting sustainability and fostering a healthier environmental future. Our research underscores the potential of renewable energy consumption and environmental technologies in mitigating carbon emissions and spurring a greener economy.
Combining multi‐omics analysis to identify host‐targeted targets for the control of Brucella infection
Authors: Yu Jiuwang , Yuan Hongwei , Guo Jiarong , Dong Zhiheng , Li Sha , Fu Quan , Aode Bilige , Baoyin Sachula , Bao Lidao , Wu Lan
Published: October 2023

Human infections caused by Brucella (called brucellosis) are among the most common zoonoses worldwide with an estimated 500,000 cases each year. Since chronic Brucella infections are extremely difficult to treat, there is an urgent need for more effective therapeutics. As a facultative intracellular bacterium, Brucella is strictly parasitic in the host cell. Here, we performed proteomic and transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses on Brucella infected patients, mice and cells that provided an extensive “map” of physiological changes in brucellosis patients and characterized the metabolic pathways essential to the response to infection, as well as the associated cellular response and molecular mechanisms. This is the first report utilizing multi‐omics analysis to investigate the global response of proteins and metabolites associated with Brucella infection, and the data can provide a comprehensive insight to understand the mechanism of Brucella infection. We demonstrated that Brucella increased nucleotide synthesis in the host, consistent with increased biomass requirement. We also identified IMPDH2, a key regulatory complex that controls nucleotide synthesis during Brucella infection. Pharmacological targeting of IMPDH2, the rate‐limiting enzyme in guanine nucleotide biosynthesis, efficiently inhibits B. abortus growth both in vitro and in vivo. Through screening a library of natural products, we identified oxymatrine, an alkaloid obtained primarily from Sophora roots, is a novel and selective IMPDH2 inhibitor. In further in vitro bacterial inhibition assays, oxymatrine effectively inhibited the growth of B. abortus, which was impaired by exogenous supplementation of guanosine, a salvage pathway of purine nucleotides. This moderately potent, structurally novel compound may provide clues for further design and development of efficient IMPDH2 inhibitors and also demonstrates the potential of natural compounds from plants against Brucella.
Qatar's foreign aid and political strategies in the Horn of Africa: The case of Somalia
Authors: Pericoli Altea , Donelli Federico
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this article is to analyse the relationship between Qatar's foreign policy and foreign aid in the Horn of Africa (HoA), with a particular focus on Somalia. Since the 2017 blockade, the HoA has become increasingly important to Qatar's foreign policy and aid efforts, intensifying political and economic competition with other Gulf players. This research describes Qatar's foreign policy strategies and tools in the HoA from 2011 to 2021, observing the evolution of humanitarian aid interventions in Somalia and the impact of Gulf competition in the country. The research aims to combine neoclassical realism with small‐state theory in the analysis of foreign aid, examining Qatari foreign aid interventions in Somalia as a foreign policy tool for exercising autonomy and as an outcome of the Qatari elites' decision‐making process.
Prenatal alcohol exposure promotes NLRP3 inflammasome‐dependent immune actions following morphine treatment and paradoxically prolongs nerve injury‐induced pathological pain in female mice
Authors: Noor Shahani , Sun Melody S. , Pasmay Andrea A. , Pritha Ariana N. , Ruffaner‐Hanson Chaselyn D. , Nysus Monique V. , Jimenez Diane C. , Murphy Minerva , Savage Daniel D. , Valenzuela C. Fernando , Milligan Erin D.
Published: October 2023

Background

Neuroimmune dysregulation from prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) may contribute to neurological deficits associated with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). PAE is a risk factor for developing peripheral immune and spinal glial sensitization and release of the proinflammatory cytokine IL‐1β, which lead to neuropathic pain (allodynia) from minor nerve injury. Although morphine acts on μ‐opioid receptors, it also activates immune receptors, TLR4, and the NLRP3 inflammasome that induces IL‐1β. We hypothesized that PAE induces NLRP3 sensitization by morphine following nerve injury in adult mice.

Methods

We used an established moderate PAE paradigm, in which adult PAE and non‐PAE control female mice were exposed to a minor sciatic nerve injury, and subsequent allodynia was measured using the von Frey fiber test. In control mice with standard sciatic damage or PAE mice with minor sciatic damage, the effects of the NLRP3 inhibitor, MCC950, were examined during chronic allodynia. Additionally, minor nerve‐injured mice were treated with morphine, with or without MCC950. In vitro studies examined the TLR4‐NLRP3‐dependent proinflammatory response of peripheral macrophages to morphine and/or lipopolysaccharide, with or without MCC950.

Results

Mice with standard sciatic damage or PAE mice with minor sciatic damage developed robust allodynia. Blocking NLRP3 activation fully reversed allodynia in both control and PAE mice. Morphine paradoxically prolonged allodynia in PAE mice, while control mice with minor nerve injury remained stably non‐allodynic. Allodynia resolved sooner in nerve‐injured PAE mice without morphine treatment than in morphine‐treated mice. MCC950 treatment significantly shortened allodynia in morphine‐treated PAE mice. Morphine potentiated IL‐1β release from TLR4‐activated PAE immune cells, while MCC950 treatment greatly reduced it.

Conclusions

In female mice, PAE prolongs allodynia following morphine treatment through NLRP3 activation. TLR4‐activated PAE immune cells showed enhanced IL‐1β release with morphine via NLRP3 actions. Similar studies are needed to examine the adverse impact of morphine in males with PAE. These results are predictive of adverse responses to opioid pain therapeutics in individuals with FASD.
Drivers of post‐fire resprouting success in restored Banksia woodlands
Authors: Cowan Ebony L. , Fontaine Joseph B. , Standish Rachel J. , Miller Ben P.
Published: October 2023

Disturbances can alter persistence trajectories of restored ecosystems. Resprouting is a common response of plants to disturbances such as fire or herbivory. Therefore, understanding a plant's resprouting response can inform successful restoration. We investigated patterns and drivers of resprouting following fire in fire‐prone Banksia woodlands restored after sand mining in the Mediterranean‐climate region of Western Australia. We applied experimental fire to samples of nine species with different resprouting types (rhizome, root crown, root sucker and lignotuber) across a 4‐ to 27‐year‐old restoration chronosequence. We investigated the influence of pre‐fire plant size, restoration age and soil conditions on resprouting success, defined by: (i) the probability of resprouting (measured ~5 months after fire), (ii) the probability of surviving the first summer and, (iii) vigour (both measured ~12 months post‐fire). We found that the probability of initial resprouting was high across most species, but summer survival was lower but comparable to that in other post‐mining restored ecosystems following fire. Generally, pre‐fire plant size did not influence probability of resprouting, while size and soil conditions were important for two species survival. Pre‐fire plant size was a significant predictor of vigour for all species with soil conditions influencing four species. Restoration age significantly influenced survival of three species. However, as our models explained low amounts of variation in probabilities of resprouting and survival (R2 = <0.11), other factors influencing resprouting success remain unidentified. Resprouting response to fire disturbance in restored Banksia woodlands are species and resprouter type specific, with plant size and soil conditions potentially more informative for understanding responses to disturbances than restoration age alone.
Can switches in disturbance type improve habitat for grassland birds in semi‐arid grasslands of South‐Eastern Australia?
Authors: Nugent Daniel T. , Baker‐Gabb David J. , Morgan John W.
Published: October 2023

Grasslands are one of the most endangered and degraded ecosystems globally. Switches in disturbance type can restore grassland function and improve conservation outcomes for fauna, but land‐use legacies can limit the capacity of biota to respond positively to shifts in disturbance type, making it difficult to predict ecological outcomes. In semi‐arid grasslands of South‐Eastern Australia, habitat for grassland birds is managed using livestock grazing, a practice that has continued for >150 years. It is unknown if outcomes for birds can be improved by a switch in disturbance type as alternatives to livestock grazing have not been explored. We compare the effects of status‐quo livestock grazing with alternative biomass management tools (no management, ‘crash’ grazing, planned fire) on birds, vegetation structure, and food resources using a BACI design across 3 years (2017–2019). We found crash grazing and fire produced more open, shorter grassy swards, with less exotic grass cover, compared to status‐quo grazing or disturbance exclusion. Preferred habitat structure for the critically endangered plains‐wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus) was maximized by status‐quo grazing. Grassland birds responded in opposing ways to a disturbance switch. Brown songlarks (Megalurus cruralis) and Horsfield's bushlarks (Mirafra javanica) responded positively to disturbance exclusion, while stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis) responded negatively to crash grazing. Australasian pipits (Anthus novaeseelandiae) were more frequent in response to status‐quo grazing. Our findings suggest that multiple disturbance types should be used if the aim is to promote the spectrum of vegetation structures and food sources required to support a diverse grassland bird community in semi‐arid grasslands of Australia.
Australia offers unique insight into the ecology of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: An opportunity not to be lost
Authors: Frew Adam , Aguilar‐Trigueros Carlos A.
Published: October 2023

Typified by ancient soils and unique assemblages of flora, Australia provides opportunities to expand our understanding of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Despite their ubiquity, key aspects of Australian AM fungal ecology remain buried due to our limited knowledge of their biogeography and their potential adaptation to Australia's environmental conditions. This knowledge gap is particularly extraordinary given that the characteristics of the Australian environment are likely to provide unique insights into AM fungal ecology and evolution. Extensive exploration of the diversity and distribution of AM fungi across the continent is overdue. In pursuit of this goal, ecologists should employ the most effective and pragmatic molecular approaches, while making use of well‐curated databases. We urge researchers to examine the biogeography of Australian AM fungi meaningfully, leveraging the distinctive attributes of Australian landscapes, such as the demographics of plant mycorrhizal types and the characteristic interplay with fire. Documenting AM fungal communities across Australia will not only provide unique insights into their ecology but is also pivotal to being able to incorporate these organisms into land management for conservation, restoration and sustainable agriculture.
Sonographer‐guided frozen embryo transfer vs ultrasound‐assisted frozen embryo transfer – A randomised controlled study
Authors: Koch Juliette , Redden Rebecca , Homan Gillian , Roberts Bronwen , Pacella‐Ince Leanne
Published: October 2023

Background

The use of ultrasound to guide placement of the embryo during in vitro fertilisation (IVF) is important, but there are times where a good image cannot be obtained. Having a trained sonographer perform the ultrasound may therefore improve the success of embryo transfer.

Aim

To determine whether the routine use of a sonographer to guide embryo transfer is superior to standard care.

Materials and Methods

Randomised, controlled, prospective clinical study in a private infertility clinic. There were 113 women aged <38 years undergoing frozen embryo transfer (donor egg/embryo excluded) who were randomised to sonographer‐guided embryo transfer or standard care (the doctor performs an ultrasound prior to embryo transfer and the patient holds the ultrasound probe). The primary outcome was visualisation of the air bubble, and secondary outcomes were distance of the air bubble from the fundal endometrium, pregnancy rate (gestational sac on ultrasound at seven weeks) and live birth rate.

Results

The bubble was visualised in 100% of embryo transfers with a sonographer compared to 83% in the ultrasound‐assisted group, and this was statistically significant (P < 0.01). No statistically significant differences were found in terms of distance from the fundal endometrium or in pregnancy rate and live birth rate.

Conclusion

Sonographer‐guided embryo transfer leads to statistically higher rates of visualisation of the air bubble compared to ultrasound‐assisted transfer.
Establishment of a children's Drugs and Therapeutics Committee to ensure evidence‐based and cost‐effective medical treatment for children
Authors: Holst Sara Sommer , Møller Camilla Holten , Vermehren Charlotte , Trolle Stine , Hansen Bente , Kirkedal Ann‐Britt Kiholm , Christensen Hanne Rolighed , Jacobsen Thorkild , Mathiasen René , Andersen Jón Þór Traerup , Gade Christina
Published: October 2023

The prevalence of undocumented medical treatments among children is a significant issue, as well as many EU countries lack access to newly developed children‐friendly medicines. Consequently, there is a pressing need for supplementary resources that can facilitate informed decision‐making regarding children's medication. We therefore aim to describe the process of establishing a children's Drug and Therapeutics Committee (cDTC), as well as the preparing and implementation of recommendations for children in the capital region of Denmark. Following the guidelines outlined by the World Health Organization, we established a cDTC, and recommendations for paediatric medication practice were constructed from assessments of medication use patterns among children in the capital region between 2019 and 2021. The recommendations were meticulously crafted based on evaluation of the current marketing authorization landscape and existing best available evidence. In 2019, the capital region established the first cDTC supported by expert councils and an editorial board. A total of 2429 purchase item numbers covering 1 222 846 defined daily doses and 592 088 purchased packages covering 10 200 000 defined daily doses were identified in the secondary and primary sectors, respectively. Three comprehensive lists covering recommendations for newborns and children were published between 2021 and 2020 totaling 331 recommended pharmaceutical products. The recommendations primarily intended for use in the secondary healthcare sector were implemented through the revision of 38 paediatric‐ and six neonatal product ranges throughout capital region. In conclusion, recommendation lists for children governed by a cDTC provide a rational auxiliary tool that can be immediately implemented in the clinic.
Phospholipid metabolic adaptation promotes survival of IDH2 mutant acute myeloid leukemia cells
Authors: Morishima Tatsuya , Takahashi Koichi , Chin Desmond Wai Loon , Wang Yuxin , Tokunaga Kenji , Arima Yuichiro , Matsuoka Masao , Suda Toshio , Takizawa Hitoshi
Published: October 2023

Genetic mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) gene that result in a pathological enzymatic activity to produce oncometabolite have been detected in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. While specific inhibitors that target mutant IDH enzymes and normalize intracellular oncometabolite level have been developed, refractoriness and resistance has been reported. Since acquisition of pathological enzymatic activity is accompanied by the abrogation of the crucial WT IDH enzymatic activity in IDH mutant cells, aberrant metabolism in IDH mutant cells can potentially persist even after the normalization of intracellular oncometabolite level. Comparisons of isogenic AML cell lines with and without IDH2 gene mutations revealed two mutually exclusive signalings for growth advantage of IDH2 mutant cells, STAT phosphorylation associated with intracellular oncometabolite level and phospholipid metabolic adaptation. The latter came to light after the oncometabolite normalization and increased the resistance of IDH2 mutant cells to arachidonic acid‐mediated apoptosis. The release of this metabolic adaptation by FDA‐approved anti‐inflammatory drugs targeting the metabolism of arachidonic acid could sensitize IDH2 mutant cells to apoptosis, resulting in their eradication in vitro and in vivo. Our findings will contribute to the development of alternative therapeutic options for IDH2 mutant AML patients who do not tolerate currently available therapies.
Millennial managers
Authors: Luu Ellie , Rubio Silvina
Published: October 2023

Research Question/Issue

This paper investigates whether and how millennial mutual fund managers differ from managers born in other generations in terms of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) orientation in portfolio choices and voting decisions.

Research Findings/Insights

We find that millennial mutual fund managers hold portfolios that are more ESG oriented than do managers from other generations, consistent with anecdotal evidence suggesting that millennials are more driven by purpose than profits. Our findings suggest that the observed relationship is stronger when managers have more discretion over portfolio choices, that is, in active funds and funds with lower flow‐performance sensitivity. Furthermore, we find that millennial managers respond more strongly to social movements by reallocating assets into more socially conscious firms. We also find that millennial managers are more supportive of environmental proposals when their outcome is contested.

Theoretical/Academic Implications

Our paper shows how cultural, political, and economic events, including social movements experienced by people of the same age cohort, shape preferences and beliefs and result in different investment strategies and voting among mutual fund managers. We also show how institutional constraints might limit managers' ability to impose their own preferences when investing or voting their shares.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

Millennials are increasingly replacing older generations in managerial roles and investing in the stock market due to wealth transfers from their parents. This study offers insights to policymakers and investors interested in understanding the drivers of ESG investment.
1070. Corydalispseudobarbisepala Fedde: Papaveraceae
Authors: Rankin David W. H. , Macartney Nicola
Published: October 2023

Corydalis pseudobarbisepalaFedde is described and illustrated. The species is at present known only from two mountains in west central Sichuan Province in the Republic of China, and has not been reported from its type location for 100 years.
‘It's kind of like weaning. I had to wean myself off of wine’: Navigating no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks as potential harm reduction tools and relapse triggers by women in recovery in the UK
Authors: Davey Claire
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Concerns have been raised that consumption of no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks by those who are in recovery could lead to a relapse to past drinking behaviours. However, little is known regarding how individuals use these products to substitute alcohol and support their sobriety.

Methods

This article draws on an ethnographic study of women's experiences of recovery within online sobriety communities in which semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 25 UK‐based women. The dataset was analysed and coded from a pragmatist feminist standpoint using a grounded theoretical approach to specifically address the research question: ‘How do women in recovery navigate the protective and risk factors associated with no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks through practices of consumption?’

Results

Women in recovery navigate no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks as potential harm‐reduction tools and relapse triggers by engaging in nuanced practices of substitution. Contrasting examples include direct substitution and temporary avoidance in early recovery.

Discussion and Conclusions

Substitution practices are informed by the temporality of participants' recovery journeys, the social situation, and the products. Participants selectively replicate and resist their former drinking practices to balance their perceived harm‐reduction benefits and relapse triggers of no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks. Important considerations are raised for those in recovery who may want to use no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks as a harm reduction tool, and for recovery modalities that promote them. It concludes with calls for more clarity regarding the definition and labelling of no‐ and low‐alcohol drinks, and for a greater understanding of their use across different recovery cultures.
Exploring the relationship between digital competence proficiency and student learning performance
Authors: Chaw Lee Yen , Tang Chun Meng
Published: October 2023

The increased use of digital technology in higher education requires university students to be digitally proficient. The main objective of this study is to examine the extent to which university students' proficiency in various digital competences could be helpful towards their learning performance. This study adopted DigComp 2.2 to design a data collection instrument for an online questionnaire survey and conducted data analysis on the valid 314 responses using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS‐SEM). The findings indicate that, with the exception of safety, the digital competence areas of information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, and problem solving were significant to student learning performance. The findings also revealed that students' current semester had no significant moderating effect on the relationships between their proficiency in digital competence areas and learning performance, with the exception of a relationship between information and data literacy and learning performance, as well as a relationship between problem solving and learning performance, between respondents in semesters 3 and 4, and between respondents in semesters 5 and 6, respectively. The findings contribute to a better understanding of DigComp 2.2's applicability in higher education and can be used by educational institutions and educators to design learning activities and formative assessments that can help students improve their digital competence proficiency.
Ontological insecurity of inattentiveness: Conceptualizing how risk management practices impact on patient recovery when admitted to an acute psychiatric hospital
Authors: Deering Kris , Wagstaff Chris , Williams Jo , Bermingham Ivor , Pawson Chris
Published: October 2023

Risk management which assesses and mitigates risks such as suicide and violence is under scrutiny, particularly within psychiatric inpatient settings. Restrictive practices, which result from risk assessment, such as observations, physical restraint and ward seclusion can impact negatively on patient recovery, hindering abilities to develop a meaningful life that emphasizes purpose, hope and autonomy, despite experiencing mental distress. Yet, less is known about the impact from the patient's perspective when first admitted to hospital, a period which among other reasons may come with increasing risk management practices owing to the clinical uncertainties about patient risks. In this grounded theory study, we explore the impact on recovery, interviewing 15 adult participants with patient experiences of being in an acute hospital. The main theme of the study, termed a core category with a grounded theory, was identified as “ontological insecurity of inattentiveness”. This highlighted a staff inattentiveness with involving patients with risk management and explaining the purposes of the practice, which raised insecurities about what was happening to the patients when admitted to hospital. Four subcategories support the core category; discounting the patients' experiences to gain a meaningful grasp of risk management, ambiguity about risk management rules, particularly the reasons around their use, forebodingness to the hospital environment and, management from afar, with patients feeling scrutinized from observations without a voice to offer different views. It is hoped these findings will add to the field of patient involvement in psychiatric inpatient settings, proposing attempts to raise understanding and inclusivity of risk management, starting when first admitted to hospital.
Seasonal Land‐Cover Regions of the United States
Authors: Loveland Thomas R. , Merchant James W. , Brown Jesslyn F. , Ohlen Donald O. , Reed Bradley C. , Olson Paul , Hutchinson John
Published: October 2023

Global‐change investigations have been hindered by deficiencies in the availability and quality of land‐cover data. The U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Nebraska‐Lincoln have collaborated on the development of a new approach to land‐cover characterization that attempts to address requirements of the global‐change research community and others interested in regional patterns of land cover. An experimental 1 ‐kilometer‐resolution database of land‐cover characteristics for the coterminous U.S. has been prepared to test and evaluate the approach. Using multidate Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) satellite data complemented by elevation, climate, ecoregions, and other digital spatial datasets, the authors define 152, seasonal land‐cover regions. The regionalization is based on a taxonomy of areas with respect to data on land cover, seasonality or phenology, and relative levels of primary production. The resulting database consists of descriptions of the vegetation, land cover, and seasonal, spectral, and site characteristics for each region. These data are used in the construction of an illustrative 1:7,500,000‐scaIe map of the seasonal land‐cover regions as well as of smaller‐scale maps portraying general land cover and seasonality. The seasonal land‐cover characteristics database can also be tailored to provide a broad range of other landscape parameters useful in national and global‐scale environmental modeling and assessment.
Yeast‐prepro‐alpha‐factor‐leader‐region‐directed synthesis and secretion of truncated human macrophage colony‐stimulating factor in the silkworm Bombyx mori
Authors: Qiu P. , Qin J. , Ding Y. , Zhu D.
Published: October 2023

Human macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (hM‐CSF) cDNA joined to the leader region of the precursor of the yeast mating pheromone alpha‐factor (MF alpha L) was expressed at high levels in BmN cells and in silkworm (Bombyx mori) larvae, using recombinant Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus, as a vector. The biological activity of rhM‐CSF detected in the haemolymph was 1 times 10(6) colony‐formation units/ml, approximately half of the expression level directed by the native signal peptide of hM‐CSF in silkworm larvae. The secreted rhM‐CSF was purified to homogeneity. N‐terminal analysis showed that the signal peptide had been removed, indicating that insect cells possess the enzymic activity necessary to cleave the pro‐alpha‐factor leader region from the fusion protein at the carboxy side of Lys‐Arg dibasic residues, which is the cleavage site recognized by KEX2 endopeptidase in yeast cells.
Development of a polymer‐enzyme immunoassay method and its application
Authors: Liu F. , FH Liu , RX Zhuo , Peng Y. , YZ Deng , Zeng Y.
Published: October 2023

Both poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) and poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide)‐antibody (PINP‐Ab)‐labelled enzyme adhered quickly and tightly to cellulose acetate/nitrate membrane either below (less efficiently) or above (more efficiently) the lower critical solution temperature, and the retention of PINP‐Ab on the membrane increased over 30‐fold when compared with the unconjugated Ab. These characteristics were used to develop a novel polymer‐enzyme‐linked immunoassay method: homogeneous antigen‐antibody immune‐complexation reaction and a heterogeneous separation process. By using a simple horseradish‐peroxidase‐labelled antibody as a probe, we applied this method to the detection of human serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). This immunoassay system can detect as little as 1 ng/ml of HBsAg. The advantages of this method are: (a) fast homogeneous immune complexation; (b) a rapid heterogeneous separation process; (c) high sensitivity; and (d) low non‐specific background.
Isolation from bovine haemoglobin of a peptide that might be used as a potential hydrophobic photosensitizer carrier
Authors: Cempel N. , JM Aubry , JM Piot , Guillochon D.
Published: October 2023

The isolation of a peptic hydrolysate and of a pure peptide from bovine haemoglobin is described. These peptides were used to solubilize an insoluble photosensitizer in order to study their utilization as a carrier for photochemotherapy. Protoporphyrin IX was used as a model of an insoluble photosensitizer. Solubilization of protoporphyrin IX was first performed with the total haemoglobin hydrolysate, then with peptide fractions, and finally with a pure peptide isolated from this fraction by reversed‐phase HPLC. The molecular mass and the primary structure of the pure peptide were determined by fast‐atom‐bombardment and tandem MS (molecular mass 1648 Da). The singlet oxygen quantum yield of the protoporphyrin IX‐peptide complex was determined.
Correlation of the OSR/ZRCI gene product and the intracellular glutathione levels in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Kobayashi S. , Miyabe S. , Izawa S. , Inoue Y. , Kimura A.
Published: October 2023

The OSR (oxidative‐stress‐resistance) gene was cloned as the gene which enhances resistance against oxidative stress caused by lipid hydroperoxide in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The nucleotide sequence of the gene was determined and found to be identical with the zinc‐resistance‐conferring (ZRCI) gene, which was cloned as the gene enhancing the resistance against zinc and cadmium. A knockout mutant of the OSR gene showed increased sensitivity to lipid hydroperoxide. The intracellular glutathione content in the knockout mutant decreased approx. 40% compared with that of wild‐type cells, whereas it increased 3‐fold in yeast overexpressing the OSR gene. Therefore the OSR/ZRCI gene product seems to regulate the intracellular glutathione content.