bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ethics beyond leadership: can ethics survive bad leadership?
Authors: Roque Ana , Moreira José Manuel , Dias Figueiredo José , Albuquerque Rosana , Gonçalves Helena
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the relaxion on what can be done to develop ethical cultures that may be less permeable and more resilient to changes in leadership from an ethical point of view. The influence of leaders on organisational ethics is recognised, and there are even those who consider that it is not possible to maintain an ethical culture when leaders are not engaged. But, if this theory is true, all business ethics programmes that can be created, and the cultures that can gradually be developed in organisations, will always have their existence and robustness suspended at each leadership change. How to maintain an ethical culture beyond leadership?

Design/methodology/approach

As a strategy, we used the case study with a narrative methodology, in which a chief executive officer (CEO) and a chief compliance officer (CCO) narrate in the first person a case of perceived collapse of the ethical culture of a multinational company.

Findings

The findings point to the difficulty in maintaining ethical leadership. Key aspects to protect an organization from leadership changes are as follows: the management of the succession process, the quality of the training on ethics and the mechanisms developed by the organization to foment speak up and take notice of the situations. Moral blindness and the banality of evil that also can be observed in organizations appear as facilitating elements for collapse.

Originality/value

Ethical leadership is generally presented as a necessary condition for an ethical culture. However, leaders often have unethical or ethically neutral leadership. This case helps to understand the difficulties experienced by leaders in adopting ethical leadership and proposes a set of instruments and procedures that, when included in an ethical programme, can protect the company's ethical culture against unethical leaders. Some characteristics of our case study make it particularly relevant: action occurs in a multinational, a context where, by size and complexity, achieving uniformity in culture becomes particularly relevant, and actions happen in the context of a CEO succession process, something that may occur in any company and which is often a trigger for ethical misconducts. Additionally, our case is narrated by a CEO and a CCO, which makes it rare, as it is especially difficult to have access to these executives.
Effective interim leadership and management: development of a cyclical model of interim assignments
Authors: Woods Stephen A. , Diprose Nick , Murphy-Diprose Mary , Thomas Geoff
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper reviews literature on interim leadership and management through the lens of effective interim performance. The purpose of this review is to advance understanding of interim assignment performance and the antecedent individual psychological characteristics of effective interim leaders and managers, to improve the practice of managing interim leaders from a human resources (HR) perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reports a targeted review of the literature on interim leadership and management.

Findings

The main proposition from this review is that the influence of individual factors on interim performance operates within the stages and contexts of assignments. Accordingly, the authors propose a framework of the demands on interim assignments (the interim assignment cycle), comprising stages of preparation, entry, delivery and exit. The paper subsequently reviews evidence of the potential individual characteristics (focussing on individual differences in personality, leadership approach, motivation and competencies) of effective preparation and entry to an assignment, actions and performance during an assignment and exit/disengagement.

Practical implications

The findings of the review have implications for the selection and placement of interims into organizations and their management once appointed.

Originality/value

The main original contribution of the paper is to provide a framework around which interim assignments can be modelled and better understood. The paper discusses implications for future research, theory and human resource management practice and calls for a renewed research effort in this critical area of management and leadership.
Remarkable lives: Rob Wright in conversation with Jerome Carson
Authors: Carson Jerome , Wright Robert
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a profile of Rob Wright.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a case study approach, Rob gives a short account of his background and is then interviewed by Jerome.

Findings

Rob’s is an amazing account of surviving a harrowing upbringing, which fortunately few of us reading this piece will have had to endure.

Research limitations/implications

Rob’s story perfectly illustrates why first-person accounts are so powerful. It is hard to imagine a statistical paper having the same impact as this description of one person’s lived experience.

Practical implications

Suicide is the greatest danger for anyone with a long-term mental health problem. Rob has faced this decision many times and has courageously battled on.

Social implications

Rachel’s simple, yet profound mantra, of “someone to love, something to do, somewhere to live,” is vital for all of our well-being. As Rob also points out, you still need money to put into the electric meter!

Originality/value

Some people have tough upbringings and some have cruel upbringings. Rob had both. His survival is a testament to the uncrushable nature of the human spirit.
Assessment of antioxidant activity, minerals and chemical constituents of edible mahua (Madhuca longifolia) flower and fruit of using principal component analysis
Authors: Singh Vinti , Singh Jyotsana , Kushwaha Radha , Singh Monika , Kumar Sandeep , Rai Awadhesh Kumar
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Flowers and fruits of Madhuca longifolia (Koenig) (mahua) tree are edible and used as traditional Indian medicines. The physicochemical properties of different parts of mahua are investigated. This study aims to estimate the different mineral contents, polyphenols compounds and antioxidant activities by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl inhibition, reducing power, free radical scavenging activity using 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays of mahua flower, ripe and unripe fruit.

Design/methodology/approach

Flavonoids were identified and quantified in yellow flowers and fruits of M. longifolia tree by high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector. Low molecular weight carbohydrates were determined by the ICBio scan, a specific method for determining of carbohydrates. Mineral content is determined by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Physicochemical, nutritional and mineral properties of mahua flower, ripe and unripe fruit were investigated by the statistical approach of principal component analysis (PCA).

Findings

Ascorbic acid, gallic acid (GA), quercetin and myrcetin were the phenolic compounds identified and quantified in mahua flower and fruit extracts. Sugar profiling of mahua flowers and fruits confirmed the presence of inositol, sorbitol, mannitol, dextrose, fructose, sucrose, raffinose and maltose. The mineral content of Na, K, Mg and Ca was present in quite a good amount in all samples. Total phenolic content (TPC) was significantly high in mahua flower (25.3 ± 1.0 mg GA equivalent/g FW) followed by mahua unripe (15.8 ± 1.0 mg GA equivalent/g FW) and ripe fruit (14.3 ± 1.0 mg GA equivalent/g FW) at p = 5%. In contrast, total flavonoid contents (TFCs) were highest in ripe fruit, then mahua flower and unripe fruit. Positive correlations were predicted by PCA for mahua flower with TPC, antioxidant activity assays and minerals except for Na; ripe fruit with TFC and Na; and unripe fruit with maltose and sorbitol.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates the application of LIBS for the determination of elements present in the mahua flowers and fruits and reveals that mahua can be a good source of nutrients. Sugar profiling of mahua flower showed that it is a rich source of reducing and non-reducing sugar, proving that mahua flower juice can be used as a natural sweetener in the development of different food products, namely, biscuits, cookies, cake, jam, jelly, juice and squash.
Mechanical isotropy and postcure shrinkage of polydimethylsiloxane printed with digital light processing
Authors: Kim Dong Sung (Danny) , Suriboot Jakkrit , Shih Chin-Cheng , Cwiklik Austin , Grunlan Melissa A. , Tai Bruce L.
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the printability of photocurable PDMS with digital light processing (DLP) in terms of dimensional accuracy, mechanical properties, isotropy and postcure shrinkage.

Design/methodology/approach

The photocurable PDMS was made from methacrylated PDMS-macromer and 2,4,6-Trimethylbenzoyldi-Phenylphosphinate (TPO-L) photoinitiator. The PDMS was printed using different orientations, sizes and post-exposure conditions and then evaluated by tensile test and microscope to determine the printability.

Findings

Printed parts show good accuracy and low shrinkage, but high directionality in modulus, ductility and strength. The dimensional error is less than 2% and the shrinkage rates are less than 0.52%. In contrast, the modulus varies between 0.87 and 0.96 MPa depending on print orientation, elongation varies from 34.7% to 66.4% and strength varies from 0.23 to 0.49 MPa.

Originality/value

This study quantitatively characterizes the printability of photo curable PDMS with DLP, which has not been reported elsewhere. This paper also discusses the challenges of PDMS printing for future advancement.
The nexus of economic growth, priority sector lending and non-performing assets: case of Indian banking sector
Authors: Gaur Dolly , Mohapatra Dipti Ranjan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

In recent years, the Indian banking sector is facing a major cause of concern in the form of Nonperforming Assets (NPA), and the priority sector lending (PSL) is generally recognized as the major factor contributing to it. Thus, the present study has been carried out with the objective of examining the relationship between priority sector lending and GDP growth. Thereafter, the role of PSL and certain other bank-specific, industry-specific and macroeconomic variables in determining NPA has been studied.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking a sample of 45 scheduled commercial banks, the study has been carried out for 14 years (2004–2018). Granger causality between PSL and GDP has been examined by applying the Dumitrescu-Hurlin test. For the purpose of investigating the impact of PSL and other determinants on NPA, both static and dynamic panel regression have been performed. Under the dynamic panel, system generalized methods of moments (S-GMM) approach has been followed.

Findings

The findings show that there exists a positive correlation and bidirectional causal relationship between PSL and GDP, which implies that PSL brings additional growth for the whole economy. In addition to it, PSL is found to be insignificant for the NPA ratio, and thus, it can be inferred that credit extended to government-specified sectors does not bring any major increase in the bad loan portfolio of banks.

Practical implications

The policymakers and bank management can take a cue from the findings of this study to decrease the exposure to loan nonrepayment issue. The priority sectors are in need of formal credit for their growth, and since the rising population of the country can find employment in these sectors, banks should meet their credit needs while securing their position with regard to the NPA problem.

Originality/value

The issue of NPA determinants, and in particular, the contribution of priority sector lending in it has not been much explored for Indian banking sector. Also, the present study adds to the literature by using the causality approach for examining the importance of directed credit schemes for economic growth.
Sustaining community infrastructure through community-based governance (the social practice of collective design policy)
Authors: Gbadegesin Job Taiwo , Ojekalu Samson , Gbadegesin Taiwo Frances , Komolafe Markson Opeyemi
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper empirically provides information on community-driven infrastructure provision through the collective efforts of community-based organizations (CBOs). It offers an insight into emerging events on community-based infrastructure procurement, scholarship and, creating gaps for new frontiers of knowledge on community development research agenda in the emerging economies.

Design/methodology/approach

It is drawn upon community-based associations, herein referred to as landlords-landladies community association (LLCAs) – representatives of households in the communities. After interviewing the key members of the groups, we administered copies of the semi-structured questionnaire randomly on the enumerated regular members of sampled seventeen LLCAs. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.

Findings

Planning for a sustainable community, protection and security necessity and Government inadequate attention on emerging communities over the years are the main reasons for the joint decision. Electrification, drainage and road top the lists of the projects executed. Major challenges included diversity and inclusiveness. Development projects' design, execution and commission contribute to performance. Also, LLCAs' clarity of duties and purposes and tenure/duration of officials contribute to the overall membership satisfaction on governance structure and leadership.

Research limitations/implications

It is limited to the specific reasons for collective efforts, challenges of the participatory movement, membership satisfaction on governance and infrastructure recently procured in the communities. Frontier of studies should be extended to enabling factors.

Practical implications

Findings from this study indicate that community-driven governance with the support of the government enhances community-based infrastructure.

Social implications

Potential values of collective action embellished in the concepts of a social movement, active engagement, communalism, grassroots efforts, social cohesion and planning in bringing peoples of diversities together for common goals with less rigorous formalization.

Originality/value

The novelty of the research is the exposition on the evidence-based innovative concept of integrating the social practice of participatory design, representing a bottom-up model into infrastructure procurement in community settings.
Strategic sustainable purchasing, environmental collaboration, and organizational sustainability performance: the moderating role of supply base size
Authors: Arora Amit , Arora Anshu Saxena , Sivakumar K. , Burke Gerard
Published: July 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to examines the moderating effect of small vs large supply base size on the relationship between strategic sustainable purchasing (SSP) and organizational sustainability performance (OSP). SSP is conceptualized as a dynamic capability consisting of strategic purchasing and environmental purchasing. Environmental collaboration is conceptualized as a mediator between SSP and OSP. Extant research has not examined the effect of the size of the supply base on the relationship between SSP and OSP.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypothesized relationships are tested using a two-step multi-group analysis in partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

A small supply base size positively moderates the relationship between SSP and environmental collaboration, thus achieving OSP. In contrast, when the supply base is large, strategic purchasing is positively associated with environmental collaboration, while environmental purchasing is negatively related to environmental collaboration. A large supply base has a positive relationship to environmental collaboration and economic sustainability, while the relationship between environmental collaboration and environmental and social performance is not significant.

Practical implications

This research argues that despite the nuances in the moderating effects of small versus large supply base size, managers need to invest in both dynamic and relational capabilities to achieve organizational sustainability.

Originality/value

Scant research is available in supply chain management research that has examined the important effect of the supply base size on the relationship between SSP and OSP. This research aims to fill this gap. The study helps practitioners understand the effects of supply base sizes for their organizations, increase interrelationships among suppliers, reduce the level of differentiation among them, and, thereby, reduce costs and increase revenues.
Asymmetric Cost Behavior and Dividend Policy
Authors: HE JIE , TIAN XUAN , YANG HUAN , ZUO LUO
Published: July 2020

Costs are sticky on average, that is, they fall less for sales decreases than they rise for equivalent sales increases. We examine the effect of this asymmetric cost behavior on a firm's dividend policy. Given investors’ aversion to dividend cuts, we predict that firms with higher resource adjustment costs and stickier costs pay lower dividends than their peers because they are less able to sustain any higher level of dividend payouts in the future. We find evidence consistent with this prediction. Further, using a regression discontinuity design that exploits variation in labor adjustment costs generated by close‐call union elections, we provide evidence suggesting that the negative relation between cost stickiness and dividend payouts is driven by resource adjustment costs. Our paper sheds new light on the determinants of dividend policy and demonstrates the role of cost behavior in corporate decisions.
High‐elevation hypoxia impacts perinatal physiology and performance in a potential montane colonizer
Authors: SOUCHET Jérémie , GANGLOFF Eric J. , MICHELI Gaëlle , BOSSU Coralie , TROCHET Audrey , BERTRAND Romain , CLOBERT Jean , CALVEZ Olivier , MARTINEZ‐SILVESTRE Albert , DARNET Elodie , LE CHEVALIER Hugo , GUILLAUME Olivier , MOSSOLL‐TORRES Marc , BARTHE Laurent , POTTIER Gilles , PHILIPPE Hervé , AUBRET Fabien
Published: July 2020

Climate change is generating range shifts in many organisms, notably along the elevational gradient in mountainous environments. However, moving up in elevation exposes organisms to lower oxygen availability, which may reduce the successful reproduction and development of oviparous organisms. To test this possibility in an upward‐colonizing species, we artificially incubated developing embryos of the viperine snake (Natrix maura) using a split‐clutch design, in conditions of extreme high elevation (hypoxia at 2877 m above sea level; 72% sea‐level equivalent O2availability) or low elevation (control group; i.e. normoxia at 436 m above sea level). Hatching success did not differ between the two treatments. Embryos developing at extreme high elevation had higher heart rates and hatched earlier, resulting in hatchlings that were smaller in body size and slower swimmers compared to their siblings incubated at lower elevation. Furthermore, post‐hatching reciprocal transplant of juveniles showed that snakes which developed at extreme high elevation, when transferred back to low elevation, did not recover full performance compared to their siblings from the low elevation incubation treatment. These results suggest that incubation at extreme high elevation, including the effects of hypoxia, will not prevent oviparous ectotherms from producing viable young, but may pose significant physiological challenges on developing offspringin ovo. These early‐life performance limitations imposed by extreme high elevation could have negative consequences on adult phenotypes, including on fitness‐related traits.
CEACAM6 promotes cisplatin resistance in lung adenocarcinoma and is regulated by microRNA‐146a and microRNA‐26a
Authors: Du He , Li Yang , Sun Rongrong , Yuan Yuan , Sun Sanyuan , Zhang Youwei
Published: July 2020

Background

Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)‐related cell adhesion molecule 6 (CEACAM6) is a glycophosphoinositol‐anchored glycoprotein which mediates cell‐cell interactions. Here, we aimed to explore the specific functions and regulatory mechanisms of CEACAM6 on cisplatin (DDP) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

Methods

RNA sequencing was performed in the DDP‐resistant A549/DDP cell line and parental A549 cell line; miRNA expression profiling of the two cell lines was analyzed using GEO data (GSE43249). Gain‐ and loss‐of‐function experiments were used to investigate the biological function of CEACAM6 in vitro. The expression status and prognostic value of CEACAM6 in LUAD were verified using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database.

Results

CEACAM6 was first screened to be one of the most significantly upregulated genes in the DDP‐resistant A549/DDP cell line compared to the parental A549 cell line. Combined with computational prediction of candidate miRNAs that target CEACAM6, miR‐146a and miR‐26a were selected and verified by qPCR and luciferase reporter assay. The knockdown of CEACAM6 expression in A549/DDP cells inhibited cell proliferation, invasion and migration, decreased the IC50 values of DDP, and caused a significant downregulation of N‐cadherin, vimentin, Sox2, Oct4 and GTP‐RhoA and upregulation of E‐cadherin; while CEACAM6 overexpression in A549 cells resulted in the opposite effects. Of note, both miR‐146a and miR‐26a could counteract the biological effects of CEACAM6. Furthermore, CEACAM6 mRNA expression was significantly unregulated in DDP‐resistant LUAD tissues of TCGA database.

Conclusions

CEACAM6 promotes DDP resistance in LUAD by affecting the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype and stemness, which is post‐transcriptionally regulated by miR‐146a and miR‐26a.
Modal non‐linear regression in the presence of Laplace measurement error
Authors: Shi Jianhong , Zhang Jie , Wang Xiaorui , Song Weixing
Published: July 2020

In this paper, we propose a robust estimation procedure for a class of non‐linear regression models when the covariates are contaminated with Laplace measurement error, aiming at constructing an estimation procedure for the regression parameters which are less affected by the possible outliers, and heavy‐tailed underlying distribution, as well as reducing the bias introduced by the measurement error. Starting with the modal regression procedure developed for the measurement error‐free case, a non‐trivial modification is made so that the modified version can effectively correct the potential bias caused by measurement error. Large sample properties of the proposed estimate, such as the convergence rate and the asymptotic normality, are thoroughly investigated. A simulation study and real data application are conducted to illustrate the satisfying finite sample performance of the proposed estimation procedure.
Fetal dynamic magnetic resonance imaging using Doppler ultrasound gating for the assessment of the aortic isthmus: A feasibility study
Authors: Tavares de Sousa Manuela , Hecher Kurt , Kording Fabian , Yamamura Jin , Lenz Alexander , Adam Gerhard , Bannas Peter , Schoennagel Bjoern P.
Published: July 2020

Introduction

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is established in cardiac evaluation in postnatal life, but its application to the fetus has been hampered by technical limitations. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of dynamic MRI of the fetal aortic isthmus using a magnetic resonance‐compatible Doppler ultrasound device for cardiac gating.

Material and methods

This prospective study included 19 fetuses at a median gestational age of 32.3 weeks (range 26‐38 weeks). Imaging of the fetal aortic isthmus was assessed by (a) dynamic steady‐state free precession MRI using a magnetic resonance‐compatible Doppler ultrasound device for cardiac gating and (b) echocardiography. Diameters of the aortic isthmus were compared by two blinded observers. Magnetic resonance image quality was assessed independently by two observers using a four‐point scale (1 = low quality, 4 = high quality). Furthermore, we performed four‐dimensional flow MRI of the fetal aorta in three of these fetuses.

Results

The Doppler ultrasound device for cardiac gating allowed successful dynamic MRI examinations of the aortic isthmus in 18/19 (95%) fetuses. Evaluation of the fetal aortic isthmus was possible by both MRI (15/18, 83%) and echocardiography (16/18, 89%) (P < .05). Diameters of the aortic isthmus were concordant for MRI (3.8 ± 0.9 mm) and echocardiography (4.0 ± 1.1 mm), with a variability of 10.8% (bias −2.3%, 95% limits of agreement −23.9% to 19.3%). Overall magnetic resonance image quality was good (score 4 in 67% and score 3 in 23%) with good inter‐observer agreement (κ = 0.75; 95% CI 0.5‐1). Fetal four‐dimensional flow MRI allowed visualization of aortic flow dynamics.

Conclusions

Doppler ultrasound‐gating allows dynamic MRI of the fetal aorta with the potential to serve as a complementary imaging tool in cases where echocardiography is inconclusive.
Multicentre Spanish study found no incidences of viral transmission in infants born to mothers with COVID‐19
Authors: Marín Gabriel Miguel A. , Cuadrado Irene , Álvarez Fernández Blanca , González Carrasco Ersilia , Alonso Díaz Clara , Llana Martín Isabel , Sánchez Laura , Olivas Cristina , de las Heras Susana , Criado Enrique ,   the Neo‐COVID‐19 Research Group
Published: July 2020

Aim

Our aim was to describe the clinical features of mothers infected with COVID‐19 and examine any potential vertical mother to newborn transmission. We also assessed how effective the discharge recommendations were in preventing transmission during the first month of life.

Methods

This multicentre descriptive study involved 16 Spanish hospitals. We reviewed the medical records of 42 pregnant women diagnosed with COVID‐19 from March 13, 2020, to March 29, 2020, when they were in their third trimester of pregnancy. They and their newborn infants were monitored until the infant was 1 month old.

Results

Over half (52.4%) of the women had a vaginal delivery. The initial clinical symptoms were coughing (66.6%) and fever (59.5%), and one mother died due to thrombo‐embolic events. We admitted 37 newborn infants to the neonatal unit (88%), and 28 were then admitted to intermediate care for organisational virus‐related reasons. No infants died, and no vertical transmission was detected during hospitalisation or follow‐up. Only six were exclusively breastfed at discharge.

Conclusion

There was no evidence of COVID‐19 transmission in any of the infants born to COVID‐19 mothers, and the post‐discharge advice seemed effective. The measures to avoid transmission appeared to reduce exclusive breastfeeding at discharge.
Ruminal epithelial insulin‐like growth factor‐binding proteins 2, 3, and 6 are associated with epithelial cell proliferation
Authors: Nishihara Koki , Suzuki Yutaka , Roh Sanggun
Published: July 2020

The aim of this study was to identify factors that regulate ruminal epithelial insulin‐like growth factor‐binding protein (IGFBP) expression and determine its role in rumen epithelial cell proliferation. Primary bovine rumen epithelial cells (BREC) were incubated with short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) at pH 7.4 or 5.6, lactate, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I), ‐II (IGF‐II), or recombinant bovine IGFBP2 (rbIGFBP2). The mRNA expression levels of IGFBP in BREC were analyzed using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). The proliferation rate of BREC was analyzed using a WST‐1 assay. IGFBP2 gene expression tended to be lower with SCFA treatment (p < .1), and IGFBP6 gene expression was significantly lower with SCFA treatment (p < .05). IGFBP3 and IGFBP6 gene expression tended to be higher with d‐Lactate treatment (p < .1). IGFBP3 gene expression was significantly higher (p < .05) with LPS treatment. BREC treated with IGF‐I grew more rapidly than vehicle control‐treated cells (p < .01); however, recombinant bovine rbIGFBP2 inhibited IGF‐I‐induced proliferation. IGF‐II and/or rbIGFBP2 did not affect BREC proliferation. Taken together, SCFA treatment decreased IGFBP2 and IGFBP6 expression in rumen epithelial cells, and lower expression of these IGFBP might promote rumen epithelial cell proliferation by facilitating IGF‐I.
Calpain activation and proteolysis in postmortem goose muscles
Authors: Chang Ya‐Shiou , Wu Shin‐Yi , Stromer Marvin H. , Chou Rong‐Ghi R.
Published: July 2020

Meat tenderness is considered as the most important criterion for meat quality by consumers and can be improved by the actions of endogenous proteases, mainly calpains, during postmortem storage at 0–5°C. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to examine the postmortem calpain activation and proteolysis in breast (BM) and leg and thigh (LM) muscles of White Roman goose. BM and LM were taken from goose carcasses (n = 15) at 0 (10–15 min postmortem), 1, 3, and 7 days of storage at 5°C. The decrease in postmortem pH, calpain‐1 and ‐11 activities, and contents of the calpain‐1 80 kDa subunit and desmin was more rapid (p < .05) in BM than in LM. Our results show that postmortem proteolysis was more extensive in BM than in LM of White Roman goose, not only because the difference in fiber type composition between two muscles, but because the rate and extent of calpain activation were greater in BM as well. These results may provide useful information to optimize meat processing for different muscles in goose industry.
Neuro‐meningeal relapse in anaplastic large‐cell lymphoma: incidence, risk factors and prognosis – a report from the European intergroup for childhood non‐Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Del Baldo Giada , Abbas Rachid , Woessmann Wilhelm , Horibe Keizo , Pillon Marta , Burke Amos , Beishuizen Auke , Rigaud Charlotte , Le Deley Marie‐Cécile , Lamant Laurence , Brugières Laurence
Published: July 2020

Relapses involving the central nervous system (CNS) are rare in children and adolescents with ALK+ anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) treated with regimens including CNS prophylaxis. Early identification of patients at high‐risk for CNS relapse would enable stratification and better adaptation of initial treatment especially in the light of the upcoming targeted therapies with limited CNS penetration. We analyzed clinical and histological data of all ALK+ALCL patients with CNS relapse registered in ALCL99‐database with the aim to describe risk factors and outcome. Characteristics of patients with no relapse, relapse without CNS involvement and CNS relapse were compared. At a median follow‐up of 8 years (0.05–18 years), a CNS involvement was reported at first or subsequent relapse in 26/618 patients. Median interval between initial diagnosis and first CNS relapse was 8 months (IQR 5.55–10.61/range 1.31–130.69). The 5‐year cumulative risk of CNS relapse was 4% (95% CI 2.9–5.5). Bone marrow involvement, peripheral blasts and CNS involvement at diagnosis were more frequent in patients with CNS relapse than in patients with no relapse or with relapse with no CNS involvement. The treatment of CNS relapse was heterogeneous. The median survival after CNS relapse was 23.7 months. Eleven patients were alive at last follow‐up. Three‐year overall survival after CNS relapse was 48.70% (95% CI 30.52–67.23).
Effect of losartan on the recoverability of renal function in anuric and oliguric patients with a solitary obstructed kidney: a double‐blind randomized placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Elkappany Sherif , Hashem Abdelwahab , Elkarta Ahmed , Sheashaa Hussein , Osman Yasser , Shokeir Ahmed A.
Published: July 2020

Objectives

To assess the role of the angiotensin receptor blocker losartan on the recoverability of renal function after de‐obstruction in patients with anuria and oliguria.

Materials and Methods

This was a double‐blind randomized placebo‐controlled trial in anuric or oliguric patients with calcular obstruction of solitary kidney. Patients with an anomalous kidney or those with an American Society of Anesthesiology score of >3 were excluded. After relief of obstruction, patients were allocated to receive either losartan potassium 25 mg or placebo for 3 months. Serum creatinine (sCr) and renographic glomerular filtration rate (GFR) were measured at nadir and after 3 months. Changes in sCr and renographic GFR were calculated by subtracting the values at nadir from those at 3 months. Improvement, stabilization or deterioration of sCr and renographic GFR were defined as percentage increase or decrease from nadir ≥10%, while changes <10% were considered as stabilization.

Results

A total of 76 patients completed 3 months of follow‐up. Demographics and peri‐operative data were comparable in the two groups. The median (range) sCr change was −1.05 (−1.8, 0.4) and −0.5 (−1.3, 0.1) mg/dL in the losartan and placebo, groups, respectively (P = 0.07). In the losartan group, renographic GFR had improved in 26 (59.1%) and deteriorated in six (13.6%) patients, while, in the placebo group, it had improved in eight (25%) and deteriorated in 10 patients (31.3%; P = 0.01). Losartan also enhanced renographic GFR improvement vs placebo by a median (range) of 6.9 (−9, 44) vs 1.4 (−10, 32) mL/min (P = 0.004).

Conclusions

In patients with anuria and oliguria, losartan treatment contributes to renal function recoverability after relief of calcular obstruction of the solitary kidney.
Tectonic inversion assessed by integration of geological and geophysical data: The intracontinental Rio do Peixe Basin, NE Brazil
Authors: Vasconcelos David L. , Marques Fernando O. , Nogueira Francisco C. C. , Perez Yoe A. R. , Bezerra Francisco H. R. , Stohler Rômulo C. , Souza Jorge A. B.
Published: July 2020

Common basin models assume that the post‐rift tectonic evolution of most basins is usually associated with tectonic quiescence. However, tectonic inversion during the post‐rift phase has been proposed for several sedimentary basins worldwide, but how and why it happens is still a matter of debate, especially in intracontinental settings where the lithosphere is old and thick. Here, we use geological and geophysical data from the Rio do Peixe Basin in NE Brazil to show evidence that intracontinental sedimentary basins can be tectonically inverted by far‐field compressive stresses acting on pre‐existing weakness zones of lithospheric‐scale where stresses can concentrate and inversion can occur. Geomorphological and field data combined with seismic reflection, gravimetric and borehole data show that: (a) inversion occurred along two main Precambrian lithospheric‐scale shear zones, the Patos (E‐W trending) and Portalegre (NE‐SW trending), which had already been reactivated as basin‐bounding faults during the earlier rift stage; (b) post‐rift reactivation affected (mostly) the original master normal faults with the largest rift displacements, and locally produced new reverse faults; (c) during contraction, deformation was partitioned between fault reactivation and buckling of the incompetent sediment pushed against the hard basement; (d) all these signs of inversion have been observed in the field and can be demonstrated on seismic reflection profiles; and (e) combined gravimetric and seismic data show that the main structures of the basin were followed by an inversion. These data are consistent with the operation of WSW‐ENE horizontal maximum compressive stress as a result of combined pushes of the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge (towards the W) and the Andes (towards the E), responsible for the post‐rift oblique inversion of normal faults inherited from the rift phase and formed with vertical maximum compressive stress.
GRAded oral challenge for Drug allergy Evaluation—Delabelling described through families' voices
Authors: Protudjer Jennifer Lisa Penner , Golding Michael , Bouwman Tracy , Ben‐Shoshan Moshe , Abrams Elissa Michele
Published: July 2020

Background

Children are often diagnosed with an antibiotic allergy, with little investigation to confirm whether it is a true allergy. Recent studies support the use of oral challenges to confirm antibiotic allergy. Yet, little is known about families' perceptions of these challenges, or experiences of living with a misdiagnosis, often for many years.

Objective

To describe how families with a child previously labelled as “antibiotic allergic,” but who has subsequently been delabelled, perceive the experience of misdiagnosis and subsequent delabelling.

Methods

We performed semi‐structured interviews with parents whose children had recently completed a graded oral challenge for antibiotic allergy. Interview transcripts were analysed concurrently, but independently, by two investigators, using content analysis.

Results

A total of 15 parents (14 individual interviews; 1 mother‐father dyad) participated. Children were, on average, 5.04 ± 4.5 years and were first diagnosed in infancy (mean age: 1.82 ± 1.48 years) subsequent to a rash (14/14; 100%), and commonly at a walk‐in clinic (6/14; 42.9%). We identified four themes: (1) A red, raised rash results in a quick diagnosis despite a lack of testing, (2) sensitive care allays concerns, (3) delabelling brings relief, but also mystery and calls for proper diagnoses, and (4) quick diagnoses are reckless, but manageable through downward comparisons.

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance

These findings underscore the importance of a careful physical examination and clinical history of the patient, but also an ongoing dialogue to support families, both of which would ideally begin at the time of initial investigation.
Renal involvement in voltage‐gated potassium channel complex antibody–associated diseases
Authors: Mulmuley Madhura , Ambwani Varsha , Jha Sanjeev , Pradhan Sunil , Katiyar Shweta , Chaudhary Nandita
Published: July 2020

Background

Voltage‐gated potassium channel (VGKC) complex antibody–associated diseases are characterized by peripheral nerve hyperexcitability, autonomic disturbance, and encephalopathy. We report three patients of this disease with some unusual as well as novel findings.

Case presentation

Case 1 was a 36‐year‐old male who presented with painful cramps in legs and proximal weakness along with involuntary twitching in calves for a duration of 2 months. He also had associated insomnia, irritability, and hyperhidrosis. Electromyographic (EMG) study revealed features characteristic of VGKC antibody–associated diseases. His serology was positive for the components of VGKC, LGI1, and CASPR2. Case 2 was a 23‐year‐old male and Case 3 was a 26‐year‐old female who also had similar clinical presentations, EMG findings, and serologic status. Both male patients had a history of hydrocele with surgical aspiration and sclerosant injection, nearly 2 months prior to symptom onset. Routine evaluation of all the three patients revealed gross proteinuria. Histology performed in two patients revealed membranous glomerulonephropathy (MGN). Apart from symptomatic pharmacotherapy, all patients were initially given intravenous methylprednisolone to which only Case 3 responded while Cases 1 and 2 required one and two courses of intravenous immunoglobulins, respectively. Drug response included considerable resolution of proteinuria.

Conclusions

Immune mechanisms in VGKC antibody associated disease may sometimes cause renal involvement (MGN) with nephrotic‐range proteinuria. As all our patients with renal involvement had antibodies against both components of VGKC; this association needs further exploration.
A rare complication of a rare disease: Pericarditis due to ruptured pericardial cyst
Authors: Lak Hassan , Shah Rohan , Verma Beni R. , Xu Bo
Published: July 2020

Pericardial cysts are considered rare incidental findings, which are generally asymptomatic in nature. Occasionally, patients may represent with chest discomfort, dyspnea, or palpitations. Pericarditis related to a ruptured pericardial cyst has not been previously reported in the literature. Here, we report the case of a 62‐year‐old man who developed acute pericarditis as a result of a ruptured enlarging pericardial cyst.
Predictive value of serum soluble B7‐H4 in acute pancreatitis
Authors: Cheng Zhixiang , Liu Zhengfang , Yuan Yufeng , Liu Zhisu , He Yueming , Jiang Ping
Published: July 2020

Background

Studies reported that soluble B7‐H4 (sB7‐H4) was significantly related to the progression and prognosis of inflammatory diseases, and whether sB7‐H4 is related to the severity and prognosis of acute pancreatitis (AP) timely has not been reported.

Materials and methods

Clinical database data of 446 AP patients were retrospectively collected, and the correlation between the expression serum levels of sB7‐H4 with inflammatory factors and prognostic scores was analysed in AP patients.

Results

Soluble B7‐H4 was significantly correlated with IL‐6, IL‐8, TNF‐α, PCT, CRP levels and WBC count (P < .01), with correlation coefficients of R = .61, .53, .46, .60, .57 and .47, respectively, and AUCs were 0.905, 0.837, 0.797, 0.858, 0.890, 0.841 and 0.855, respectively. In addition, sB7‐H4 was significantly correlated with the Ranson score, APACHE II score and BISAP score (P < .001), with correlation coefficients of R = .58, .63 and .59, respectively. The AUCs of assessing local complications of AP were 0.908, 0.863, 0.785 and 0.844, respectively; assessing organ failure were 0.872, 0.790, 0.796 and 0.857, respectively; and assessing in‐hospital mortality were 0.839, 0.821, 0.796 and 0.823, respectively.

Conclusions

Soluble B7‐H4 could be used as a marker for the diagnosis, severity assessment and poor prognosis assessment of AP patients, which may have potential clinical applications.
Weakly correlated activity of pallidal neurons in behaving monkeys
Authors: Wongmassang Woranan , Hasegawa Taku , Chiken Satomi , Nambu Atsushi
Published: July 2020

The basal ganglia play a crucial role in the control of voluntary movements. Neurons in both the external and internal segments of the globus pallidus, the connecting and output nuclei of the basal ganglia, respectively, change their firing rates in relation to movements. Firing rate changes of movement‐related neurons seem to convey signals for motor control. On the other hand, coincident spikes among neurons, that is, correlated activity, may also contribute to motor control. To address this issue, we first identified multiple pallidal neurons receiving inputs from the forelimb regions of the primary motor cortex and supplementary motor area, recorded neuronal activity of these neurons simultaneously, and analyzed their spike correlations while monkeys performed a hand‐reaching task. Most (79%) pallidal neurons exhibited task‐related firing rate changes, whereas only a small fraction (20%) showed significant but small and short correlated activity during the task performance. These results suggest that motor control signals are conveyed primarily by firing rate changes in the external and internal segments of the globus pallidus and that the contribution of correlated activity may play only a minor role in the healthy state.
Why don't patients seek help for chronic post‐surgical pain after knee replacement? A qualitative investigation
Authors: Moore Andrew J. , Gooberman‐Hill Rachael
Published: July 2020

Background

Although many people are satisfied with their outcome after total knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis, around 20% report chronic post‐surgical pain. People are often disappointed and unsure about whether their pain is normal and what can be done about it. Given the high prevalence of long‐term post‐operative pain after knee replacement, there is potentially a large hidden population with an unaddressed need for care.

Objective

In this study, we focus on understanding why some people choose not to consult health care for chronic post‐surgical pain after knee replacement.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with people who had received total knee replacement, at either of two National Health Service hospitals in the United Kingdom, and who had chronic post‐surgical pain (n = 34, age 55‐93 years). Data were audio‐recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically.

Results

We found an overall sense of futility amongst participants who believed that nothing further could be done for their on‐going pain. People's perception of their pain was often discordant with that of surgeons and physicians. Other factors that contributed to decisions not to seek help included low expectations about effectiveness and the risks involved in further treatment, treatment burden, participants' prioritization of other health conditions and views about candidacy. Many accepted their on‐going pain.

Conclusion

Our study indicates why some people with chronic pain after knee replacement do not seek further health care. Understanding patients' beliefs and expectations about chronic post‐surgical pain can inform approaches that might enable people to seek help in the future.
MD1 deletion exaggerates cardiomyocyte autophagy induced by heart failure with preserved ejection fraction through ROS/MAPK signalling pathway
Authors: Yang Hong‐Jie , Kong Bin , Shuai Wei , Zhang Jing‐jing , Huang He
Published: July 2020

In our previous studies, we reported that myeloid differentiation protein 1 (MD1) serves as a negative regulator in several cardiovascular diseases. However, the role of MD1 in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and the underlying mechanisms of its action remain unclear. Eight‐week‐old MD1‐knockout (MD1‐KO) and wild‐type (WT) mice served as models of HFpEF induced by uninephrectomy, continuous saline or d‐aldosterone infusion and a 1.0% sodium chloride treatment in drinking water for 4 weeks to investigate the effect of MD1 on HFpEF in vivo. H9C2 cells were treated with aldosterone to evaluate the role of MD1 KO in vitro. MD1 expression was down‐regulated in the HFpEF mice; HFpEF significantly increased the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and promoted autophagy; and in the MD1‐KO mice, the HFpEF‐induced intracellular ROS and autophagy effects were significantly exacerbated. Moreover, MD1 loss activated the p38‐MAPK pathway both in vivo and in vitro. Aldosterone‐mediated cardiomyocyte autophagy was significantly inhibited in cells pre‐treated with the ROS scavenger N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) or p38 inhibitor SB203580. Furthermore, inhibition with the autophagy inhibitor 3‐methyladenine (3‐MA) offset the aggravating effect of aldosterone‐induced autophagy in the MD1‐KO mice and cells both in vivo and in vitro. Our results validate a critical role of MD1 in the pathogenesis of HFpEF. MD1 deletion exaggerates cardiomyocyte autophagy in HFpEF via the activation of the ROS‐mediated MAPK signalling pathway.