bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acute joint inflammation induces a sharp increase in the number of synovial fluid EVs and modifies their phospholipid profile
Authors: Varela Laura , van de Lest Chris H.A. , Boere Janneke , Libregts Sten F.W.M. , Lozano–Andres Estefania , van Weeren P. René , Wauben Marca H.M.
Published: May 2023

Inflammation is the hallmark of most joint disorders. However, the precise regulation of induction, perpetuation, and resolution of joint inflammation is not entirely understood. Since extracellular vesicles (EVs) are critical for intercellular communication, we aim to unveil their role in these processes. Here, we investigated the EVs’ dynamics and phospholipidome profile from synovial fluid (SF) of healthy equine joints and from horses with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)–induced synovitis. LPS injection triggered a sharp increase of SF–EVs at 5–8hr post–injection, which started to decline at 24h post–injection. Importantly, we identified significant changes in the lipid profile of SF–EVs after synovitis induction. Compared to healthy joint–derived SF–EVs (0h), SF–EVs collected at 5, 24, and 48h post–LPS injection were strongly increased in hexosylceramides. At the same time, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylcholine, and sphingomyelin were decreased in SF–EVs at 5h and 24h post–LPS injection. Based on the lipid changes during acute inflammation, we composed specific lipid profiles associated with healthy and inflammatory state–derived SF–EVs. The sharp increase in SF–EVs during acute synovitis and the correlation of specific lipids with either healthy or inflamed states–derived SF–EVs are findings of potential interest for unveiling the role of SF–EVs in joint inflammation, as well as for the identification of EV–biomarkers of joint inflammation.
High resolution genomes of multipleXiphophorusspecies provide new insights into microevolution, hybrid incompatibility, and epistasis
Authors: Lu Yuan , Rice Edward , Du Kang , Kneitz Susanne , Naville Magali , Dechaud Corentin , Volff Jean-Nicolas , Boswell Mikki , Boswell William , Hillier LaDeana , Tomlinson Chad , Milin Kremitzki , Walter Ronald B. , Schartl Manfred , Warren Wesley C.
Published: May 2023

Because of diverged adaptative phenotypes, fish species of the genusXiphophorushave contributed to a wide range of research for a century. ExistingXiphophorusgenome assemblies are not at the chromosomal level and are prone to sequence gaps, thus hindering advancement of the intra- and inter-species differences for evolutionary, comparative, and translational biomedical studies. Herein, we assembled high-quality chromosome-level genome assemblies for three distantly relatedXiphophorusspecies, namely,X. maculatus,X. couchianus, andX. hellerii. Our overall goal is to precisely assess microevolutionary processes in the clade to ascertain molecular events that led to the divergence of theXiphophorusspecies and to progress understanding of genetic incompatibility to disease. In particular, we measured intra- and inter-species divergence and assessed gene expression dysregulation in reciprocal interspecies hybrids among the three species. We found expanded gene families and positively selected genes associated with live bearing, a special mode of reproduction. We also found positively selected gene families are significantly enriched in nonpolymorphic transposable elements, suggesting the dispersal of these nonpolymorphic transposable elements has accompanied the evolution of the genes, possibly by incorporating new regulatory elements in support of the Britten–Davidson hypothesis. We characterized inter-specific polymorphisms, structural variants, and polymorphic transposable element insertions and assessed their association to interspecies hybridization-induced gene expression dysregulation related to specific disease states in humans.
Formal learning and organizational performance: the interplay of goal setting and flexible learning practices in attaining goal congruence
Authors: Madhavan Vandana , Venugopalan Murale
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Employee training and learning have transformed over the years. The movement from classroom training to the blended format represents the magnitude of this evolution. This has placed much attention on self-regulated learning. This study aimed to understand the individual and organizational mechanisms that sustain the formal learning process in organizations. It explored the goals the organizations and employees strive to achieve by investing in learning. Through this, the authors investigated how technology assistance makes learning more goal-oriented, despite the possibility of different goals for different stakeholders. They also examined how person-job fit can be achieved in employee training.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a grounded theory-based inductive approach using a qualitative inquiry that used in-depth interviews of employees working in the Indian IT/ITES sector. This sector is knowledge-intensive and engages in constant skill development. A content analysis of the interview transcripts unraveled the most relevant themes from the participants' discussion.

Findings

Individual learners use dimensions of self-regulated learning to set and achieve goals such as better performance and career development. On the other hand, organizations use learning support mechanisms such as better access and flexibility to direct employee learning behavior to achieve organizational goals. Focusing on goal congruence leads to better achievement of results. Goal congruence also implies good person-organization fit.

Originality/value

This research established how aligning individual and organizational mechanisms can help achieve training goals that ultimately contribute to organizational performance. The study differentiated itself by investigating training goal setting and goal achievement at two levels – organizational and individual – using a qualitative approach. It also showed how goal congruence is vital in improving organizational performance and how technology-enabled training practices rely on self-regulated learning and help achieve goal congruence.
Identifying business information through deep learning: analyzing the tender documents of an Internet-based logistics bidding platform
Authors: Yu Ying , Ma Jing
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The tender documents, an essential data source for internet-based logistics tendering platforms, incorporate massive fine-grained data, ranging from information on tenderee, shipping location and shipping items. Automated information extraction in this area is, however, under-researched, making the extraction process a time- and effort-consuming one. For Chinese logistics tender entities, in particular, existing named entity recognition (NER) solutions are mostly unsuitable as they involve domain-specific terminologies and possess different semantic features.

Design/methodology/approach

To tackle this problem, a novel lattice long short-term memory (LSTM) model, combining a variant contextual feature representation and a conditional random field (CRF) layer, is proposed in this paper for identifying valuable entities from logistic tender documents. Instead of traditional word embedding, the proposed model uses the pretrained Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) model as input to augment the contextual feature representation. Subsequently, with the Lattice-LSTM model, the information of characters and words is effectively utilized to avoid error segmentation.

Findings

The proposed model is then verified by the Chinese logistic tender named entity corpus. Moreover, the results suggest that the proposed model excels in the logistics tender corpus over other mainstream NER models. The proposed model underpins the automatic extraction of logistics tender information, enabling logistic companies to perceive the ever-changing market trends and make far-sighted logistic decisions.

Originality/value

(1) A practical model for logistic tender NER is proposed in the manuscript. By employing and fine-tuning BERT into the downstream task with a small amount of data, the experiment results show that the model has a better performance than other existing models. This is the first study, to the best of the authors' knowledge, to extract named entities from Chinese logistic tender documents. (2) A real logistic tender corpus for practical use is constructed and a program of the model for online-processing real logistic tender documents is developed in this work. The authors believe that the model will facilitate logistic companies in converting unstructured documents to structured data and further perceive the ever-changing market trends to make far-sighted logistic decisions.
The making of a discriminatory ism
Authors: Arandjelović Ognjen
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The millennia long struggles of various oppressed groups have over time illuminated widespread social injustices, organically leading to the recognition of yet further injustices captured by the umbrella of discriminatory isms, such as racism, sexism, classism, ableism, anti-Semitism, ageism, heterosexism and many others. In recent years, the debate has become increasingly fierce, polarized and even physically violent.

Design/methodology/approach

One of the premises of the present work is that in part, the aforementioned unconstructive behaviors are a result of the different understandings of what constitutes an ism and the lack of a thoughtful consideration of this issue in the mainstream social debate as much as in the academic literature.

Findings

The author presents evidence for this and critiques the dominant lines of thought in this realm, showing all the dominant lines of thought to fall short of both the fundamental philosophical as well practical desiderata in how isms ought to be understood.

Originality/value

The author proposes an alternative which does not suffer from the weakness of the existing one: one based on the denial of equivalence of sentience. The author shows how the adoption of this understanding leads to constructive ways of addressing isms effected injustice.
Internationalization of quality assurance and the international quality of higher education in Taiwan
Authors: Chien Wei-Cheng
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study employs survey methods to statistically examine the internationalization of quality assurance (IQA) in Taiwanese higher education. The data collected were analyzed to assess the associations between administrators' opinions of the importance of IQA and their evaluations of its implementation, as well as the relationship between implementation and opinions on seven measures of international quality. The study also explores the mediating effect of implementation assessments on the relationship between opinions of the importance of IQA and opinions of international quality.

Design/methodology/approach

This study targeted higher education administrators from universities in Taiwan, including presidents, vice presidents, deans, section chiefs, directors, and heads of schools in various departments. Using systematic sampling methods, 80 universities were selected from a population of 159 higher education institutions in Taiwan, with 17-40 potential participants each in 2015. A total of 2,377 questionnaires were distributed to all the administrators of those institutions, and ultimately, 65 institutions and 337 valid questionnaires were analyzed.

Findings

The importance of IQA directly and positively influenced implementation of it on higher education institutions. The implementation directly and positively influenced the level of international quality of the institutions and the importance of IQA had an indirect positive influence on international quality through implementation. The aggregated institution-level results were similar to but much stronger than the individual-level results.

Originality/value

This study examined the IQA of higher education in Taiwan, which is increasingly important to institutions' competitiveness in the global higher education market. The data were analyzed using multilevel structural equation modeling at the individual-level and the aggregate-level. The analysis revealed direct and indirect associations between opinions about IQA and institutional quality. This study makes a significant contribution to the literature because it clarifies the role of administrators (individually and collectively) regarding their institutions' educational quality, and it provides useful information that institutions could apply to improve their international competitiveness.
Supply chain resource orchestration in emerging markets: an empirical examination of product launch performance
Authors: Jenkins Matthew , Munyon Timothy , Scott Marc
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Endeavoring to expand their global market presence, firms often launch products into emerging markets where managers face the daunting task of deploying products by managing available, and often limited, supply chain resources. Yet, literature has not empirically examined managerial resource orchestration in this context. Accordingly, by embedding resource orchestration theory (ROT) into the emerging market context, the authors offer middle-range theorizing on supply chain resource orchestration (SCRO) and empirically test how acquiring, bundling and leveraging activities impact new product launch performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test the model by analyzing empirical data from 175 individual product launches into emerging markets using a survey methodology.

Findings

The authors’ results suggest that SCRO holds the promise of being a viable middle-range theory in the supply chain field, especially where managers face limited resources and must “work with what they have to do what they can.”

Research limitations/implications

The authors’ study also has some limitations. First, because a panel data service company was used to collect the data, the authors were not provided with any information regarding the respondents' company names or other identifying data. Second, because the authors did not directly interact with the respondents nor were the authors able to contact multiple individuals from their respective organizations, the study was limited to a single-respondent design. However, to counter issues associated with single-response bias, the central constructs in the study referenced phenomena related to a specific product launch project as opposed to constructs at the firm or inter-firm relational level.

Practical implications

The authors’ results reveal that SCRO activities can enhance the performance of new product launches, even in resource-starved emerging market contexts.

Originality/value

The results validate measures for several of the SCRO processes (i.e. supply chain resource acquisition, supply chain resource bundling and supply chain leveraging) and provide evidence that supply chain resource bundling and supply chain leveraging mediate the relationship between supply chain resource acquisition and product launch performance. Further, soft logistics infrastructure is found to be an important boundary condition for these relationships.
Sexual and reproductive history of female prisoners in Iran: a health care needs analysis
Authors: Farhoudi Behnam , Shahmohamadi Elnaz , SeyedAlinaghi SeyedAhmad , Rostam Afshar Zohreh , Mirzapour Pegah , Nadji SeyedAlireza , Golsoorat Pahlaviani Fatemeh , Tashakorian Mehrzad , Hackett Daniel
Published: May 2023

Purpose

According to estimates, there are approximately 714,000 female prisoners in the world. A considerable proportion are pregnant, of childbearing age at the time of incarceration and may experience numerous reproductive health concerns. The purpose of this study is to examine the demographics and sexual and reproductive history of female prisoners in Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

Four hundred and thirty-four female prisoners (mean age: 39.0 ± 9.9) serving sentences at Qarchak prison, Iran, completed a questionnaire. The participants were recruited between October 2017 and September 2018 using a convenient sampling method. The questionnaire captured sociodemographic characteristics and sexual and reproductive history.

Findings

Most respondents had 7–12 years of formal education, were housewives (69.9%), were either married (41.6%) or divorced (41.8%) and were literate (91.3%). History of drug use among the respondents was 34.7%. Most respondents had regular menstruation (63.5%) and were pre-menopausal (86.1%). Natural birth control was preferred (39.7%) compared to other methods, such as condoms (18%) and oral contraceptive pills (8.4%). Spontaneous and induced abortions were reported by 17.8% and 16.4% of respondents, respectively. There was 5.9% of respondents that reported having a history of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) before incarceration, with HPV the most common (12.7%).

Research limitations/implications

This study has limitations, including the problem of following up with prisoners to shorten the average length of their imprisonment, which can leave many issues in the field of women’s health and their follow-up incomplete. Prison health care workers should also follow up on women’s health and pregnancy hygiene after their release because there is usually a high prevalence of STIs in prisoners.

Practical implications

The findings highlight the importance of improving the quality of women’s health care and pregnancy-related care in prisons. Additionally, the importance of having a health protocol for incarcerated women in Iran. Other programs should also be implemented for women prisoners to eliminate the discrimination they may face in prison.

Originality/value

The international community has attempted to develop care guidelines for pregnant prisoners, particularly for prenatal and mental health services. However, currently in Iran no such guidelines have been developed. To date no research has explored the sexual health among female prisoners of this country. The aim of the present study was to examine the demographics and sexual and reproductive history of female prisoners in Iran. A secondary aim was to identify the health care needs of female prisoners in Iran.
Harassment and slurs or epistemic injustice? Interrogating discriminatory abuse through safeguarding adult review analysis
Authors: Mason Karl
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to interrogate and develop the conceptualisation of discriminatory abuse in safeguarding adults policy and practice beyond the current interpersonal definition. The paper draws on Safeguarding Adults Reviews (SARs) that refer to discriminatory abuse or safeguarding practice with adults who have care and support needs and protected characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

A search of the national network repository of SARs identified 27 published reviews for inclusion. The contents were thematically analysed to understand how discrimination was experienced in these cases. Fricker’s “Epistemic Injustice” theory was adopted as a conceptual framework, informing the analysis of findings.

Findings

Evidence from SARs provides a challenge to the interpersonal emphasis on language and behaviour in national policy. Although the reviews acknowledge that interpersonal abuse occurs, a close reading spotlights practitioner and institutional bias, and inattention to social, structural and contextual factors. The silence on these matters in policy provides a narrow frame for interpreting such abuse. This suggests significant potential for epistemic injustice and signals a need to acknowledge these social, structural and contextual factors in safeguarding practice.

Originality/value

Discriminatory abuse is an under-researched and under-utilised category of abuse in safeguarding adults practice. The paper adopts Fricker’s theory of “Epistemic Injustice” to highlight the silencing potential of current policy approaches to discriminatory abuse to suggest a more inclusive and structural framing for safeguarding practice with those targeted due to their protected characteristics.
The effects of corporate governance mechanisms on voluntary corporate carbon disclosures: evidence from the emerging economy
Authors: Chakraborty Rajib , Dey Sajal Kumar
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study examines the effects of corporate governance mechanisms on voluntary corporate carbon disclosure in Bangladeshi firms.

Design/methodology/approach

To investigate the association between corporate governance mechanisms and corporate carbon disclosures, this study employs ordinary least square (OLS) methods. To mitigate the potential endogeneity concerns, the authors also introduce firm fixed effect (FE) and random effect (RE). Primarily, the study sample includes 250 firm-year observations over the period 2015–2019 for listed companies on the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) in Bangladesh. Subsequently, corporate governance mechanisms that influence voluntary carbon disclosure were examined using both univariate and OLS models.

Findings

The findings of this study suggest that firms with a larger board size and more independent directors have a positive impact on the firm's intensity to disclose carbon-related information. However, no evidence has been found of the existence of an environmental committee, and the presence of female directors on the board tends to be associated with a higher level of voluntary corporate carbon disclosure.

Originality/value

The study offers necessary evidence of the determinants of corporate carbon disclosures, which will be useful for managers, senior executives, policymakers and regulatory bodies. To improve corporate governance practices and formulate separate sets of regulations and reporting criteria, disclosing extensive and holistic carbon-related information obligatory. Further, the outcomes of this study based on Bangladeshi firms can be comprehensive for other developing countries to take precautions to tackle the effect of global climate change.
The role of Machiavellian personality, altruistic personality, religiosity, whistleblowing system, and accounting firm size in mitigating fraud intention
Authors: Wijayanti Dwi Marlina , Senjani Yayu Putri , Farah Wilda
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore personal and organizational factors in mitigating fraud intention through machiavellian personality, altruistic personality, religiousity, whistleblowing system, and accounting firm size. Companies will suffer greater losses if they cannot prevent fraudulent practices. The fraud hexagon theory is considered effective in detecting the possibility of fraud and the tendency of fraud motivated by personal and organizational factors. Therefore, the researchers examined several factors, including Machiavellian, altruism, religiosity, whistleblowing system and accounting firm size in mitigating fraud intention.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a self-administered survey of accountants in Indonesia. The accountants were selected as the sample because the accounting profession has considerable potential in committing fraud. To avoid common method bias, the authors performed ex ante and ex post on the questionnaire. This research model was tested using structural equation modeling-partial least square.

Findings

The results revealed that personal factors in the form of Machiavellian, altruism and religiosity had a direct impact on decreasing fraud intention. In addition, whistleblowing system and accounting firm size were able to promote the effectiveness of fraud mitigation.

Research limitations/implications

This study uses one profession, namely, accountants, so it requires further research to see the similarity of results in other professions.

Practical implications

The results contribute to managerial decision-making. Companies should include personal tests during employee recruitment because personal factors are the key to determining individual fraud behavior.

Social implications

Combining personal factors and organizational factors can promote the success of the internal control system, so that individuals are encouraged to do ethical things.

Originality/value

This study combines personal and organizational factors in mitigating fraud, so as to know accurately which factors are most capable of mitigating fraud.
National intelligence and illicit trade: a cross-country study
Authors: Baatour Kais , Hamdi Khalfaoui , Guenichi Hassen
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Illicit trade is pervasive in many nations and may be influenced by the level of national IQ. The current interdisciplinary paper aims to study the association between national intelligence and illicit trade across nations.

Design/methodology/approach

The illicit trade index scores for 84 countries, developed by the Economics Intelligence Unit, are used to measure the dependent variable. The independent variable is national intelligence, while economic development, unemployment and Hofstede’s cultural dimensions are the control variables. Two-level hierarchical linear models (HLMs) are used to empirically test the above-mentioned association.

Findings

The empirical results suggest that the higher the degree of national intelligence, the lower is the degree of illicit trade across nations. In addition, economic development, unemployment and national culture play an important role in explaining cross-country differences in illicit trade.

Practical implications

Regulatory authorities should find the results of this cross-national research useful in evaluating the likelihood of illicit trade from a cognitive perspective, and in implementing reforms to curb this type of economic crimes.

Originality/value

This interdisciplinary study makes novel contributions to the literature on economic and financial crimes. First, for the first time to the best of the authors’ knowledge, an association between national intelligence and illicit trade is examined. A second original contribution of this study compared to earlier research is related to the use of two-level HLMs. Third, the investigation of the association between intelligence and illicit trade takes a new control variable into consideration, i.e. unemployment, a variable which is found to have a significant effect on illicit trade and that has not been used directly in relationship with illicit trade so far.
Spatiotemporal cluster analysis of reputable tourist accommodation in Greater Amman Municipality, Jordan
Authors: Al-Saad Saad Ahmed , Jawarneh Rana N. , Aloudat Areej Shabib
Published: May 2023

Purpose

To test the applicability of the user-generated content (UGC) derived from social travel network sites for online reputation management, the purpose of this study is to analyze the spatial clustering of the reputable hotels (based on the TripAdvisor Best-Value indicator) and reputable outdoor seating restaurants (based on ranking indicator).

Design/methodology/approach

This study used data mining techniques to obtain the UGC from TripAdvisor. The Hierarchical Density-Based Spatial Clustering method based on algorithm (HDBSCAN) was used for robust cluster analysis.

Findings

The findings of this study revealed that best value (BV) hotels and reputable outdoor seating restaurants are most likely to be located in and around the central districts of the urban tourist destinations where population and economic activities are denser. BV hotels' spatiotemporal cluster analysis formed clusters of different sizes, densities and shape patterns.

Research limitations/implications

This study showed that reputable hotels and restaurants (H&Rs) are concentrated within districts near historic city centers. This should be an impetus for applied research on urban investment environments.

Practical implications

The findings would be rational guidance for entrepreneurs and potential investors on the most attractive tourism investment environments.

Originality/value

There has been a lack of studies focusing on analyzing the spatial clustering of the H&Rs using UGC. Therefore, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to map and analyze the spatiotemporal clustering patterns of reputable hotels (TripAdvisor BV indicator) and restaurants (ranking indicator). As such, this study makes a significant methodological contribution to urban tourism research by showing pattern change in H&Rs clustering using data mining and the HDBSCAN algorithm.
From fan to become tourist: watching online videos as seamlessly connecting travel
Authors: Lee Kyoungmin , Zhou Jiayu , Koo Chulmo
Published: May 2023

Purpose

In view of the influences of online videos on the cultural tourism industry, this study aims to explore the mechanisms triggered by watching online video behaviors of fans. This study examines how fans who have watched celebrities’ online videos become tourists who attend concerts held at destinations based on celebrity and destination endorsements.

Design/methodology/approach

This study builds for celebrity and destination endorsements on online videos by combining media richness and source model theory. This research adopts partial least squares structural equation modeling to analyze the mechanism triggered by online media.

Findings

Watching online media influences celebrity and destination endorsements, which, in turn, affects the concert experience and intention to return to the destination. Results reveal less intertwined relationships between celebrity and destination endorsements and the complex mechanisms between the two endorsements.

Originality/value

With the rise in popularity of online media, online content has become a major source of information in the tourism industry and a means of enjoying travel seamlessly. This study highlights not only the role of “watching online videos” as one of the richest media but also the role of live concerts in cultural tourism for understanding complex cultural tourism.
Target return as efficient driver of risk-taking
Authors: D'Hondt Catherine , De Winne Rudy , Todorovic Aleksandar
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This paper examines whether target returns act as specific goals that impact risk-taking when individuals make investment decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an experimental setting, the authors assign either a low or a high target return to participants and ask them to make independent investment decisions as the risk-free rate fluctuates around their target return and, for some of them, becomes negative.

Findings

Building on cumulative prospect theory, the authors find that the prevailing reference point of participants is the target return, regardless of the level of the risk-free rate. This result still holds even when the risk-free rate is negative, suggesting that (1) the target return drives risk-taking more than does a zero-threshold and (2) negative rates are limited as a tool to stimulate appetites for risk. In a follow-up study, the authors show that these conclusions remain valid when the target return is endogenously determined.

Originality/value

The authors' original approach, which pioneers the use of target returns in both the positive and negative interest rate contexts, provides insightful results about the “reach for yield” among regular people.
How do institutional investors react to local shocks during a crisis? A test using the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Ling David C. , Wang Chongyu , Zhou Tingyu
Published: May 2023

We examine how institutional investors reacted to geographically dispersed local shocks during the early stages of the COVID‐19 pandemic. A sample of real estate investment trusts (REITs) enables us to link two layers of geography: the locations of the assets in which the REITs were invested and the headquarters locations of institutional investors who owned REIT shares. We find that the institutional ownership of firms with an economic interest in the investors’ home markets declined more if those markets were heavily affected by the pandemic. In addition, the ownership responses to the COVID‐19 shock were larger in those markets in which REITs had larger portfolio allocations and in markets that were home to the investors. Importantly, we find that nonpassive and short‐term investors may have overreacted to the local shocks because their REIT portfolios subsequently underperformed relative to passive and long‐term investors. Our study highlights the importance of geography in the formation of investors’ expectations during market crises.
A patient with a lung adenosquamous carcinoma harboring a de novo T790M mutation and huge nonbacterial vegetative growths successfully treated with osimertinib: A case report
Authors: Kim So‐yun , Kim Ka Eun , Kim Yoonjoo , Chung Chaeuk
Published: May 2023

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) is a rare condition; sterile vegetations attach to heart valves. NBTE is typically found in patients with malignancies or autoimmune disorders. Although surgical interventions are sometimes performed, the appropriate indication and timing are still unclear. Here, we describe a 72‐year‐old woman diagnosed with adenosquamous carcinoma of the lung. She was initially diagnosed as pT2aN0M0 and underwent RUL lobectomy. After nine months, lung cancer recurred, and she underwent treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy. However, images showed progression after only one month. Rebiopsy revealed she had comutation of de novo EGFR L858R and T790M. Treatment was changed to gefitinib. After one month, she experienced loss of consciousness. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed multiple lesions resembling infarctions or metastases. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed progression. Osimertinib was prescribed and she underwent echocardiography to rule out the possibility of a cardiogenic embolism. Surprisingly, severe mitral regurgitation and a massive vegetation on the mitral valve were found. Cardiologists recommended surgery due to the severity of the embolic event and valve dysfunction, but it was decided to continue antibiotics, osimertinib, and anticoagulants instead of surgery due to the patient's poor general condition and the possibility of NBTE. Six weeks later, the patient's condition markedly improved and echocardiography revealed a marked reduction in vegetation size. Clinicians should be aware that targeted therapy can be effective in treating severe cancer complications, such as NBTE, as evidenced by the successful treatment of lung cancer with osimertinib. This option should be considered, particularly for elderly lung cancer patients, before resorting to surgery as a first‐line treatment for NBTE.
Fathers attending the birth of their baby: Views, intentions and needs
Authors: Kothari Alka , Khuu Alvin , Dulhunty Joel , Bruxner George , Ballard Emma , Callaway Leonie
Published: May 2023

Background

There is limited information about fathers' views, intentions and needs leading up to childbirth.

Aims

This study explores the factors influencing fathers’ intention to attend the birth, and the needs and supports required leading up to childbirth.

Methods

Cross‐sectional survey of 203 prospective fathers attending antenatal appointments at an outer metropolitan public teaching hospital in Brisbane, Australia.

Results

A total of 201/203 (99.0%) participants intended to attend the birth. The reported reasons included: responsibility (99.5%), protectiveness (99.0%), love for their partner (99.0%), the right thing to do (98.0%), desire to see the birth (98.0%), the perception that partners should attend (97.4%), duty (96.4%) and partner preference (91.4%). Some felt pressured by their partner (12.8%), society (10.8%), cultural expectations (9.6%) and family (9.1%), and 10.6% perceived adverse consequences for not attending. Most participants (94.6%) felt well supported, experienced good communication (72.4%), had the opportunity to ask questions (69.8%) and received an explanation of events (66.3%). They were less often supported by antenatal visits (46.7%) and by a plan for future visits (32.2%). Ten per cent of all fathers and 13.8% of experienced fathers requested better mental health support, and 9.0% prefer better clinician communication.

Conclusions

Most fathers intend to attend childbirth for personal and moral reasons; however, a small proportion feel pressured. Most fathers feel well supported, although potential improvements include planning for future visits, provision of information, mental health support, clinician communication, increased involvement in their partner’s care, the opportunity to ask questions and more frequent clinic visits.
Exemption and Nyungar Letters in the West Australian Archives
Authors: Haebich Anna , Kickett Darryl , Colbung Margaret
Published: May 2023

Rather than rewarding applicants seeking relief from the draconian 1905 Aborigines Act, Exemption Certificates in Western Australia became a bureaucratic weapon to enforce their rigid control through enforced prohibitions on alcohol for Nyungar people. Applications were routinely rejected, regardless of the applicant's way of life, which quickly deteriorated under the “care” of the Aborigines Department. At the same time, new laws further enforcing prohibitions through increased fines and imprisonment, meant few had any hope of release. This combination derailed the exemption process. The injustices were recently revealed by the Ancestors' Words: Nyungar Letter Writing in the Archives Project, which located activist application letters written by Ancestors of today's Nyungar families, letters which were held for many decades in archive files of the Aborigines Department. The files also contained devastating letters of rejection written by the Minister, his officers and local police. The Ancestors' letters of courage and their distressing rejections in reply are examined here in a powerful case study developed in conversations between two Nyungar Elders, the writer's granddaughter, and the project researcher. The study also reveals how the project's respectful return of letters to the Elders can restore these important stories from the past to the flow of living family memories, down the generations.
Associations between axial length, corneal refractive power and lens thickness in children and adolescents: The Ural Children Eye Study
Authors: Bikbov Mukharram M. , Kazakbaeva Gyulli M. , Fakhretdinova Albina A. , Tuliakova Azaliia M. , Iakupova Ellina M. , Panda‐Jonas Songhomitra , Gilemzianova Leisan I. , Garipova Liana A. , Khakimov Dinar A. , Islamova Liaisan I. , Pokhilko Nikolay I. , Jonas Jost B.
Published: May 2023

Purpose

To assess relationships between ocular biometric parameters in dependence of age and sex in children and adolescents.

Methods

In the Ural Children Eye Study, a school‐based cohort study, 4933 children underwent an ophthalmological and general examination.

Results

Complete biometric measurements were available for 4406 (89.3%) children. Cycloplegic refractive error (mean: −0.87 ± 1.73 diopters (D); median: −0.38 D; range: −19.75 D to +11.25 D) increased (multivariable analysis; r2 = 0.73) with shorter axial length (β: −0.99; non‐standardized regression coefficient B: −1.64; 95% CI: −1.68, −1.59) and lower corneal refractive power (β: −0.55; B: −0.67; 95% CI: −0.70, −0.64), in addition to higher cylindrical refractive error (β: 0.10; B: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.27, 0.41), thinner lens (β: −0.11; −0.85; 95% CI: −1.02, −0.69) and male sex (β: 0.15; B: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.42, 0.57). In univariate analysis, decrease in refractive error with older age was more significant (β: −0.38 vs. β: −0.25) and steeper (B: −0.22 (95% CI: −0.24, −0.20) vs. B: −0.13 (95% CI: −0.15, −0.11)) in girls than boys, particularly for an age of 11+ years. Axial length increased with older age (steeper for age <11  years) (B: 0.22 (95% CI: 0.18, 0.25) vs. 0.07 (95% CI: 0.05, 0.09)). In multivariable analysis, axial length increased with lower refractive error (β: −0.77; B: −0.42; 95% CI: −0.43, −0.40) and lower corneal refractive power (β: −0.54; B: −0.39; 95% CI: −0.41, −0.38), in addition to older age (β: 0.04; B: 0.02; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.03), male sex (β: 0.13; B: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.32), higher cylindrical refractive error (β: 0.05; B: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.05, 0.14) and thinner lens (β: −0.14; B: −0.62; 95% CI: −0.72, −0.51). The axial length/corneal curvature (AL/CR) ratio increased until the age of 14 years (β: 0.34; B: 0.017; 95% CI: 0.016, 0.019; p < 0001), and then became independent of age. The AL/CR ratio increased (r2 = 0.78) mostly with higher corneal refractive power (β: 0.25; B: 0.02; 95% CI: 0.02, 0.02; p < 0.001), lower refractive error (β: −0.75; B: −0.05; 95% CI: −0.05, −0.05; p < 0.001), thinner lens thickness (β: −01.6; B: −0.09; 95% CI: −0.10, −0.08; p < 0.001) and older age (β: 0.16; B: 0.006; 95% CI: 0.005, 0.007; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

In this multiethnic group of school children in Russia, the age‐related increase in myopic refractive error was more significant and steeper in girls, particularly for the age group of 11+ years. Determinants of higher myopic refractive error were longer axial length, higher corneal refractive power, lower cylindrical refractive error, thicker lens and female sex.
Can psychological distress account for the associations between COVID‐19 vaccination acceptance and socio‐economic vulnerability?
Authors: Yuan Jiehu , Dong Meihong , Wong Irene Oi Ling , Cowing Benjamin J. , Lam Wendy Wing Tak , Ni Michael Y. , Liao Qiuyan
Published: May 2023

Socially disadvantaged individuals and communities consistently showed lower COVID‐19 vaccination acceptance. We aimed to examine the psychological mechanisms that could explain such vaccination disparities. This study used data from serial population‐based surveys conducted since the COVID‐19 vaccination programme being launched in Hong Kong (N = 28,734). We first assessed the correlations of community‐level and individual‐level social vulnerability with COVID‐19 vaccination acceptance. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was then conducted to test whether psychological distress measured by PHQ‐4 can account for the associations between participants' socio‐economic vulnerability and COVID‐19 vaccination acceptance. The third part analysis examined whether perceived negativity of vaccine‐related news and affect towards COVID‐19 vaccines accounted for the association between psychological distress and COVID‐19 vaccination. Communities with higher social vulnerability scores and participants who had more vulnerable socio‐economic status showed lower COVID‐19 vaccination acceptance. Individuals with more vulnerable socio‐economic status reported higher psychological distress, which lowered COVID‐19 vaccination acceptance. Furthermore, higher psychological distress was associated with lower vaccination acceptance through its psychological mechanisms of processing vaccine‐related information. We proposed a renewed focus on tackling psychological distress rather than merely increasing vaccine accessibility in more socio‐economic‐disadvantaged groups for promoting COVID‐19 vaccination acceptance.
All about the human: A Buddhist take on AI ethics
Authors: Lin Chien‐Te
Published: May 2023

As AI technology becomes more influential, ethical considerations surrounding its application are becoming increasingly relevant. In this paper, I reflect on some moral questions from a Buddhist perspective and consider the moral status of AI to evaluate its function and purpose in our lives. Since a robot lacks the capacity to experience suffering and has no conscience, AI ethics are possible only as ethics about robots and not as ethics for robots. Despite having no concrete moral status, robots cannot be deemed entirely morally insignificant as they exist as moral objects toward which moral agents have a duty. Our unique endowment as human beings is the intelligence for moral deliberation as we develop AI technologies and determine the future direction of humanity. From a Buddhist point of view, there is potential to advance our spiritual growth through the realization of the interdependence between humans and AI. As we recognize the uniqueness of our humanity and take a middle‐way approach, the rise of robots need not threaten our existence but could instead catapult humanity into a new dawn.
Adapted motivational interviewing for brief healthcare consultations: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of treatment fidelity in real‐world evaluations of behaviour change counselling
Authors: Beck Alison K. , Baker Amanda L. , Britton Ben , Lum Alistair , Pohlman Sonja , Forbes Erin , Moore Lyndell , Barnoth Ditte , Perkes Sarah J. , Oldmeadow Chris , Carter Gregory
Published: May 2023

Background

Behaviour change counselling (BCC) is an adaptation of motivational interviewing (MI) designed to maximize the effectiveness of time‐limited health behaviour change consultations. To improve intervention quality and understanding of treatment effects, it is recommended that evaluations of health behaviour change interventions incorporate existing fidelity frameworks (e.g. The National Institutes of Health [NIH] Behaviour Change Consortium) and ensure that treatment fidelity is assessed and reported.

Purpose

This systematic review was designed to examine (a) adherence to NIH fidelity recommendations, (b) provider fidelity to BCC and (c) impact of these variables on the real‐world effectiveness of BCC for adult health behaviours and outcomes.

Methods and Results

Searches of 10 electronic databases yielded 110 eligible publications describing 58 unique studies examining BCC delivered within real‐world healthcare settings by existing providers. Mean study adherence to NIH fidelity recommendations was 63.31% (Range 26.83%–96.23%). Pooled effect size (Hedges g) for short‐term and long‐term outcomes was .19 (95% CI [.11, .27]) and .09 (95% CI [.04, .13]), respectively. In separate, random‐effects meta‐regressions, neither short‐term nor long‐term effect sizes were significantly modified by adherence to NIH fidelity recommendations. For the subgroup of short‐term alcohol studies (n = 10), a significant inverse relationship was detected (Coefficient = −.0114, 95% CI [−.0187, −.0041], p = .0021). Inadequate and inconsistent reporting within the included studies precluded planned meta‐regression between provider fidelity and BCC effect size.

Conclusions

Further evidence is needed to clarify whether adherence to fidelity recommendations modifies intervention effects. Efforts to promote transparent consideration, evaluation and reporting of fidelity are urgently needed. Research and clinical implications are discussed.