bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Covid-19 pandemic and firm performance: evidence on industry differentials and impacting channels
Authors: Ngo Hang Thi , Duong Ha Ngan
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study explores the impacts of Covid-19 on the performance of firms operating in different industries, and further discovers suspected impacting channels through which Covid-19 is significantly associated with firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A dataset of 402 listed firms from 2017Q1 to 2021Q4 is proceeded with high dimensional fixed effect (firm-quarter fixed effects) models and difference-in-difference models supported by propensity score matching. A thorough robustness testing procedure with a falsification test with a hypothetical event is applied.

Findings

The study asserts that the pandemic has remarkably hurt the businesses in industries that are more vulnerable to the coronavirus and governmental response policies. Adding to the confirmation of sales and expense channels, new channels – competition and short-term receivables –through which the negative impact of the pandemic is passed on firms is also examined.

Originality/value

First, this study is to be the first comprehensively investigate and affirm the varying impact of Covid-19 on the business performance of listed firms from different industries in Vietnam, providing additional insight into this research field in Vietnam and emerging economies. Second, the authors examine possible channels paving the way for the impact of Covid-19 on firms' performance and especially explore new channels associated with competition and short receivables. Third, the findings help to form the recommendations for Vietnamese firms, and the study could be replicated for other emerging countries under other similar infectious diseases-driven crises.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-02-2023-0072
A circular innovation strategy in a supply network context: evidence from the packaging industry
Authors: Cantu Chiara Luisa , Tunisini Annalisa
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The research question is how can a company implement a circular innovation in a supply network context? Leveraging the main conceptual and interpretative models of the industrial marketing and purchasing thinking, this study aims to investigate the interplay between the process of circular innovation development and the changes in the structure and dynamics of the supply network in which innovation takes place.

Design/methodology/approach

This research applies a case study design focusing on participant interaction dynamics. The case relates to an industrial company producing an innovative coating solution for compostable packaging. The data used to develop the case study came from multiple sources but primarily from semistructured interviews that cover the implementation of the circular innovation and the configuration of the circular network.

Findings

The dynamics of interconnected relationships can configure a circular network that interconnects business and non business actors through vertical, horizontal and heterogeneous relationships. The network configuration is supported by the new mobilizer actor that facilitates the sharing of circular knowledge within the circular network, together with the sharing of a market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation within the supply network, through the educational learning path.

Originality/value

This paper aims to contribute to a new understanding of how circular innovation can be developed, adopted and diffused. In a network, when circular innovation takes place, the focal issue is not the new product or technology in itself but how such innovation is developed and implemented by and through the reconfiguration of the business and non-business relationships into circular network.
How stakeholders collaborate? Meeting the challenges and availing the opportunities of military heritage tourism
Authors: Mahajan Prachi , Gupta Bharti , Pedapalli Sarath Chandra Kanth
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The goal of this study is to identify the problems of marketing military heritage as a tourism resource as well as to show how studies are linking the tourism industry with military historical sites to valorize epic wars and great tragedies as tourism development resources.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, evaluation of recently published research papers, articles and publications on military tourism is conducted.

Findings

While most DMOs (Destination Management Organizations) and tourism organizations have been slow to acknowledge the potential benefits of military heritage tourism, the examples offered show how stakeholders can help promote military heritage tourism.

Practical implications

The study has suggested managerial implications that will aid in the integration of stakeholder participation in the development of military heritage tourism.

Originality/value

This paper examines the constraints and potential benefits of military heritage tourism, as well as collaboration between stakeholders and military historic sites.
The differences in the implications of participative decision-making and paternalistic leadership for teachers' perceived stress in the education system of the Israeli Arab minority
Authors: Nassir Misaa , Benoliel Pascale
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Studies have shown that teachers' perceptions and expectations of their working environment shape their perceived stress. The present study draws upon implicit leadership theory and builds on the job demands-control (JD-C) model to investigate whether there are differences in the implications of participative decision-making and paternalistic leadership for teachers' perceived stress in the Israeli Arab education system.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through validated questionnaires returned by a two-stage cluster random sampling of 350 teachers randomly chosen from 70 Israeli Arab elementary schools. Paternalistic leadership and participative decision-making were considered as group-level variables to lower the risk of common method variance. The proposed model was tested through hierarchical regression analysis. Finally, to test the hypothesis that paternalistic leadership and participative decision-making standardized beta weights were statistically significantly different from each other, their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were estimated via bias corrected bootstrap (1000 re-samples).

Findings

The findings indicated differences in the levels of the principal's paternalistic leadership and participative decision-making as perceived by the Israeli Arab teachers. Also, the results indicated that participative decision-making was negatively correlated with teachers' perceived stress beyond the influence of paternalistic leadership.

Originality/value

Examining teachers' working conditions and resources can be important since they affect teachers' perceived stress, which may in turn affects school results in the Arab education system in Israel. This study can contribute to the development of training programs for teachers to improve and adapt principals' leadership practices to the sociocultural context of the Arab education system in Israel.
Capabilities required of the conventional project delivery (CPD) approach in producing quality design documentation: the Ghanaian construction industry perspective
Authors: Agbaxode Peter Dodzi Kwasi , Saghatforoush Ehsan , Dlamini Sitsabo
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The conventional project delivery (CPD) approach has been reported in the literature as the most widely used project delivery method in the construction industry globally compared to other delivery methods. However, researchers and practitioners have argued that the approach, specifically during the production of design documentation under the CPD, lacks certain capabilities that ensure quality and enhance project delivery. Therefore, this study aims to use the Ghanaian construction industry to identify the capabilities required of the CPD in practice, particularly during the production of design documentation.

Design/methodology/approach

The study design follows a pragmatist philosophy and uses mixed methods based on a deductive approach. Data collection involved a questionnaire survey, followed by semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data analysis used descriptive and inferential statistics, whereas qualitative data analysis used content analysis with the assistance of IBM SPSS and QSR Nvivo 12 Pro.

Findings

Findings indicate that there should be incentives for producing good design documentation quality; mandatory coordination of design documentation; improving collaboration among designers; and allowing contractors to make input during the design stage.

Practical implications

The results indicate the need for the identified capabilities to be introduced in the CPD approach to improve design documentation quality.

Originality/value

This study offers a significant insight into the specific capabilities that are required of the CPD approach in practice particularly, in the production of design documentation
The impact of brand value co-creation on perceived CSR authenticity and brand equity
Authors: Muniz Fernanda , Guzmán Francisco
Published: September 2023

Purpose

In response to the rise of socially conscious consumers, brands have been taking a strategic approach to corporate social responsibility (CSR) to drive brand equity. Nevertheless, merely engaging in CSR is not enough to have a positive impact on the value consumers give to a brand. The success of a CSR program depends on its consumers’ perceived authenticity. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how the perception of CSR authenticity, and consequently brand equity, can be enhanced by leveraging brand value co-creation.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a mixed-method approach to test its hypotheses. Study 1 collects survey data from a national representative sample in the USA, which is analyzed using structural equation modeling. Study 2 collects experimental data from a public university’s research pool, also in the USA, which is analyzed using ANOVA and mediation analysis.

Findings

This study demonstrates that when consumers believe that a brand is co-creative – i.e. consumers are allowed to participate in the creation of value – they will likely perceive the brand’s CSR program as more authentic, which in turn will positively affect brand equity.

Originality/value

The findings of this study offer implications for academics and brand managers interested on how to effectively leverage CSR for brand building. Specifically, it demonstrates that embracing CSR alone may not be sufficient to enhance brand equity and that brand managers should consider leveraging co-creation to strengthen perceptions of CSR authenticity.
Politics, the Constitution and the Independence Movement in Scotland since Devolution
Authors: Petrie Malcolm
Published: September 2023

This article explores the course of Scottish politics since the establishment of the devolved parliament in 1999. It begins by considering the political roots of devolution before assessing the extent to which the electoral successes of the Scottish National Party (SNP) at the 2007 and 2011 devolved elections indicated a rise in support for Scottish independence. The focus then shifts to the political consequences of the 2014 independence referendum, in particular the relationship between the ‘Yes’ campaign and the SNP, as well as the changing social composition of the SNP's electoral support. The article concludes by examining the attempts of the SNP, and the wider independence movement, to secure a second independence referendum before reviewing recent political developments in Scotland.
The three constituencies of the state: why the state has lost unifying energy
Authors: King Desmond , Le Galès Patrick
Published: September 2023

We address resurgent populism by examining structural processes of state transformation in the UK, the US and France. Scholars stress the ‘unifying energy of the state’, a set of institutions and policies capable of limiting inequalities and defending legal regimes. One characteristic of modern Western statehood were packages of policies designed to integrate social groups and territories in part by ensuring common standards of provision and social citizenship across the nation state. This echoes James Scott's critical analysis of the modernist project of the state (1998). This ‘unifying energy’ had different origins including nationalist movements, combatting external influence or powers, war, and preparing citizens for the rigours of industrialization. Overcoming class differences and territorial differences (including cultural, social and economic differences) was a major source of mobilization to feed this ‘unifying energy of the state’ in France, Italy or Spain for instance. Political and cultural identities are related in significant part to respective nation states. We argue that this ‘unifying energy’ was an essential component of statehood in Europe and in the US. It is now largely lost. We explain why and the significance of its displacement.
Evaluating a health system‐wide opioid disposal intervention distributing home‐disposal bags
Authors: Huang Lyen C. , Bleicher Josh , Torre Michael , Johnson Jordan E. , Presson Angela , Millar Morgan M. , Gordon Adam J. , Brooke Benjamin S. , Kaphingst Kimberly A. , Harris Alex H. S.
Published: September 2023

Objective

To evaluate a health system‐wide intervention distributing free home‐disposal bags to surgery patients prescribed opioids.

Data Sources and Study Setting

We collected patient surveys and electronic medical record data at an academic health system.

Study Design

We conducted a prospective observational study. The bags were primarily distributed at pharmacies, though pharmacists delivered bags to some patients. The primary outcome was disposal of leftover opioids (effectiveness). Secondary outcomes were patient willingness to dispose and factors associated with disposal (effectiveness), recalling receipt of the bag (reach), and recalling receipt of bags and disposal over time (maintenance). We used a modified Poisson regression to evaluate the relative risk of disposal. Inverse probability of treatment weighting, based on propensity scores, was used to account for differences between survey responders and non‐responders and reduce nonresponse bias.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

From August 2020 to May 2021, we surveyed patients 2 weeks after discharge (allowing for home opioid use). Eligibility criteria were age ≥18, English being primary language, valid email address, hospitalization ≤30 days, discharge home, and an opioid prescription sent to a system pharmacy.

Principal Findings

We identified 5134 patients with 2174 completing the survey (response rate 42.3%). Among respondents, 1375 (63.8%) recalled receiving the disposal bag. Among 1075 respondents with leftover opioids, 284 (26.4%) disposed, 552 (51.3%) planned to dispose, 79 (7.4%) did not plan to dispose, 69 (6.4%) had undecided, and 91 (8.5%) had not considered disposal. Recalling receipt of the bag (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 1.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13–1.37) was positively associated with disposal. Patients who used opioids in the last year were less likely to dispose (IRR 0.82, 95% CI 0.73–0.93). Disposal rates remained stable over the study period while recalling receipt of bags trended up.

Conclusions

A pragmatic implementation of a disposal intervention resulted in lower disposal rates than prior trials.
Amazon is coming to town: Sequential information revelation in the housing market
Authors: Chen Yifan , Wilkoff Sean , Yoshida Jiro
Published: September 2023

This study demonstrates that the housing market can incorporate information quickly instead of slowly over time, using Amazon's gradual revelation of its new headquarters locations in Virginia and New York. Spatial difference‐in‐differences analysis shows that housing prices near the Virginia headquarters exhibit premia months before the decision, while price premia for New York reach before the decision but disappear upon cancellation. The absence of significant effects on transaction volume, construction, or price premia for other finalist cities rules out the possibility of speculation. Overall, this study provides a counterpoint to the commonly held belief that the real estate market is always slow to respond to information about future demand shocks.
Deciphering the cellular heterogeneity of the insect brain with single‐cell RNA sequencing
Authors: Wang Xiaofei , Zhai Yifan , Zheng Hao
Published: September 2023

Insects show highly complicated adaptive and sophisticated behaviors, including spatial orientation skills, learning ability, and social interaction. These behaviors are controlled by the insect brain, the central part of the nervous system. The tiny insect brain consists of millions of highly differentiated and interconnected cells forming a complex network. Decades of research has gone into an understanding of which parts of the insect brain possess particular behaviors, but exactly how they modulate these functional consequences needs to be clarified. Detailed description of the brain and behavior is required to decipher the complexity of cell types, as well as their connectivity and function. Single‐cell RNA‐sequencing (scRNA‐seq) has emerged recently as a breakthrough technology to understand the transcriptome at cellular resolution. With scRNA‐seq, it is possible to uncover the cellular heterogeneity of brain cells and elucidate their specific functions and state. In this review, we first review the basic structure of insect brains and the links to insect behaviors mainly focusing on learning and memory. Then the scRNA applications on insect brains are introduced by representative studies. Single‐cell RNA‐seq has allowed researchers to classify cell subpopulations within different insect brain regions, pinpoint single‐cell developmental trajectories, and identify gene regulatory networks. These developments empower the advances in neuroscience and shed light on the intricate problems in understanding insect brain functions and behaviors.
Natural human Bet v 1‐specific IgG antibodies recognize non‐conformational epitopes whereas IgE reacts with conformational epitopes
Authors: Brazhnikov Georgii , Smolnikov Evgenii , Litovkina Alla , Jiang Tianchi , Shatilov Artem , Tulaeva Inna , Tulaev Mikhail , Karaulov Alexander , Poroshina Alina , Zhernov Yury , Focke‐Tejkl Margarete , Weber Milena , Akinfenwa Oluwatoyin , Elisyutina Olga , Andreev Sergey , Shilovskiy Igor , Shershakova Nadezhda , Smirnov Valeriy , Fedenko Elena , Lepeshkova Tatiana Sergeevna , Beltyukov Evgeny Cronidovich , Naumova Veronika Victorovna , Kundi Michael , Khaitov Musa , Wiedermann Ursula , Valenta Rudolf , Campana Raffaela
Published: September 2023

Background

The nature of epitopes on Bet v 1 recognized by natural IgG antibodies of birch pollen allergic patients and birch pollen‐exposed but non‐sensitized subjects has not been studied in detail.

Objective

To investigate IgE and IgG recognition of Bet v 1 and to study the effects of natural Bet v 1‐specific IgG antibodies on IgE recognition of Bet v 1 and Bet v 1‐induced basophil activation.

Methods

Sera from birch pollen allergic patients (BPA, n = 76), allergic patients without birch pollen allergy (NBPA, n = 40) and non‐allergic individuals (NA, n = 48) were tested for IgE, IgG as well as IgG1 and IgG4 reactivity to folded recombinant Bet v 1, two unfolded recombinant Bet v 1 fragments comprising the N‐terminal (F1) and C‐terminal half of Bet v 1 (F2) and unfolded peptides spanning the corresponding sequences of Bet v 1 and the apple allergen Mal d 1 by ELISA or micro‐array analysis. The ability of Bet v 1‐specific serum antibodies from non‐allergic subjects to inhibit allergic patients IgE or IgG binding to rBet v 1 or to unfolded Bet v 1‐derivatives was assessed by competition ELISAs. Furthermore, the ability of serum antibodies from allergic and non‐allergic subjects to modulate Bet v 1‐induced basophil activation was investigated using rat basophilic leukaemia cells expressing the human FcεRI which had been loaded with IgE from BPA patients.

Results

IgE antibodies from BPA patients react almost exclusively with conformational epitopes whereas IgG, IgG1 and IgG4 antibodies from BPA, NBPA and NA subjects recognize mainly unfolded and sequential epitopes. IgG competition studies show that IgG specific for unfolded/sequential Bet v 1 epitopes is not inhibited by folded Bet v 1 and hence the latter seem to represent cryptic epitopes. IgG reactivity to Bet v 1 peptides did not correlate with IgG reactivity to the corresponding Mal d 1 peptides and therefore does not seem to be a result of primary sensitization to PR10 allergen‐containing food. Natural Bet v 1‐specific IgG antibodies inhibited IgE binding to Bet v 1 only poorly and could even enhance Bet v 1‐specific basophil activation.

Conclusion

IgE and IgG antibodies from BPA patients and birch pollen‐exposed non‐sensitized subjects recognize different epitopes. These findings explain why natural allergen‐specific IgG do not protect against allergic symptoms and suggest that allergen‐specific IgE and IgG have different clonal origin.
Balancing the ventricular outputs of pulsatile total artificial hearts
Authors: Gülcher Oskar J. , Vis Annemijn , Peirlinck Mathias , Kluin Jolanda
Published: September 2023

Background

Maintaining balanced left and right cardiac outputs in a total artificial heart (TAH) is challenging due to the need for continuous adaptation to changing hemodynamic conditions. Proper balance in ventricular outputs of the left and right ventricles requires a preload‐sensitive response and mechanisms to address the higher volumetric efficiency of the right ventricle.

Methods

This review provides a comprehensive overview of various methods used to balance left and right ventricular outputs in pulsatile total artificial hearts, categorized based on their actuation mechanism.

Results

Reported strategies include incorporating compliant materials and/or air cushions inside the ventricles, employing active control mechanisms to regulate ventricular filling state, and utilizing various shunts (such as hydraulic or intra‐atrial shunts). Furthermore, reducing right ventricular stroke volume compared to the left often serves to balance the ventricular outputs. Individually controlled actuation of both ventricles in a pulsatile TAH seems to be the simplest and most effective way to achieve proper preload sensitivity and left–right output balance. Pneumatically actuated TAHs have the advantage to respond passively to preload changes.

Conclusion

Therefore, a pneumatic TAH that comprises two individually actuated ventricles appears to be a more desirable option—both in terms of simplicity and efficacy—to respond to changing hemodynamic conditions.
Ocular and systemic associations and heritability of retinal arterial wall‐to‐lumen ratios in a twin cohort
Authors: Carstensen Christopher Voigt , Bjerager Jakob , Belmouhand Mohamed , Eckmann‐Hansen Christina , Rothenbuehler Simon P. , Dabbah Sami , Dalgård Christine , Laigaard Poul , Larsen Michael
Published: September 2023

Purpose

To investigate ocular and systemic factors associated with the retinal arterial wall‐to‐lumen ratio (WLR) and to determine the relative contribution of genetic and environmental variation to WLR in healthy adults.

Methods

This cross‐sectional twin study included 78 monozygotic and 67 dizygotic same‐sex twin pairs aged 58.4 ± 9.8 (mean ± SD) years. Lumen diameter (LD) and outer diameter (OD) of a superotemporal retinal artery were measured using adaptive optics fundus photography, and the WLR was calculated. Linear mixed model regression analysis of associations with WLR comprised the descriptive variables ocular axial length (AL), intraocular pressure (IOP), height, weight, body mass index (BMI), smoking, blood pressure, high density (HDL), low density (LDL) and very low density (VLDL) lipoproteins, total cholesterol and triglycerides. The relative influence of genes and environment on WLR was calculated through polygenetic modelling.

Results

Increasing age and arterial blood pressure were associated with a higher WLR, while increasing retinal artery OD and ocular AL were associated with a lower WLR. Sex, smoking status, BMI, IOP, cholesterol levels or triglycerides had no detectable impact on the WLR. Broad‐sense heritability of WLR was 21% (95% CI: 1–41%), while environmental factors accounted for the remaining 79% of the interindividual variance (95% CI: 59–99%).

Conclusion

Retinal artery wall thickness was closely linked to increasing age and higher arterial blood pressure, the latter being mediated by the environment over genes.
Visual function in Norwegian children aged 5–13 years with prenatal exposure to opioid maintenance therapy: A case–control study
Authors: Aslaksen Anne Kathinka , Vikesdal Gro Horgen , Voie Marit Torbergsen , Rowlands Megan , Skranes Jon , Haugen Olav H.
Published: September 2023

Purpose

To assess various aspects of visual function in school children prenatally exposed to opioid maintenance therapy (OMT) and to explore possible outcome differences between prenatal methadone and buprenorphine exposure.

Methods

In a cross‐sectional case–control study, 63 children aged 5–13 years with prenatal OMT exposure were compared with 63 age‐ and gender‐matched, non‐exposed controls regarding important visual parameters, such as visual acuity, orthoptic status, refractive state, colour vision, and visual field.

Results

The OMT‐exposed children had significantly poorer visual acuity, both for the best eye, the worst eye and binocularly. Two children had mild visual impairment. Manifest strabismus was more frequent in the OMT group, 30%, vs. 4.8% in the control group. The most frequent types of strabismus were accommodative esotropia and intermittent exotropia. Manifest nystagmus was present in 10 (16%) of the exposed children compared to one among the non‐exposed children. The accommodative amplitude was decreased in the OMT group compared to the controls. After adjusting for polydrug exposure and SGA (small‐for‐gestational‐age), the between‐group differences in visual acuity, strabismus, and nystagmus remained. The methadone‐exposed children had poorer visual acuity, increased frequency of strabismus and a higher percentage of nystagmus, hypermetropia and astigmatism compared to the buprenorphine‐exposed children.

Conclusions

School‐age children exposed to methadone or buprenorphine in utero had a higher prevalence of strabismus and nystagmus, and a lower visual acuity and accommodation amplitude. Buprenorphine exposure was associated with more favourable results than methadone exposure on most visual outcome measures and should be the preferred substance in OMT.
Letter: Causal relationship between aspirin and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma remains unproven
Authors: Wu Jia‐Lin , Luo Jun‐Yang , Deng Xin‐Yi , Jiang Zai‐Bo
Published: September 2023

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Lee et al paper. To view this article, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17643
Regression-Based Multiple Treatment Effect Estimation under Covariate-Adaptive Randomization
Authors: Gu Yujia , Liu Hanzhong , Ma Wei
Published: September 2023

Covariate-adaptive randomization methods are widely used in clinical trials to balance baseline covariates. Recent studies have shown the validity of using regression-based estimators for treatment effects without imposing functional form requirements on the true data generation model. These studies have had limitations in certain scenarios; for example, in the case of multiple treatment groups, these studies did not consider additional covariates or assumed that the allocation ratios were the same across strata. To address these limitations, we develop a stratum-common estimator and a stratum-specific estimator under multiple treatments. We derive the asymptotic behaviors of these estimators and propose consistent nonparametric estimators for asymptotic variances. To determine their efficiency, we compare the estimators with the stratified difference-in-means estimator as the benchmark. We find that the stratum-specific estimator guarantees efficiency gains, regardless of whether the allocation ratios across strata are the same or different. Our conclusions were also validated by simulation studies and a real clinical trial example.
Global viewpoints: updates on prostate cancer in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Jalloh Mohamed , Cassell Ayun , Niang Lamine , Rebbeck Timothy
Published: September 2023

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major health concern in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA), with high incidence and mortality rates. However, the widely used prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) screening is not readily available or affordable in SSA. Alternative screening strategies, such as risk stratification approaches and cost‐effective PSA tests, are being explored to target high‐risk individuals and improve access to screening. Diagnosis of PCa in SSA is challenging due to the lack of access to diagnostic tools and limited healthcare resources. Clinical evaluation and digital rectal examination are commonly used, but PSA testing, magnetic resonance imaging, and biopsy are often limited. As a result, many men in SSA are diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease. Treatment options for PCa in SSA are often limited by a lack of resources and trained healthcare providers. Surgery, radiation therapy, and androgen‐deprivation therapy are available but may be inaccessible to many patients. Cultural beliefs and stigma surrounding PCa further impact treatment decisions. Improved patient and community awareness, electronic medical records, and communication between patients and healthcare professionals can enhance evidence‐based decision‐making and advocate for policy changes. Understanding the genetic determinants and implementing comprehensive strategies can lead to improved outcomes and better control of PCa in SSA.
Exploring examinees' responses to constructed response items with a supervised topic model
Authors: Kim Seohyun , Lu Zhenqiu , Cohen Allan S.
Published: September 2023

Textual data are increasingly common in test data as many assessments include constructed response (CR) items as indicators of participants' understanding. The development of techniques based on natural language processing has made it possible for researchers to rapidly analyse large sets of textual data. One family of statistical techniques for this purpose are probabilistic topic models. Topic modelling is a technique for detecting the latent topic structure in a collection of documents and has been widely used to analyse texts in a variety of areas. The detected topics can reveal primary themes in the documents, and the relative use of topics can be useful in investigating the variability of the documents. Supervised latent Dirichlet allocation (SLDA) is a popular topic model in that family that jointly models textual data and paired responses such as could occur with participants' textual answers to CR items and their rubric‐based scores. SLDA has an assumption of a homogeneous relationship between textual data and paired responses across all documents. This approach, while useful for some purposes, may not be satisfied for situations in which a population has subgroups that have different relationships. In this study, we introduce a new supervised topic model that incorporates finite‐mixture modelling into the SLDA. This new model can detect latent groups of participants that have different relationships between their textual responses and associated scores. The model is illustrated with an example from an analysis of a set of textual responses and paired scores from a middle grades assessment of science inquiry knowledge. A simulation study is presented to investigate the performance of the proposed model under practical testing conditions.
BPIFB1 promotes metastasis of hormone receptor‐positive breast cancer via inducing macrophage M2‐like polarization
Authors: Hu Anbang , Liu Yansong , Zhang Hanyu , Wang Ting , Zhang Jiarui , Cheng Weilun , Yu Tianshui , Duan Yunqiang , Feng Jianyuan , Chen Ziang , Ding Yu , Li Yanling , Li Mingcui , Rong Zhiyuan , Shang Yuhang , Shakila Suborna S. , Zou Yiyun , Ma Fei , Guo Baoliang
Published: September 2023

Metastasis is an important factor affecting the prognosis of hormone receptor‐positive breast cancer (BC). However, the molecular basis for migration and invasion of tumor cells remains poorly understood. Here, we identify that bactericidal/permeability‐increasing‐fold‐containing family B member 1 (BPIFB1), which plays an important role in innate immunity, is significantly elevated in breast cancer and associated with lymph node metastasis. High expression of BPIFB1 and its coding mRNA are significantly associated with poor prognosis of hormone receptor‐positive BC. Using enrichment analysis and constructing immune infiltration evaluation, we predict the potential ability of BPIFB1 to promote macrophage M2 polarization. Finally, we demonstrate that BPIFB1 promotes the metastasis of hormone receptor‐positive BC by stimulating the M2‐like polarization of macrophages via the establishment of BC tumor cells/THP1 co‐culture system, qPCR, Transwell assay, and animal experiments. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the role of BPIFB1 as a tumor promoter by activating the macrophage M2 polarization in hormone receptor‐positive breast carcinoma. Together, these results provide novel insights into the mechanism of BPIFB1 in BC.
Lamb–Shaffer syndrome: 20 Spanish patients and literature review expands the view of neurodevelopmental disorders caused by SOX5 haploinsufficiency
Authors: Tenorio‐Castano Jair , Gómez Ángela Sánchez‐Algaba , Coronado Mónica , Rodríguez‐Martín Pilar , Parra Alejandro , Pascual Patricia , Cazalla Mario , Gallego Natalia , Arias Pedro , Morales Aixa V. , Nevado Julián , Lapunzina Pablo
Published: September 2023

Lamb–Shaffer Syndrome (LSS; OMIM #616803; ORPHA #313892; ORPHA #313884) is an infrequent genetic disorder that affects multiple aspects of human development especially those related to the development of the nervous system. LSS is caused by variants in the SOX5 gene. At the molecular level, SOX5 gene encodes for a transcription factor containing a High Mobility Group (HMG) DNA‐Binding domain with relevant functions in brain development in different vertebrate species. Clinical features of Lamb–Shaffer syndrome may include intellectual disability, delayed speech and language development, attention deficits, hyperactivity, autism spectrum disorder, visual problems and seizures. Additionally, patients with the syndrome may present distinct facial dimorphism such as a wide mouth with full lips, small chin, broad nasal bridge, and deep‐set eyes. Other physical features that have been reported in some patients include short stature, scoliosis, and joint hypermobility. Here, we report the clinical and molecular characterization of a Spanish LSS cohort of new 20 patients and review all the patients published so far which amount for 111 patients. The most frequent features included developmental delay, intellectual disability, visual problems, poor speech development and facial dysmorphic features. Strikingly, pain insensitivity and hypermetropia seems to be more frequent than previously reported, based on the frequency seen in the Spanish cohort. Eighty‐three variants have been reported so far, single nucleotide variants (SNV) and copy number variants represent 47% and 53%, respectively, from the total of variants reported. Similarly to previous reports, the majority of the SNVs variants of the novel patients reported herein fall in the HMG domain of the protein. However, new variants, affecting other functional domains, were also detected. In conclusion, LLS is a rare genetic disorder mostly characterized by a wide range of developmental and neurological symptoms. Early diagnosis would allow to start of care programs, clinical follow up, prospective studies and appropriate genetic counseling, to promote clinical and social improvement to have profound lifelong benefits for patients and their families. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms of the syndrome related to SOX5 haploinsufficiency.
Localized calcium oxalate crystals in primary cutaneous aspergillosis
Authors: Meyer Summer N. , Le Stephanie , Caro‐Chang Leah Antoinette , Awasthi Smita , Fung Maxwell A. , Kiuru Maija
Published: September 2023

Select Aspergillus species can produce oxalate as a fermentation byproduct, which may react with calcium ions to produce insoluble calcium oxalate crystals in tissues. These crystals are frequently associated with pulmonary Aspergillus infections, yet are rarely described in primary cutaneous aspergillosis. Herein, we report the presence of calcium oxalate crystals detected on cutaneous specimens from primary cutaneous Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus fumigatus infections in an immunocompromised, premature infant. No metabolic sources of oxalosis were found.
Aktuelle Situation der allergologischen Versorgung an deutschen Kliniken
Authors: Hollstein Moritz Maximilian , Schober Anna , Treudler Regina , Becker Sven , Epping Jelena , Hamelmann Eckard , Taube Christian , Wagenmann Martin , Wedi Bettina , Worm Margitta , Zink Alexander , Buhl Timo , Werfel Thomas , Traidl Stephan
Published: September 2023

Hintergrund

Die Allergologie ist in Deutschland interdisziplinär organisiert. Zur Steuerung und Verbesserung fachbereichsübergreifender Kooperationen ist ein Überblick über die aktuelle Versorgungssituation notwendig.

Methode

Zwischen Januar und Februar 2022 wurden online und postalisch Fragebögen an Leitungen stationärer klinischer Fachbereiche versendet, denen die meisten allergologischen Krankheitsbilder zugeordnet werden (Dermatologie, HNO, Pneumologie, Pädiatrie, Umwelt/Arbeitsmedizin, Gastroenterologie; n = 899).

Ergebnisse

Die Rücklaufquote betrug 52,1%. Allergologische Abteilungen von Dermatologie, HNO und Pneumologie waren überwiegend in Ballungsgebieten verfügbar (> 100 000 Einwohner), während Antworten pädiatrischer Abteilungen größtenteils aus kleinen Städten kamen. 76,8% der befragten Kliniken gaben bestehende interdisziplinäre Behandlungskonzepte mit anderen Fachrichtungen an. Kliniken der Pädiatrie und der Pneumologie vermeldeten, insbesondere in kleineren Städten mit < 100 000 Einwohnern, unterproportional wenig interdisziplinäre Behandlungskonzepte mit Dermatologie und HNO‐Kliniken. Diagnostik und Therapie der allergischen Rhinitis wurden insbesondere durch die Abteilungen für HNO und Asthma vor allem durch die Abteilungen für Pneumologie durchgeführt. Die Betreuung der weiteren allergologischen Erkrankungen wurde am häufigsten aus der Dermatologie und Pädiatrie zurückgemeldet.

Schlussfolgerungen

In Ballungsgebieten übernehmen beteiligte Fachbereiche die allergologische Versorgung kooperativ. Ein großes Spektrum der Versorgung wird in Kooperationen mit dermatologischen Kliniken abgedeckt. In ländlicheren Gebieten sind Kooperationen seltener, wobei hier die Versorgung vor allem durch pädiatrische Abteilungen erfolgt, was im Vergleich zu Ballungsgebieten das eingeschränktere Leistungsangebot erklären könnte.
S2k‐Leitlinie Diagnostik, Prävention und Therapie des Handekzems
Authors: Bauer Andrea , Brans Richard , Brehler Randolf , Büttner Marion , Dickel Heinrich , Elsner Peter , Fartasch Manigé , Herzog Claudia , John Swen‐Malte , Köllner Arno , Maul Julia‐Tatjana , Merk Hans , Molin Sonja , Nast Alexander , Nikolakis Georgios D. , Schliemann Sybille , Skudlik Christoph , Weisshaar Elke , Werfel Thomas , Zidane Miriam , Worm Margitta
Published: September 2023

Die S2k‐Leitlinie „Diagnostik, Prävention und Therapie des Handekzems (HE)“ gibt auf der Grundlage eines evidenz‐ und konsensbasierten Ansatzes konkrete Handlungsanweisungen und Empfehlungen für die Diagnostik, Prävention und Therapie des HE. Die Leitlinie wurde auf der Grundlage der deutschen Leitlinie „Management von Handekzemen“ aus dem Jahr 2009 und der aktuellen Leitlinie der European Society of Contact Dermatitis (ESCD) „Guidelines for diagnosis, prevention and treatment of hand eczema“ aus dem Jahr 2022 erstellt. Allgemeines Ziel der Leitlinie ist es, Dermatologen und Allergologen in der Praxis und Klinik eine akzeptierte, evidenzbasierte Entscheidungshilfe für die Auswahl sowie Durchführung einer geeigneten und suffizienten Therapie für Patienten mit Handekzemen zur Verfügung zu stellen. Die Leitlinie basiert auf zwei Cochrane‐Reviews zu therapeutischen und präventiven Interventionen beim HE. Die übrigen Kapitel wurden überwiegend basierend auf nicht systematischen Literaturrecherchen durch die Expertengruppe erarbeitet und konsentiert. Die Expertenkommission bestand aus Mitgliedern von allergologischen und berufsdermatologischen Fachgesellschaften und Arbeitsgruppen, einer Patientenvertretung und Methodikern. Im Rahmen einer Konsensuskonferenz am 15.09.2022 wurden die Vorschläge für die Empfehlungen und Kernaussagen unter Verwendung eines nominalen Gruppenprozesses konsentiert. Der strukturierte Konsensfindungsprozess wurde professionell moderiert. Die vorliegende Leitlinie hat eine Gültigkeit bis zum 22.02.2028.
The latitudinal specialization gradient of bird–malarial parasite networks in South America: lower connectance, but more evenly distributed interactions towards the equator
Authors: Pinheiro Rafael B. P. , Felix Gabriel M. F. , Bell Jeffrey A. , Fecchio Alan
Published: September 2023

Whereas the latitudinal diversity gradient has been shown for a diverse set of taxa, a related macroecological pattern, the latitudinal specialization gradient (LSG), remains controversial. A classical expectation is that species should present more specialized interactions towards the equator, however, recent studies have provided conflicting evidence for this hypothesis. Here, we tested the LSG in a set of bird–malarial parasite networks across South America. Our analyses comprise 9763 individual birds surveyed in 52 communities, within eight biomes and spanning a gradient of 4700 km. We measured network‐level specialization through indices that account for increasingly comprehensive information. Binary specialization considers the occurrence/absence of interactions between each host–parasite pair; quantitative specialization is also affected by the frequency of interactions between each host–parasite pair; and phylogenetic specialization takes into account the phylogeny and abundances of host species. We found that, while binary specialization increases towards the equator, quantitative specialization decreases. Thus, despite each parasite lineage infecting a more restricted set from the available host species in low latitudes, infections were more evenly distributed among host species, than in higher latitudes. Additionally, using a structural equation model, we show that both direct and indirect effects contribute to this unexpected relationship. Direct effects are weak, and network‐specialization was mostly explained by host species and parasite lineage richness, evidencing that changes in network specialization along latitude are in a large part explained by the latitudinal diversity gradient for birds and malarial‐parasites. In the light of the accumulated evidence over the past years, reinforced by our findings, we suggest that the classical latitudinal specialization hypothesis should be reevaluated, making room for a theoretical framework able to encompass the conflicting results.
Do predator odours and warmer winters affect growth of salmonid embryos?
Authors: Filipsson Karl , Erlandsson Ann , Greenberg Larry , Österling Martin , Watz Johan , Bergman Eva
Published: September 2023

Conditions early in ontogeny can have considerable effects later on in life. Many salmonids spawn during the autumn, and temperature during subsequent embryogenesis may have far‐reaching effects on life‐history traits, especially when considering ongoing climate change. Even biotic conditions during embryogenesis, such as predation threat, may affect later life stages. Here, we examined how predator odours and increased temperatures affect embryonic growth and development of a fish (brown trout Salmo trutta). We found that embryos had lower body mass and greater yolk volume close to hatching when subjected to predator odours. Trout embryos incubated at temperatures representing natural winter conditions were larger than embryos incubated at higher temperatures, although the latter hatched earlier. Fry sizes at emergence did not differ between treatments, perhaps because of compensatory growth during spring. This study shows that predator presence can have similar effects on embryonic growth of salmonids as warming winters, with possible impact later in ontogeny.
Digitalisation in pre‐purchase examination and prospects for an equine health database in Germany—Results of an online survey among equine veterinarians
Authors: Folgmann Muriel Sarah , Kleinsorgen Christin , Stock Kathrin Friederike , Meister Daniel , Hellige Maren , Feige Karsten , Delling Uta
Published: September 2023

Background

Digital recording and storage of health data are becoming increasingly important in the fields of both human and veterinary medicine. There is currently a lack of information on the level of digitalisation among equine veterinarians in Germany and their attitudes towards advanced digitalisation.

Objectives

To collect opinions of equine veterinarians about (1) digital data collection in pre‐purchase examinations (PPEs), and (2) the establishment of an equine health database in Germany.

Study design

Cross‐sectional survey.

Methods

An online survey was developed and distributed via email exclusively to equine veterinarians in Germany. After 40 days of data collection, answers were used for descriptive statistical analyses.

Results

The survey was sent to 1055 recipients, of which 147 (13.9%) participated and 130 survey responses from equine veterinarians could be used for analyses. Most respondents were working in an equine practice (77.9%) and performing PPEs (93.8%), for which they mostly used printed protocols (86.0%). The PPE protocol of the German Equine Veterinary Association as a paper print was the format most frequently used (47.1%). The majority of participating equine veterinarians (90.2%) would use a digital protocol for PPEs if available. Concerns were expressed about user‐friendliness (55.9%) and integration into the daily veterinary routine (54.6%). Regarding the establishment of an equine health database, 72.3% of the respondents stated they would appreciate it. However, about one‐third would support such a development only under certain conditions: guaranteed data safety, collection of objective data or involving the opinion of other stakeholders.

Main limitations

Low response rate, potential non‐response bias and wide range of question topics.

Conclusion

A positive attitude towards digital PPEs and an equine health database in Germany became apparent. To facilitate further progress, it would be crucial to consider the concerns and conditions identified in this study to generate maximum compliance.