bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mapping research trends on food supply chain: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Lwesya Francis , Achanta Jyoti
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to present research trends in the food supply chain in the context of changes in food systems due to globalization, urbanization, environmental concerns, technological changes and changes in food consumption patterns in the world.

Design/methodology/approach

The present investigation was performed by bibliometric analysis using the VOSviewer software, visualization software developed by Nees and Waltman (2020). In this work we performed co-citation, bibliographic coupling and keyword evolution analyses.

Findings

The results show that research in the food supply chain is rapidly changing and growing. By applying co-citation analysis, The authors found that the intellectual structure of the food supply chain has evolved around six clusters, namely, (a) collaboration and integration in the supply chain (b) sustainable supply chain management, (c) food supply chain management (FSCM), (d) models for decision-making in the food supply chain, (e) risk management in the supply chain and (g) quality and food logistics in the supply chain. However, based on bibliographic coupling analysis, The authors find that new or emerging research niches are moving toward food supply market access, innovation and technology, food waste management and halal FSCM. Nevertheless, the authors found that the existing research in each of the thematic clusters is not exhaustive.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of the research is that the analysis mainly relates only to the bibliometric approach and only one database, namely, Scopus. Broader inclusion of databases and deeper application of content analysis could expand the results of this research.

Originality/value

There are limited studies that have examined research trends in food supply chains in both developed and developing countries using bibliometric analysis. The present investigation is novel in identifying the thematic research clusters in the food supply chain, emerging issues and likely future research directions. This is important given the dynamics, consumer demand for quality food, technological changes and environmental sustainability issues in food systems.
Strategies to promote the acceptance of sandbag building technology for sustainable and affordable housing delivery: the South African case
Authors: Adetooto Johnson , Windapo Abimbola , Pomponi Francesco , Companie Fabio , Alade Kehinde , Mtya Amanda
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Sandbag building technologies (SBTs) have been offered as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative building technology (ABT) capable of accelerating house construction in South Africa, but its acceptance remains low. However, knowledge about how to effectively improve SBT social acceptance is limited. This study aims to develop and prioritise SBT social acceptability strategies towards providing a comprehensive framework for the successful deployment and widespread adoption of sandbag technology.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a quantitative research strategy that included a literature review and a structured questionnaire survey of 228 ABT professionals and stakeholders in the South African housing industry. The study statistically analysed 13 strategies for the social acceptance of SBT.

Findings

The analysis showed that the top three strategies include the availability of sandbag demonstration projects in all provinces, the approval of a sandbag building code and the availability of standard design methods for earthbags. A factor analysis clustered the 13 strategies into Stakeholders integration and policy formation, Effective education and knowledge sharing and Grassroots advocacy and incentives.

Practical implications

The current study’s findings provide a broad framework for the effective implementation and wide acceptance of sandbag technology in housing projects. It offered certain best practices that policymakers and practitioners might use to promote ABT and SBT societal acceptability.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the study represents the first and only attempt to investigate the viewpoints of experts and housing market stakeholders in South Africa regarding sandbag technology social acceptance strategies and contributes to the social acceptance body of knowledge in ABT and SBT.
Sharia governance standards and the role of AAOIFI: a comprehensive literature review and future research agenda
Authors: Hassan M. Kabir , Raza Rabbani Mustafa
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of Auditing and Accounting Organization for Islamic Financial Institution (AOIFI) governance disclosure on the performance of Islamic financial institutions (IFIs) through systematic literature review approach.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on the review of literature related to the AAOIFI accounting standards downloaded from Scopus database. This study includes review of 126 research articles, 10 review papers, 9 book chapters and 5 conference papers related to different roles played by AAOIFI in providing standards for accounting, auditing, governance and ethics for global IFIs.

Findings

The findings of this study suggest that AAOIFI has played a critical role in developing the accounting standards for the IFIs and contributed positively to the overall growth of the Islamic finance industry.

Practical implications

AAOIFI has played a critical role in issuing and development of accounting and auditing standards and has contributed positively to the financial performance of IFIs. Research gaps are identified, and there is a need to work on these gaps.

Originality/value

This study will contribute to the understanding the role of AAOIFI in issuing and development of accounting and governance standards and future research agenda based on a thorough review of literature.
Keeping up with this workload is difficult: the ramifications of work overload on career resilience
Authors: Fatima Tehreem , Bilal Ahmad Raza , Waqas Muhammad , Imran Muhammad Kashif
Published: October 2022

Purpose

A paradigm shift toward a corporate model of higher educational settings has led to complex and excess work demands, yet the potential long-run ramifications of work overload are still under-examined. Building the arguments on the “spiral of resource loss” corollary of the conservation of resources (COR) theory, the authors have bridged this gap by testing how work overload spills over into career resilience via reduced harmonious passion. In addition, the authors compare how the employees having standardized workloads differ in their harmonious passion and career resilience from those having excessive (non-standardized) workloads.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a longitudinal natural field experiment of 402 faculty members [N = 198 in the standardized group (optimal load) and N = 204 in the non-standardized group (overload)] working in higher educational institutions of Pakistan, data were collected in three waves (each six months apart). The group comparison, trend analysis and longitudinal mediation analysis done through SPSS and MPlus affirmed the hypothesized associations.

Findings

The results have shown that work overload impacts career resilience through the mediating role of harmonious passion. The faculty members in the standardized workload had more passion and career resilience as compared to the non-standardized workload group. In addition, these impacts intensified overtime for the overloaded faculty members while faculty members with optimal workload sustained their passion and resilience for the teaching profession.

Originality/value

Taking the COR perspective, this study sheds light on how faculty members' work overloads reduce their capability to retain their passion and resilience for teaching from a longitudinal and experimental perspective.
Forecasting the demand for cold chain logistics of agricultural products with Markov-optimised mean GM (1, 1) model—a case study of Guangxi Province, China
Authors: Tang Qian , Qiu Yuzhuo , Xu Lan
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The demand for the cold chain logistics of agricultural products was investigated through demand forecasting; targeted suggestions and countermeasures are provided. This paper aims to discuss the aforementioned statement.

Design/methodology/approach

A Markov-optimised mean GM (1, 1) model is proposed to forecast the demand for the cold chain logistics of agricultural products. The mean GM (1, 1) model was used to forecast the demand trend, and the Markov chain model was used for optimisation. Considering Guangxi province as an example, the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method were verified, and relevant suggestions are made.

Findings

Compared with other models, the Markov-optimised mean GM (1, 1) model can more effectively forecast the demand for the cold chain logistics of agricultural products, is closer to the actual value and has better accuracy and minor error. It shows that the demand forecast can provide specific suggestions and theoretical support for the development of cold chain logistics.

Originality/value

This study evaluated the development trend of the cold chain logistics of agricultural products based on the research horizon of demand forecasting for cold chain logistics. A Markov-optimised mean GM (1, 1) model is proposed to overcome the problem of poor prediction for series with considerable fluctuation in the modelling process, and improve the prediction accuracy. It finds a breakthrough to promote the development of cold chain logistics through empirical analysis, and give relevant suggestions based on the obtained results.
Is foreign direct investment caring for sustainability? A look in African sub-Saharan countries
Authors: Martins Rui Vicente , Santos Eulália , Eugénio Teresa , Morais Ana
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Business politics and social and economic policies in the past decades brought us to the inevitability of change. Foreign direct investment (FDI) plays a vital role in this change as it is a tool for international business management in a global world. The relationship between FDI and sustainability in sub-Saharan countries with lower incomes has not yet been sufficiently studied, so this study aims to bring some more conclusions to the discussion. Thus, the main objective is to understand if FDI effectively influences the so-called triple bottom line (TBL) pillars of sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

With data from the World Bank regarding 20 sub-Saharan countries gathered between 2010 and 2018, this study analysed 34 indicators composing 11 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Afterwards, the authors grouped them by the TBL pillars and evaluated the influence of FDI inflows on their scores using panel data models.

Findings

The results show a positive and significant correlation between the TBL pillars, with the highest correlation being between the environmental and economic pillars. On the other hand, FDI has no significant influence on the TBL pillars.

Practical implications

This study could improve foreign investment legislation/regulation in sub-Saharan African countries, potentially impacting the sustainability these investments should generate.

Social implications

This study contributes to understanding how FDI implies sustainability. The results suggest that governments, non-governmental organisations and other competent entities need to adjust their actions in these countries so that foreign companies sustainably exploit the resources.

Originality/value

This study brings to the current arena an emerging theme: FDI and sustainability in African countries, particularly in sub-Saharan countries. This subject in developing countries is still under-researched.
Soil carbon storage is related to tree functional composition in naturally regenerating tropical forests
Authors: Wallwork Abby , Banin Lindsay F. , Dent Daisy H. , Skiba Ute , Sayer Emma
Published: October 2022

Regenerating tropical forests are increasingly important for their role in the global carbon cycle. Carbon stocks in above‐ground biomass can recover to old‐growth forest levels within 60–100 years. However, more than half of all carbon in tropical forests is stored below‐ground, and our understanding of carbon storage in soils during tropical forest recovery is limited.

Importantly, soil carbon accumulation does not necessarily reflect patterns in above‐ground biomass carbon accrual during secondary forest succession, and factors related to past land use, species composition and soil characteristics may influence soil carbon storage during forest regrowth.

Using tree census data and a measure of tree community shade tolerance (species‐specific light response values), we assessed the relationship between soil organic carbon stocks and tree functional groups during secondary succession along a chronosequence of 40‐ to 120‐year‐old naturally regenerating secondary forest and old‐growth tropical forest stands in Panama.

While previous studies found no evidence for increasing soil C storage with secondary forest age, we found a strong relationship between tree functional composition and soil carbon stocks at 0–10 cm depth, whereby carbon stocks increased with the relative influence of light‐demanding tree species. Light demanding trees had higher leaf nitrogen but lower leaf density than shade‐tolerant trees, suggesting that rapid decomposition of nutrient‐rich plant material in forests with a higher proportion of light‐demanding species results in greater accumulation of carbon in the surface layer of soils.

Synthesis. We propose that soil carbon storage in secondary tropical forests is more strongly linked to tree functional composition than forest age, and that the persistence of long‐lived pioneer trees could enhance soil carbon storage as forests age. Considering shifts in tree functional groups could improve estimates of carbon sequestration potential for climate change mitigation by tropical forest regrowth.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Carbon versus nitrogen release from root and leaf litter is modulated by litter position and plant functional type
Authors: Erdenebileg Enkhmaa , Wang Congwen , Yu Wanying , Ye Xuehua , Pan Xu , Huang Zhenying , Liu Guofang , Cornelissen Johannes H. C.
Published: October 2022

Litters of leaves and roots of different qualities occur naturally above‐ and below‐ground, respectively, where they decompose in contrasting abiotic and biotic environments. Therefore, ecosystem carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) dynamics can be strongly affected by the combination of litter position and quality. However, it is poorly understood how C versus N turnover of litters depend on the interplay among plant functional type (PFT), organs, traits and litter position.

In a semi‐arid inland dune, soil surface and buried leaf litters and buried fine roots of 25 species across three PFTs (herbs, legume shrubs and nonlegume shrubs) were incubated for 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months to investigate litter decomposition and C and N dynamics. Morphological and chemical (nutrient and NMR carbon) traits of initial litters of leaves and fine roots were determined.

The litter decomposition rates (k values) of surface leaves and buried fine roots did not differ, but buried fine roots and buried leaf litter decomposed faster than surface leaf litter. Ratios of k values of surface leaves to buried leaves decreased with leaf C:N ratio. Herbs and legume shrubs decomposed faster than nonlegume shrubs for buried fine roots, but not for leaves. At given C loss, buried fine roots had higher N loss than leaf litters; legume shrubs with relatively higher N or lower C:N ratio had higher N loss than nonlegume shrubs. Stronger positive relationships between C and N losses were shown in leaves and legume shrubs than in fine roots and nonlegume shrubs respectively.

Synthesis. The generality of faster N release of legume litters at given C release highlights the importance of legumes in N cycling in semi‐arid ecosystems where N is the limiting factor. The dynamics and coordination of C versus N release as a function of litter quality are modulated by litter position and PFT. These findings have important implications for the development of process‐based models on C and N cycles in the context of on‐going global change potentially altering the functional composition of plant communities and the relative quantities and qualities of above‐ground versus below‐ground litter.
Valuing intangible outcomes from the Cooperative Research Centres‐Projects program
Authors: Noble David , Charles Michael B. , Keast Robyn
Published: October 2022

The growing use of triple helix arrangements to stimulate national systems of innovation (NSIs) for broader economic benefits has largely focussed on quantifiable and compliance‐based metrics to evaluate the ‘success’ of industry‐university strategic collaborative research ventures. This metrics‐focus largely ignores secondary, and even tertiary, outcomes of the collaborative ventures that are difficult to capture by research and innovation administrators with traditional metrics. A research project conducted on the Cooperative Research Centres—Projects (CRC‐P) Program in Australia found that, in a number of cases, secondary and tertiary outcomes were highly valued by participants, and provided important but hitherto officially unacknowledged socio‐economic benefits to the Australian NSI. This discussion proposes a typology of collaborative research outcomes beyond traditional compliance‐based metrics, and challenges policy makers and research and innovation administrators to consider the development of an ‘Innovation Ecosystem Body of Knowledge’ to inform future collaborative research projects and enhance the ability of actors to access this ecosystem in an efficient and productive manner in order to ensure that potential economic gains from collaborative research are maximised.
Is disloyalty rewarded? The electoral consequences of bloc changes of Scandinavian Centre Parties 1977–2019
Authors: Arndt Christoph , Christiansen Flemming J.
Published: October 2022

Centre Parties (Agrarians, Christian Democrats and Liberals) used to be an established part of the Scandinavian party systems and have often been pivotal for government formation. With ongoing individualisation, secularisation, decline of traditional cleavages, and the rise of new ones such as immigration, as well as polarisation, these parties face the challenge of losing representation in parliament as already happened to the Danish Centre Democrats and Christian Democrats. To shift a party's bloc affiliation and coalition preferences is a feature of centre parties, and it may itself be a strategic decision to mobilise new voters in a changed political environment to survive. Yet, it may alienate voters. While the strategic decision to change bloc is common among Scandinavian centre parties and theoretically relevant, empirical investigations of the electoral effects of bloc changes have been dim. We provide a systematic analysis of the electoral effects of bloc changes in Scandinavia in the last four decades. We collected data on bloc changes of Scandinavian centre parties and found 24 between 1977 and 2021. Our panel regressions reveal that bloc changes are indeed electorally costly as centre parties on average lose around 2% after a bloc change. Frequent bloc changes in the past do also reduce a party's average electoral performance. The electoral punishment of a bloc change, however, is cushioned by a large membership base as centre parties evade significant losses if they have a strong anchor in the electorate.
Heroin and fentanyl in Dallas County: A 5‐year retrospective review of toxicological, seized drug, and demographical data
Authors: Glicksberg Lindsay , Dempsey Sara K. , Casey Brittany K.
Published: October 2022

The opioid epidemic resulted in an increase in identifications of fentanyl, fentanyl analogs, and heroin, among other opioids, in the toxicology and seized drug analysis fields over the past several years. The Dallas County Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences, comprised of the Toxicology Laboratory and Drug Analysis Laboratory, observed a rise in fentanyl‐positive analyses in both laboratories. Fentanyl positivity increased from 1.1% to 3.4% in the Toxicology Laboratory over the five years of this study, whereas 6‐monoacetylmorphine (6‐MAM) positivity remained relatively stable at approximately 2%. Similarly, in the Drug Analysis Laboratory, the fentanyl positivity rate changed from 0.03% to 0.60%, whereas heroin identification remained stable at approximately 8–9%. Based on data obtained from toxicology submissions, a typical fentanyl or heroin user was a white male in their late 30s. The average concentration of fentanyl in postmortem cases, antemortem cases, and 6‐MAM in postmortem specimens was 9.7 ng/ml, 5.5 ng/ml, and 68.4 ng/ml, respectively. Poly‐drug use was evident, with benzodiazepines being the most commonly co‐administered drug with fentanyl (49.4%). Multiple drugs were identified via analysis of clandestine tablets submitted to the Drug Analysis Laboratory, including fentanyl and/or heroin in combination with compounds such as cocaine, etizolam, and acetaminophen. The most frequently identified clandestine tablet was “M367,” typically manufactured to contain acetaminophen and hydrocodone, but was found to contain fentanyl or heroin. The results from this study aid in the understanding of the current opioid trends in Dallas County and provides an opportunity for comparison to other populations and geographical regions.
Outcomes of early‐start peritoneal dialysis (PD) and the comparison with urgent‐start hemodialysis and conventional‐start PD
Authors: Yeter Hasan Haci , Izgi Aybuke , Yildirim Saliha , Akcay Omer Faruk , Derici Ulver
Published: October 2022

Background

Limited data in the literature is comparing early‐start peritoneal dialysis (PD), urgent‐start hemodialysis (HD) with the jugular central venous catheter (CVC), and conventional‐start PD.

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted with 148 patients with early‐start PD, 104 patients with conventional‐start PD, and 100 patients with urgent‐start HD. Early‐start PD was defined as catheter break‐in time between 3 and 14 days.

Results

The occurrence of dialysate‐leakage was similar between PD groups (p = 0.1). Bleeding at the catheter site was detected in 8 (2.3%) patients with CVC. There was no significant difference in catheter dysfunction and revision. PD groups had statistically similar peritonitis rates (p = 0.5). 19% (19/100) of patients suffered CVC‐related bloodstream infection and one patient died due to septic shock. Technique survival was significantly higher at early‐start PD than the conventional‐start PD at 6 months (p = 0.02).

Conclusion

Initiating early‐start PD is comparable with conventional‐start PD, and it may be an alternative dialysis modality to avoid bloodstream infections in suitable patients.
Accumulation by dispossession and hazardscape production in post‐corporate gold mining in Itogon, Philippines
Authors: Ocampo Lou Angeli , Schmitz Serge
Published: October 2022

This study investigates the experience of a gold mining community two decades after corporate mining activities ceased and were replaced by informal subcontract small‐scale mining in Itogon, Philippines. Drawing on David Harvey’s accumulation by dispossession and Daanish Mustafa’s hazardscape, we consider the lasting effects, from 1903, of dispossession upon the establishment of the first commercial mines in the Philippines as experienced by traditional miners in Itogon. Despite the closure of mining operations, mineral lands remain privately owned, resulting in the persistence of legal land dispossession among local small‐scale gold miners. Mining activities still continue as small‐scale miners are able to access abandoned mines through subcontract mining. Subcontract mining has changed the source of capital that funds mining activities from mining corporation to rent‐seeking small‐scale mining financiers, but the new economic relations still benefit from the capitalist logic of low natural resources and labour value. We argue that the production of hazardscapes is a consequence of accumulation by dispossession through (1) processes of expropriation of mineral lands and the consequent creation of free labour among local miners; (2) the externalisation environmental cost as an accumulation strategy that results in the production of socionatural hazards; and (3) exploitation of those who labour and who are made to work in precarious work environment while contributing to the production of hazardscapes.
Interleukin 23 receptor gene polymorphisms and their role in the inflammatory status of rheumatoid arthritis patients in an Iranian population
Authors: Abbasifard Mitra , Mirzaei Mohammad Reza , Abade Mahsa , Bagheri‐Hosseinabadi Zahra
Published: October 2022

Background

Several investigations have disclosed the involvement of the interleukin (IL)‐23/IL‐17 pathway in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis. Here we investigated the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL23 receptor (IL23R) gene with RA risk. In addition, the role of these SNPs with the inflammatory state of the patients were determined.

Methods

In this case‐control study, 200 RA cases and 200 healthy subjects were recruited. Using allelic discrimination real‐time polymerase chain reaction, both IL23R rs10489629 and rs1004819 SNPs were genotyped. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of IL‐23R, IL‐23, and IL‐17A were determined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). The serum levels of IL‐23 and IL‐17A were also determined.

Results

The A allele (odds ratio [OR] = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.15‐2.01; P = .0030), AA genotype (OR = 2.41, 95% CI: 1.33‐4.35; P = .0035), and AG genotype (OR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.56‐4.16, P = .0002) of rs1004819 SNP was significantly associated with increased RA risk. The mRNA expression of IL‐17A (fold change = 2.55, P = .00027), IL‐23 (fold change = 1.62, P = .0081), and IL‐23R (fold change = 1.59, P = .0077) was significantly upregulated in the PBMCs from RA patients compared to that of healthy controls. Serum levels of IL‐17A (P = .00019) and IL‐23 (P = .00055) was significantly higher in the RA patients compared to the controls. No significant association was detected between patient data and SNPs.

Conclusions

The IL‐23/IL‐27 pathway plays a role in RA pathogenesis, but IL23R gene rs1004819 SNP might not be regulating this pathway in RA disease.
Distinct clinicopathological characteristics, genomic alteration and prognosis in breast cancer with concurrent TP53 mutation and MYC amplification
Authors: Lin Xiaoyi , Lin Xin , Guo Lijuan , Wang Yulei , Zhang Guochun
Published: October 2022

Background

Both TP53 mutation and MYC amplification indicate poor outcomes in breast cancer (BC), but the clinical values of concurrent TP53 and MYC alterations have not been well‐characterized.

Methods

A total of 494 BC patients diagnosed at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (GDPH) were retrospectively analyzed. Genomic alterations were determined using next‐generation sequencing. Survival analysis was applied to assess the effects of genetic alterations on relapse‐free survival. The prognosis was verified based on 1405 patients from METABRIC cohort. Additionally, we used logistic regression to identify the factors associated with pathological complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Results

In GDPH cohort, patients with TP53/MYC co‐alteration exhibited higher grade and stage, more positive HER2 status and higher Ki67 levels, but less luminal A subtypes. They also had more mutations in genes involved in ERBB and TGF‐β signaling pathways, as well as exclusive FANCG/CDKN2B/QKI copy number amplifications and SUFU/HIST3H3/ERCC4/JUN/BCR mutations. Concurrent TP53 and MYC alterations independently increased hazards of relapse (HR, 5.425; 95% CI: 2.019–14.579; p < 0.001). They maintained independent significance for relapse‐free (HR, 1.310; 95% CI: 1.012–1.697; p = 0.041) and overall survival (HR, 1.373; 95% CI: 1.093–1.725; p = 0.006) in METABRIC cohort. Among the 81 patients receiving chemotherapy, TP53 mutation (OR, 5.750; 95% CI: 1.553–25.776; p = 0.013) and earlier stage (OR, 0.275; 95% CI 0.088–0.788; p = 0.020) were associated with pCR, while the co‐alteration did not serve as an independent predictor (p = 0.199).

Conclusions

TP53/MYC co‐alteration was associated with distinct clinicopathological and genomic features. They also conferred unfavorable prognosis in BC patients, and did not improve pCR after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Bromelain‐based endodontic irrigant: preparation, properties, and biocompatibility: An in‐vitro study
Authors: Aldoski Mohammed Rashed Nabi , Selivany Bahar Jaafar , Sulaiman Taiseer
Published: October 2022

The aim of the study was to determine the properties, efficacy and biocompatibility of combining bromelain enzyme, chlorohexidine and EDTA (BCE) to create a novel endodontic irrigant. Fourier transform infrared spectrometry was performed to confirm the stability of the BCE and direct contact inhibition test was performed to determine antibacterial action. Baseline pH and surface tension of irrigants was compared with determine stability. Subcutaneous injection to dorsal skin of rabbits was graded for presence of inflammation, oedema, granulation and fibrosis. BCE caused less overall irritation, less oedematous and was earlier to heal than 2.5% NaOCl. The pH stability of BCE was also superior to 2.5% NaOCl. A one‐way ANOVA test was performed for the direct contact inhibition and microleakage test. A significant difference was determined (p ≤ 0.05) between BCE and 2.5% NaOCl for antibacterial action. BCE irrigant is effective in preparing dentinal surfaces for root canal without adverse effects and promising longevity.
Early phase oncology clinical trials in Malaysia: current status and future perspectives
Authors: Voon Pei‐Jye , Lai Wei‐Hong , Bustaman Ros Suzanna , Siu Lillian L. , Razak Albiruni R. Abdul , Yusof Akhmal , Abdullah Noor Hisham
Published: October 2022

Historically, the majority of oncology clinical trials are conducted in Western Europe and North America. Globalization of drug development has resulted in sponsors shifting their focus to the Asia‐Pacific region. In Malaysia, implementation of various government policies to promote clinical trials has been initiated over a decade ago and includes the establishment of Clinical Research Malaysia, which functions as a facilitator and enabler of industry‐sponsored clinical trials on a nationwide basis. Although oncology clinical trials in Malaysia have seen promising growth, there are still only a limited number of early phase oncology studies being conducted. Hence, the Phase 1 Realization Project was initiated to develop Malaysia's early phase clinical trial capabilities. In addition, the adaptation of good practices from other countries contribute to the effective implementation of existing initiatives to drive progress in the development of early phase drug development set up in Malaysia. Furthermore, holistic approaches with emphasis in training and education, infrastructure capacities, strategic alliances, reinforcement of upstream activities in the value chain of drug development, enhanced patient advocacy, coupled with continued commitment from policy makers are imperative in nurturing a resilient clinical research ecosystem in Malaysia.
Whistleblower: How One Man Tried to Stop a Famous Cancer Center from Suppressing an Effective Treatment
Authors: Castuera Ignacio
Published: October 2022

While working at Sloan Kettering Institute (SKI) in the 1970s, Ralph Moss discovered that the top research scientist there was impressed with the anti‐cancer properties of amygdalin, the synthetic form of which is laetrile. At that time, laetrile was a topic of national interest as a low‐cost way of treating cancer. It would have been big news if SKI announced that laetrile was effective in animal studies and then conducted human trials of its efficacy. But due to pressure from unknown sources, Moss’s superiors chose to publicly deny the validity of their scientist’s research. Moss and other dissenting staff tried to gain press attention for the cover‐up going on at SKI, but their efforts failed. In 1979, the FDA ban on the interstate sale of laetrile was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, effectively ending the common use of it. It has been classified by the cancer establishment as a classic case of “quackery,” meaning that those who claim it has anti‐cancer properties are frauds. Thus, this case study shows how easily information about potentially effective cancer treatments can be suppressed by a handful of people in positions of authority. It also shows how politics can change the scientific information available to the public.
When Will theFDADo What Is in People’s Best Interests?
Authors: Ordman Alfred B.
Published: October 2022

The national effort to reduce the incidence and severity of cancer and other chronic diseases in the United States has suffered from political influences that undermine the interests of the public. As one example, the medical profession has not made adequate use of nutritional information to improve the health of the population. Daily values for vitamins were established in the United States during World War II, when the goal was to avoid short‐term deficiencies so soldiers could continue to fight. But there is more to health than short‐term survival. Linus Pauling advocated megadoses of vitamin C to reduce the risk of cancer and to improve long‐term health. Despite numerous studies demonstrating that better nutrition and exercise are vital to a longer span of good health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not permit claims to be made about the health benefits of specific nutritional supplements. The FDA is responsive to political pressures, including pressures to reduce public knowledge of supplements and their benefits. Pharmaceutical companies contribute to members of Congress to influence health policy. Those companies promote legislation and regulations that favor the use of expensive medical treatments and that limit the provision of cost‐effective public health measures. This article reviews many examples of failures of our current medical system, and methods that could prevent the current expense and suffering in this nation.
Autoimmune regulator (AIRE): Takes a hypoxia‐inducing factor 1A (HIF1A) route to regulate FOXP3 expression in PCOS
Authors: Padmanabhan Renjini Ambika , Johnson Betcy Susan , Dhyani Ajay Kumar , Pillai Sathy M. , Jayakrishnan K. , Laloraya Malini
Published: October 2022

Problem

Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy‐candidiasis‐ ectodermal dystrophy (APECED) pathology due to autoimmune regulator (AIRE) gene mutations leads to loss of central tolerance triggering immune attack, a factor causing infertility. One of the targets of autoimmune attack is ovary and its repercussion results in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Although reduced Tregs have been reported in PCOS, a lacunae exists on the status of AIRE gene expression and its role in treg insufficiency via HIF1A‐FOXP3 axis in PCOS.

Method of study

This is a case‐control cohort study recruiting 40 normal and 40 PCOS volunteers for peripheral blood sample collection and PCOS diagnoses were based on Rotterdam Consensus criteria. AIRE and HIF1A expression status was analysed by qRT PCR and western blot. FACS analyses was conducted on AIRE silenced peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after Treg induction.

Results

Our results indicate a reduced AIRE (fold change log2 (RQ) = –2.6, P < .01) and increased HIF1A (fold change log2 (RQ) = 3.6, P < .02) in PBMCs of PCOS subjects compared to age‐matched controls. Western blot of AIRE and HIF1A corroborates with qRT PCR data. Our CHIP data demonstrate AIRE mediated HIF1A promoter regulation. Silencing of AIRE in PBMCs contributes to the upregulation of HIF1A transcripts by two‐fold (P < .0015) and downregulation in FOXP3 expression by three‐fold (P < .0017). FACS analyses revealed that silencing of AIRE reduces Tcell to Treg conversion.

Conclusions

Our consolidated results derive a new connection among AIRE‐HIF1A‐FOXP3 with AIRE reduction enabling increased HIF1A resulting in reduced FOXP3 in PBMCs of PCOS patients leading to Treg insufficiency.
Australia, Britain, and Alternatives to European Integration, 1960–73
Authors: LeCras Luke
Published: October 2022

From 1960 to 1973, opponents of Britain joining the European Economic Community (EEC) made an unsuccessful case for the “Commonwealth alternative” — a renewed program of economic, strategic, and political cooperation that would allow Britain to remain outside the Common Market. This article examines two of the leading proponents of this idea in Australian politics — the Liberal MP James Killen and Australia's High Commissioner in London from 1963 to 1972, Sir Alexander Downer — and examines how their arguments for cooperation among Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom relate to the historical and contemporary opposition to European integration in Britain. It further considers how the idea of a Commonwealth alternative to the EEC conflicted with the changes to immigration policy that took place in Australia and the United Kingdom during the 1960s and early 1970s.
Testis‐specific serine kinase 3 is required for sperm morphogenesis and male fertility
Authors: Nozawa Kaori , Garcia Thomas X. , Kent Katarzyna , Leng Mei , Jain Antrix , Malovannaya Anna , Yuan Fei , Yu Zhifeng , Ikawa Masahito , Matzuk Martin M.
Published: October 2022

Background

The importance of phosphorylation in sperm during spermatogenesis has not been pursued extensively. Testis‐specific serine kinase 3 (Tssk3) is a conserved gene, but TSSK3 kinase functions and phosphorylation substrates of TSSK3 are not known.

Objective

The goals of our studies were to understand the mechanism of action of TSSK3.

Materials and methods

We analyzed the localization of TSSK3 in sperm, used CRISPR/Cas9 to generate Tssk3 knockout (KO) mice in which nearly all of the Tssk3 open reading frame was deleted (ensuring it is a null mutation), analyzed the fertility of Tssk3 KO mice by breeding mice for 4 months, and conducted phosphoproteomics analysis of male testicular germ cells.

Results

TSSK3 is expressed in elongating sperm and localizes to the sperm tail. To define the essential roles of TSSK3 in vivo, heterozygous (HET) or homozygous KO male mice were mated with wild‐type females, and fertility was assessed over 4 months; Tssk3 KO males are sterile, whereas HET males produced normal litter sizes. The absence of TSSK3 results in disorganization of all stages of testicular seminiferous epithelium and significantly increased vacuolization of germ cells, leading to dramatically reduced sperm counts and abnormal sperm morphology; despite these histologic changes, Tssk3 null mice have normal testis size. To elucidate the mechanisms causing the KO phenotype, we conducted phosphoproteomics using purified germ cells from Tssk3 HET and KO testes. We found that proteins implicated in male infertility, such as GAPDHS, ACTL7A, ACTL9, and REEP6, showed significantly reduced phosphorylation in KO testes compared to HET testes, despite unaltered total protein levels.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that TSSK3 is essential for male fertility and crucial for phosphorylation of multiple infertility‐related proteins. These studies and the pathways in which TSSK3 functions have implications for human male infertility and nonhormonal contraception.
Prevention of thrombus formation in blood pump by mechanical circular orbital excitation of impeller in magnetically levitated centrifugal pump
Authors: Hatakenaka Kohei , Hijikata Wataru , Fujiwara Tatsuki , Ohuchi Katsuhiro , Inoue Yusuke
Published: October 2022

Background

Mechanical circulatory support devices, such as left ventricular assist devices, have recently been used in patients with heart failure as destination therapy but the formation of thrombus in blood pumps remains a critical problem. In this study, we propose a mechanical antithrombogenic method by impeller excitation using a magnetically levitated (Maglev) centrifugal pump. Previous studies have shown that one‐directional excitation prevents thrombus; however, it is effective in only one direction. In this study, we aimed to obtain a better effect by vibrating it in a circular orbit to induce uniform changes in the shear‐rate field entirely around the impeller.

Methods

The blood coagulation time was compared using porcine blood. (1) The flow rate was set to 1 L/min, and applied excitation was at a frequency of 280 Hz and amplitude of 3 μm. (2) Moreover, the effect was compared by varying the frequency, amplitude, and direction of the excitation. In this experiment, the flow rate was set to 0.3 L/min.

Results

(1) The thrombus formation time was 77 min without excitation and 133 min with excitation, which was 1.7 times longer. (2) The results showed no difference between (280 Hz, 3 μm) and (50 Hz, 16 μm) circular orbital excitations, and no directional difference, with thrombus formation of 2.5 times longer under all conditions than that without excitation.

Conclusion

In the case of simple reciprocating excitation, the time was approximately 1.2 times longer. This indicated that the circular orbital excitation is more effective.
South Korean social enterprises and their networks: On their organizational linkages at the interstice between the third, public, and corporate sectors
Authors: Claassen Casper Hendrik , Bidet Eric , Kim Junki
Published: October 2022

Social enterprise and government interactions have become an increasingly prominent theme in the literature on social entrepreneurship, due in part to the pressures confronting the welfare state and the rise of precarious work. This analysis is motivated by the efforts of the government of South Korea to incubate social enterprises since 2007. The constant scaling of the South Korean government's monitored social enterprise certification scheme had led to the registration of approximately 3440 social enterprises as of May 2021. This study documents the interorganizational network behaviour of these enterprises relative to the public sector, corporate sector, and civil society and the social economy. A cluster analysis approach is utilized to analyse network data obtained from a self‐administered survey of 103 government‐certified social enterprises operating in South Korea. We find that a sizeable number of government‐certified social enterprises have diversified networks, as opposed to public sector‐centric networks, although such social enterprises are in the minority. This study references social innovation cluster theory to argue that the aforementioned scheme has attained a partial degree of success in facilitating the emergence of social enterprises with diversified networks.However, the majority remain quasi‐governmental implementers of government contracts and, generally, do not engage in networking.
Comparison of a novel form of zinc with zinc oxide bolus licensed for prevention of facial eczema, and interaction with copper oxide in sheep
Authors: Berry EA , Milner SJ , Bosson M. , McDougall S
Published: October 2022

To evaluate a novel elemental zinc bolus compared with a registered positive control zinc oxide bolus and assess serum zinc concentrations following concomitant treatment with a capsule containing copper oxide needles. Forty Romney‐cross ewes were randomly allocated in a 2 × 2 factorial design study. On Day 0, 20 ewes received novel boluses containing elemental zinc (Investigational Veterinary Product, IVP) while 20 received a zinc oxide bolus (control; CP). Half the animals in each zinc treatment group (n = 10) were treated with a copper oxide needle capsule [Copasure® ‐ Ewe]. Weekly, from Day −7 to 56, all ewes were assessed for signs of photosensitization, and for 10 ewes from each zinc treatment groups, samples were collected for analysis of serum GGT activity, serum zinc concentrations, faecal zinc concentrations and on Days −7 and 56, liver copper concentrations. Multivariable random‐effects models assessed the effects of zinc treatment, copper treatment, treatment interactions and time on all analytes. Regression models examined associations between serum and faecal zinc concentrations and GGT activity. Low spore numbers indicated low Pithomyces chartarum challenge. Serum zinc levels were significantly higher in the IVP than in the CP group [p < 0.0001] and varied by time [p < 0.001] and positively associated with faecal zinc concentration [p < 0.001]. Copper treatment did not affect serum zinc [p = 0.82] or faecal zinc [p = 0.92] concentrations. Liver copper concentrations did not differ between zinc treatment groups on Day −7 [p = 0.6] or Day 56 [p = 0.95]. Only the CP/no copper group had no increase in liver copper concentrations.
Instrumented Difference-in-Differences
Authors: Ye Ting , Ertefaie Ashkan , Flory James , Hennessy Sean , Small Dylan S.
Published: October 2022

Unmeasured confounding is a key threat to reliable causal inference based on observational studies. Motivated from two powerful natural experiment devices, the instrumental variables and difference-in-differences, we propose a new method called instrumented difference-in-differences that explicitly leverages exogenous randomness in an exposure trend to estimate the average and conditional average treatment effect in the presence of unmeasured confounding. We develop the identification assumptions using the potential outcomes framework. We propose a Wald estimator and a class of multiply robust and efficient semiparametric estimators, with provable consistency and asymptotic normality. In addition, we extend the instrumented difference-in-differences to a two-sample design to facilitate investigations of delayed treatment effect and provide a measure of weak identification. We demonstrate our results in simulated and real datasets.
CEDAR: Communication Efficient Distributed Analysis for Regressions
Authors: Chang Changgee , Bu Zhiqi , Long Qi
Published: October 2022

Electronic health records (EHRs) offer great promises for advancing precision medicine and, at the same time, present significant analytical challenges. Particularly, it is often the case that patient-level data in EHRs cannot be shared across institutions (data sources) due to government regulations and/or institutional policies. As a result, there are growing interests about distributed learning over multiple EHRs databases without sharing patient-level data. To tackle such challenges, we propose a novel communication efficient method that aggregates the optimal estimates of external sites, by turning the problem into a missing data problem. In addition, we propose incorporating posterior samples of remote sites, which can provide partial information on the missing quantities and improve efficiency of parameter estimates while having the differential privacy property and thus reducing the risk of information leaking. The proposed approach, without sharing the raw patient level data, allows for proper statistical inference. We provide theoretical investigation for the asymptotic properties of the proposed method for statistical inference as well as differential privacy, and evaluate its performance in simulations and real data analyses in comparison with several recently developed methods.