bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lacrimal Sac Rhinosporidiosis: Clinical Profile and Gram Stain as a Method of Preoperative Diagnosis
Authors: Maneksha Velu , Aparna KS , Kavya Setty , Debaruna Ghosh
Published: March 2023

Purpose:

To describe the clinical profile of lacrimal sac rhinosporidiosis and to introduce a method for preoperative microbial identification of rhinosporidiosis using Gram stain.

Methods:

This is a prospective study, carried out from January 2016 to January 2022. This series included 18 patients with clinical suspicion of lacrimal sac rhinosporidiosis. All patients underwent a comprehensive eye check-up. Mucopurulent discharge collected by a sterile swab after applying pressure over the sac area and Gram staining was done. All patients underwent dacryocystectomy. The sac contents were sent for histopathology, and rhinosporidiosis was confirmed.

Results:

A total of 18 patients over a period of 6 years with suspicion of lacrimal sac rhinosporidiosis were included. There were 11 (61.1%) male patients. Ten patients (55.5 %) had a history of either regular or occasional bathing in stagnant water. Nontender doughy swelling over the lacrimal sac region was the most common presentation. Gram staining of the mucopurulent discharge revealed thick-walled sporangia with endospores suggestive of rhinosporidiosis in all these cases. All patients underwent dacryocystectomy. Hematoxylin and eosin sections confirmed the diagnosis. Two patients had recurrence within 6 months after surgery.

Conclusion:

Regurgitation of pus mixed with whitish granular particles or blood is highly suspicious of rhinosporidiosis. In clinically suspected cases, microbial diagnosis using Gram stain is an economical, office procedure, which helps the surgeon to plan for the surgery and for better counseling.
Skin-Only Versus Skin-Plus-Orbicularis Resection Blepharoplasty: An Elaborated Analysis of Early- and Long-Term Effects on Corneal Nerves, Meibomian Glands, Dry Eye Parameters, and Eyebrow Position
Authors: Dericioğlu Volkan , Şan Burçin , Sevik Mehmet Orkun , Akkaya Turhan Semra
Published: March 2023

Purpose:

To evaluate the early- and long-term effects of 2 different blepharoplasty techniques on corneal nerves, meibomian gland morphology, clinical parameters of dry eye disease (DED), and eyebrow position.

Methods:

This prospective, interventional study included age-sex-matched blepharoplasty patients who had a skin-only resection (24 eyes of 12 patients; Group-S) or a skin-plus-orbicularis muscle resection (24 eyes of 12 patients; Group-M) procedure. Preoperative and postoperative parameters of in vivo corneal confocal microscopy (IVCCM; corneal nerve fiber density [CNFD], nerve branch density [CNBD], and nerve fiber length), meibomian gland area loss (MGAL), DED (Schirmer I test and noninvasive tear breakup time), and eyebrow heights (lateral [LBH] and central [CBH]) were evaluated and compared between the intervention groups (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05528016).

Results:

Compared with baseline, the CNBD of Group-S (19.91 ± 7.66 vs. 16.05 ± 7.28 branches/mm2, p = 0.049) and CNFD of Group-M (19.52 ± 7.45 vs. 16.80 ± 6.95 fibers/mm2, p = 0.028) was significantly decreased at postoperative first week. However, in both groups, IVCCM parameters returned to baseline values at postoperative first month and first year (p > 0.05). A significant MGAL increase was observed in Group-S (18.47 ± 5.43 vs. 19.94 ± 5.31, p = 0.030) and Group-M (18.86 ± 7.06 vs. 20.12 ± 7.01, p = 0.023) at the postoperative first year, demonstrating meibomian gland atrophy. Only significant changes were observed in Group-M in LBH (16.17 ± 2.45 vs. 16.67 ± 2.28 mm, p = 0.044) and CBH (17.33 ± 2.35 vs. 17.96 ± 2.31 mm, p = 0.004) at postoperative first year.

Conclusions:

Blepharoplasty with or without orbicularis resection seems to have similar effects on IVCCM, DED, and MGAL parameters. However, incorporating an orbicularis muscle resection in a blepharoplasty operation could slightly elevate the eyebrow position.
Reconstruction of Anophthalmic Sockets With Pedicled Nasoseptal Flap
Authors: Gonzalias-Duque Catherinne , Ordoñez Rafael , Montaño Luis F. , Plazola-Hernandez Sara
Published: March 2023

Purpose:

Patients who undergo eye removal often present with orbital soft-tissue insufficiency and contraction of the eye sockets. The most commonly used reconstruction strategy is grafting the orbit with free grafts, which is associated with the drawback of harvesting tissue from an unconnected site. This study describes the use of the vascularized nasoseptal flap in the reconstruction and enlargement of the contracted anophthalmic cavity in patients with severe or recurrent contracted eye sockets and evaluates its efficacy.

Methods:

A sphenopalatine-pedicled flap from the nasal septum was harvested and mobilized into the anophthalmic orbit for the reconstruction, coverage, and enlargement of the socket in 17 patients with anophthalmic socket syndrome. Data regarding the demographics, preoperative status, postoperative findings, follow-up, outcomes, dates of mutilant and reconstructive surgery, and relevant clinical or imaging were collected.

Results:

Krishna´s classification was used to assess the postoperative outcomes. The final rating improved in all patients at a median follow-up duration of 35 months. A greater impact was observed in patients who underwent reconstructive surgery before nasoseptal flap creation. Two minor complications occurred; however, major surgical intervention was not required. Implant extrusion was observed in 2 patients.

Conclusions:

The novel strategy of applying nasoseptal flaps in the reconstruction of anophthalmic sockets results in improved socket grading and a low rate of recurrence (socket contracture or implant extrusion), and complications. The vascular nature of the flap makes it suitable for use in complex cases.
Involvement of monocyte-derived extracellular vesicle-associated tissue factor activity in convallatoxin-induced hypercoagulability
Authors: Morimoto Mami , Tatsumi Kohei , Takabayashi Yoko , Sakata Asuka , Yuui Katsuya , Terazawa Ikuko , Kudo Risa , Kasuda Shogo
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Convallatoxin (CNT) is a natural cardiac glycoside extracted from lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis). Although it is empirically known to cause blood coagulation disorders, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. CNT exerts cytotoxicity and increases tissue factor (TF) expression in endothelial cells. However, the direct action of CNT on blood coagulation remains unclear. Therefore, herein, we investigated the effects of CNT on whole blood coagulation system and TF expression in monocytes.

Methods

Blood samples were collected from healthy volunteers to measure plasma thrombin–antithrombin complex (TAT) concentration using ELISA and to perform rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) and whole-blood extracellular vesicle (EV)-associated TF (EV-TF) analysis. The effects of CNT were also investigated using the monocytic human cell line THP-1. Quantitative real-time PCR and western blotting were performed, and PD98059, a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor, was used to elucidate the action mechanism of CNT-mediated TF production.

Results

CNT treatment increased EV-TF activity, shortened the whole blood clotting time in rotational thromboelastometry analysis, and increased TAT levels, which is an index of thrombin generation. Furthermore, CNT increased TF mRNA expression in THP-1 cells and EV-TF activity in the cell culture supernatant. Therefore, CNT may induce a hypercoagulable state with thrombin generation, in which elevated EV-TF activity derived from monocytes might be involved. These procoagulant effects of CNT were reversed by PD98059, suggesting that CNT-induced TF production in monocytes might be mediated by the MAPK pathway.

Conclusions

The findings of the present study have further clarified the procoagulant properties of CNT.
Variability in Celiac Serology Testing by Provider Type: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Chugh Ankur , Lo Stanley F.
Published: March 2023

Objective:

To evaluate the ordering practices of celiac disease (CD) serologies by providers at a tertiary, academic, Children’s Hospital and compare them to guidelines and best practices.

Methods:

We analyzed celiac serologies ordered in 2018 by provider type (pediatric gastrointestinal (GI) specialists, primary care providers (PCPs), and nonpediatric GI specialists), and identified causes for variability and nonadherence.

Results:

The antitissue transglutaminase antibody (tTG) IgA was ordered (n = 2504) most frequently by gastroenterologists (43%), endocrinologists (22%), and other (35%). Total IgA was ordered with tTG IgA for screening purposes in 81% of overall cases, but endocrinologists ordered it only 49% of the time. The tTG IgG was ordered infrequently (1.9%) compared with tTG IgA. Antideaminated gliadin peptide (DGP) IgA/IgG levels were also infrequently ordered (5.4%) compared with tTG IgA. The antiendomysial antibody was ordered sparingly (0.9%) compared with tTG IgA, but appropriately by providers with expertise in CD, similar to ordering for celiac genetics (0.8%). Of the celiac genetic tests, 15% were ordered in error. The positivity rate of the tTG IgA ordered by PCPs was 4.4%.

Conclusions:

The tTG IgA was appropriately ordered by all types of providers. Endocrinologists inconsistently ordered total IgA levels with screening labs. DGP IgA/IgG tests were not commonly ordered but were inappropriately ordered by one provider. The low number of ordered antiendomysial antibody and celiac genetic tests suggests under-utilization of the nonbiopsy approach. The positive yield of tTG IgA ordered by PCPs was higher compared with previous studies.
Tissue Oximetry as a Potential Alternative to Indocyanine Green (ICG) Perfusion Assessment in Colorectal Anastomotic Cases
Authors: Gonzalez-Jacobo Alexander , Chandler Paul , Martz Joseph , Sherwinter Danny
Published: March 2023

Introduction:

Anastomotic margin tissue perfusion is recognized as critical to successful colorectal anastomosis creation. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging with indocyanine green (ICG) is the most common modality used by surgeons as an adjunct to clinical assessment in confirming the adequacy of tissue perfusion. Tissue oxygenation as a surrogate for tissue perfusion has been described in a variety of surgical specialties but its use in colorectal surgery has been limited. Here, we report our experience using a handheld tissue-oxygen meter, IntraOx, for the evaluation of colorectal tissue bed oxygen saturation (StO2) and compared its utility with NIR-ICG in identifying the viability of colonic tissue before anastomosis in a range of colorectal procedures.

Materials and Methods:

This was an institutional review board–approved multicenter trial consisting of 100 patients undergoing elective colon resections. After specimen mobilization, a clinical margin was chosen based on the oncologic, anatomic, and clinical assessment as per the clinicians’ standard technique. The IntraOx device was then used to take a baseline reading of colonic tissue oxygenation on a normal segment of perfused colon. Following this, measurements were taken circumferentially at 5 cm intervals along the bowel proximally and distally to the clinical margin. A StO2 margin was then determined based on the point at which the StO2 dropped off by ≥10 percentage points. This was then compared with the NIR-ICG margin using the Spy-Phi system.

Results:

StO2 was found to have a sensitivity and specificity of 94.8% and 93.1%, respectively, and a positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 93.5% and 94.5%, respectively when compared with NIR-ICG. At the 4-week follow-up, no significant complications or leaks were reported.

Conclusions:

The IntraOx handheld device was found to be similar to NIR-ICG in identifying a well-perfused margin of colonic tissue while having the added benefits of high portability and reduced costs. Further studies looking at the effect of the IntraOx on preventing colonic anastomotic complications such as leak and stricture are warranted.
Evaluation of Long-term Performance of the GORE SYNECOR Intraperitoneal Biomaterial in the Treatment of Inguinal Hernias
Authors: Grantham David W. , Doerhoff Carl R. , Linn John G. , Mallico Eric J. , Washington Raymond G.
Published: March 2023

Background:

The objective of this study was to analyze device safety and clinical outcomes of inguinal hernia repair with the GORE SYNECOR Intraperitoneal Biomaterial device, a hybrid composite mesh.

Methods:

This retrospective case review analyzed device/procedure endpoints beyond 1 year in patients treated for inguinal hernia repair with the device. Three objectives were evaluated: procedural endpoint—incidence through 30 days of surgical site infection, surgical site occurrence (SSO), ileus, readmission, reoperation, and death; device endpoint—serious device incidence of mesh erosion, infection, excision/removal, exposure, migration, shrinkage, device-related bowel obstruction and fistula, and hernia recurrence through 12 months; and patient-reported outcomes of the bulge, physical symptoms, and pain.

Results:

A total of 157 patients (mean age: 67±13 y) with 201 inguinal hernias (mean size: 5.1±5 cm2) were included. Laparoscopic approach and bridging repair were performed in 99.4% of patients. All device location was preperitoneal. No procedure-related adverse events within 30 days were reported. No surgical site infection or SSO events or device-related hernia recurrence occurred through 12 months. Procedure-related serious adverse events occurred in 6 patients; 5 recurrent inguinal hernias (at 1 and 2 y) and 1 scrotal hematoma (at 6 mo). Through 24 months, no SSO events requiring procedural intervention occurred. Through 50 months, 6 (2.98%) patients had confirmed hernia recurrence and 4 (1.99%) patients had hernia reoperation. The patient-reported outcome for pain was reported by 7.9% (10/126) of patients who completed the questionnaire.

Conclusions:

In this study, inguinal hernia repair with the hybrid composite mesh was successful in most patients and the rate of recurrence was low, further supporting the long-term safety and device performance.
Neuroprotective effects of different doses of Maresin1 pretreatment in aged rats after anesthesia/surgery
Authors: Li Xiuhua , Han Xu , Gao Yubo , Tang Shaling , Yang Yanfang , Zhang Chun , Ni Xinli
Published: March 2023

Objective

The study is to investigate the neuroprotective effect of different doses of Maresin1 pretreatment in aged rats after anesthesia/surgery and the related mechanisms.

Methods

Aged male rats were randomly divided into a control group, an anesthesia/surgery group, and low, medium, and high-dose Maresin1 pretreatment groups, and the hippocampus was taken for study. The Morris water maze was performed to detect the cognitive ability of rats. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and central nervous system-specific protein (S100β). The ultrastructure of astrocytes was observed by a transmission electron microscope. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect the relative expression of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α mRNA.

Results

Compared with the control group, the cognition of rats in the anesthesia/surgery group was significantly reduced. The expression of astrocyte markers (GFAP and S100β) in the hippocampus of rats in the anesthesia/surgery group was increased. The levels of hippocampal inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) were also higher in the anesthesia/surgery group than in the control group. After pretreatment with different doses of Maresin1, the cognitive impairment of rats was alleviated to varying degrees. Maresin1 pretreatment decreased the expression of astrocyte markers and inflammatory factors in the hippocampus of rats after anesthesia/surgery, and improve the microstructures of activated astrocytes, especially in the medium-dose group.

Conclusion

Pretreatment with Maresin1 (especially at medium-dose) showed neuroprotective effects in aged rats after anesthesia/surgery, which may be related to the inhibition of astrocyte activation.
Generalized cumulative shrinkage process priors with applications to sparse Bayesian factor analysis
Authors: Frühwirth-Schnatter Sylvia
Published: March 2023

The paper discusses shrinkage priors which impose increasing shrinkage in a sequence of parameters. We review the cumulative shrinkage process (CUSP) prior of Legramantiet al.(Legramantiet al. 2020Biometrika107, 745–752. (doi:10.1093/biomet/asaa008)), which is a spike-and-slab shrinkage prior where the spike probability is stochastically increasing and constructed from the stick-breaking representation of a Dirichlet process prior. As a first contribution, this CUSP prior is extended by involving arbitrary stick-breaking representations arising from beta distributions. As a second contribution, we prove that exchangeable spike-and-slab priors, which are popular and widely used in sparse Bayesian factor analysis, can be represented as a finite generalized CUSP prior, which is easily obtained from the decreasing order statistics of the slab probabilities. Hence, exchangeable spike-and-slab shrinkage priors imply increasing shrinkage as the column index in the loading matrix increases, without imposing explicit order constraints on the slab probabilities. An application to sparse Bayesian factor analysis illustrates the usefulness of the findings of this paper. A new exchangeable spike-and-slab shrinkage prior based on the triple gamma prior of Cadonnaet al.(Cadonnaet al. 2020Econometrics8, 20. (doi:10.3390/econometrics8020020)) is introduced and shown to be helpful for estimating the unknown number of factors in a simulation study.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Bayesian inference: challenges, perspectives, and prospects’.
Mathematical theory of Bayesian statistics for unknown information source
Authors: Watanabe Sumio
Published: March 2023

In statistical inference, uncertainty is unknown and all models are wrong. That is to say, a person who makes a statistical model and a prior distribution is simultaneously aware that both are fictional candidates. To study such cases, statistical measures have been constructed, such as cross validation, information criteria and marginal likelihood; however, their mathematical properties have not yet been completely clarified when statistical models are under- or over-parametrized. We introduce a place of mathematical theory of Bayesian statistics for unknown uncertainty, which clarifies general properties of cross validation, information criteria and marginal likelihood, even if an unknown data-generating process is unrealizable by a model or even if the posterior distribution cannot be approximated by any normal distribution. Hence it gives a helpful standpoint for a person who cannot believe in any specific model and prior. This paper consists of three parts. The first is a new result, whereas the second and third are well-known previous results with new experiments. We show there exists a more precise estimator of the generalization loss than leave-one-out cross validation, there exists a more accurate approximation of marginal likelihood than Bayesian information criterion, and the optimal hyperparameters for generalization loss and marginal likelihood are different.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Bayesian inference: challenges, perspectives, and prospects’.
Bayesian approaches to include real-world data in clinical studies
Authors: Müller P. , Chandra N. K. , Sarkar A.
Published: March 2023

Randomized clinical trials have been the mainstay of clinical research, but are prohibitively expensive and subject to increasingly difficult patient recruitment. Recently, there is a movement to use real-world data (RWD) from electronic health records, patient registries, claims data and other sources in lieu of or supplementing controlled clinical trials. This process of combining information from diverse sources calls for inference under a Bayesian paradigm. We review some of the currently used methods and a novel non-parametric Bayesian (BNP) method. Carrying out the desired adjustment for differences in patient populations is naturally done with BNP priors that facilitate understanding of and adjustment for population heterogeneities across different data sources. We discuss the particular problem of using RWD to create a synthetic control arm to supplement single-arm treatment only studies. At the core of the proposed approach is the model-based adjustment to achieve equivalent patient populations in the current study and the (adjusted) RWD. This is implemented using common atoms mixture models. The structure of such models greatly simplifies inference. The adjustment for differences in the populations can be reduced to ratios of weights in such mixtures.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Bayesian inference: challenges, perspectives, and prospects’.
The amino acid stress sensing eIF2α kinase GCN2 is a survival biomarker for malignant mesothelioma
Authors: Gold Lyssa T. , Bray Susan E. , Kernohan Neil M. , Henderson Nina , Nowicki Maisie , Masson Glenn R.
Published: March 2023

Background

Malignant mesothelioma is a tumour that is strongly associated with a history of asbestos exposure and which derives from mesothelial cells that line the serous cavities of the body. The tumour most commonly arises in the pleural cavity, but can also arise in the pericardium, peritoneum and tunica vaginalis. At present the lesion has a very poor prognosis and is an incurable form of cancer with median survival times of up to 19 months being quoted for some histological subtypes. A large proportion of mesotheliomas have been shown to be arginine auxotrophic, leading to new research for therapeutics which might exploit this potential vulnerability.

Method

We measured the levels of General Control Non-derepressible 2 (GCN2) protein in malignant mesothelioma tumour samples and determined whether these levels correlate with clinical outcomes.

Results

We observed that the expression levels of GCN2 correlated with patient survival and was an independent prognostic variable in pairwise comparison comparisons with all available clinical data.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that GCN2 levels provides prognostic information and may allow for stratification of care pathways. It may suggest that targeting GCN2 is a viable strategy for mesothelioma therapy development.
Mapping pQTLs of circulating inflammatory proteins identifies drivers of immune-related disease risk and novel therapeutic targets
Authors:   The SCALLOP consortium, Zhao Jing Hua , Stacey David , Eriksson Niclas , Macdonald-Dunlop Erin , Hedman Åsa K , Kalnapenkis Anette , Enroth Stefan , Cozzetto Domenico , Digby-Bell Jonathan , Marten Jonathan , Folkersen Lasse , Herder Christian , Jonsson Lina , Bergen Sarah E , Geiger Christian , Needham Elise J , Surendran Praveen ,   Estonian Biobank Research Team, Paul Dirk S , Polasek Ozren , Thorand Barbara , Grallert Harald , Roden Michael , Võsa Urmo , Esko Tonu , Hayward Caroline , Johansson Åsa , Gyllensten Ulf , Powell Nicholas , Hansson Oskar , Mattsson-Carlgren Niklas , Joshi Peter K , Danesh John , Padyukov Leonid , Klareskog Lars , Landén Mikael , Wilson James F , Siegbahn Agneta , Wallentin Lars , Mälarstig Anders , Butterworth Adam S , Peters James E
Published: March 2023

Circulating proteins play key roles in inflammation and a broad range of diseases. To identify genetic influences on inflammation-related proteins, we conducted a genome-wide protein quantitative trait locus (pQTL) study of 91 plasma proteins measured using the Olink Target platform in 15,150 participants. We identified 180 pQTLs, of which 50 were novel. Integration of pQTL data with eQTL and disease GWAS provided insights into pathogenesis, implicating lymphotoxin-alpha (LTA) in multiple sclerosis. Using Mendelian randomisation (MR), we identified both shared and distinct effects of specific proteins across immune-mediated diseases, including directionally discordant causal roles for CD40 in rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease. Our results highlight novel potential therapeutic avenues, including CXCL5 in ulcerative colitis (UC), a finding supported by elevated gutCXCL5expression in UC patients. Our data provide a powerful resource to facilitate future drug target prioritization.
Sequential viral introductions and spread of BA.1 drove the Omicron wave across Pakistani provinces
Authors: Bukhari Ali Raza , Ashraf Javaria , Kanji Akbar , Rahman Yusra Abdul , Trovão Nídia S. , Thielen Peter M. , Yameen Maliha , Kanwar Samiah , Khan Waqasuddin , Kabir Furqan , Nisar M. Imran , Merritt Brian , Hasan Rumina , Spiro David , Rasmussen Zeba , Aamir Uzma Bashir , Hasan Zahra
Published: March 2023

Background

COVID-19 waves caused by specific SARS-CoV-2 variants have occurred globally at different times. We focused on Omicron variants to understand the genomic diversity and phylogenetic relatedness of SARS-CoV-2 strains in various regions of Pakistan.

Methods

We studied 276,525 COVID-19 cases and 1,041 genomes sequenced from December 2021 to August 2022. Sequences were analyzed and visualized using phylogenetic trees.

Results

The highest case numbers and deaths were recorded in Sindh and Punjab, the most populous provinces in Pakistan. Omicron variants comprised 95% of all genomes, with BA.2 (34.2%) and BA.5 (44.6%) predominating. The first Omicron wave was associated with the sequential identification of BA.1 in Sindh, then Islamabad Capital Territory, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Balochistan. Phylogenetic analysis revealed Sindh to be the source of BA.1 and BA.2 introductions into Punjab and Balochistan during early 2022. BA.4 was first introduced in AJK and BA.5 in Punjab. Most recent common ancestor (MRCA) analysis revealed relatedness between the earliest BA.1 genome from Sindh with Balochistan, AJK, Punjab and ICT, and that of first BA.1 from Punjab with strains from KPK and GB.

Conclusions

Phylogenetic analysis provides insights into the introduction and transmission dynamics of the Omicron variant in Pakistan, identifying Sindh as a hotspot for viral dissemination. Such data linked with public health efforts can help limit surges of new infections.
Controlling the magnetic structure in W-type hexaferrites
Authors: Mørch Mathias I. , Christensen Mogens
Published: March 2023

W-type hexaferrites with varied Co/Zn ratios were synthesized and the magnetic order was investigated using neutron powder diffraction. In SrCo2Fe16O27 and SrCoZnFe16O27 a planar (Cm′cm′) magnetic ordering was found, rather than the uniaxial ordering (P63/mm′c′) found in SrZn2Fe16O27 which is common in most W-type hexaferrites. In all three studied samples, non-collinear terms were present in the magnetic ordering. One of the non-collinear terms is common to the planar ordering in SrCoZnFe16O27 and uniaxial ordering in SrZn2Fe16O27, which could be a sign of an imminent transition in the magnetic structure. The thermomagnetic measurements revealed magnetic transitions at 520 and 360 K for SrCo2Fe16O27 and SrCoZnFe16O27, and Curie temperatures of 780 and 680 K, respectively, while SrZn2Fe16O27 showed no transition but a Curie temperature at 590 K. This leads to the conclusion that the magnetic transition can be adjusted by fine-tuning the Co/Zn stoichiometry in the sample.
21st century leadership research in hospitality management: a state-of-the-art systematic literature review
Authors: Guchait Priyanko , Peyton Taylor , Madera Juan M. , Gip Huy , Molina-Collado Arturo
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the scientific publications related to leadership research in hospitality from 2000 to 2021 by conducting a systematic review (qualitative) and to discuss implications for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

For the qualitative approach, the authors conduct an in-depth critique of major leadership theories using 167 articles indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection.

Findings

The findings show that transformational leadership, leader–member exchange and servant leadership are the most prominent leadership topics studied from 2000 to 2021, followed by abusive supervision, empowering leadership, ethical leadership and authentic leadership. A framework is presented highlighting the mediators, moderators, outcomes, sample and research designs used in each of these lines of leadership research. Moreover, 16 areas for further research are identified and discussed.

Practical implications

This review uncovers scholars’ general lack of regard for how the study of leadership might benefit from examining hospitality as a special and challenging context for leadership and business performance.

Originality/value

This study reviews and critically analyzes leadership research in hospitality using qualitative methods. Therefore, the authors believe this review is of great value to academics and practitioners because it synthesizes and analyzes the field and identifies important research opportunities.
“Control yourself or someone else will control you. Effect of job demands on employee burnout: a perspective from self-regulation theory”
Authors: Zeshan Muhammad , Khatti Shahzil Talha , Afridi Fiza , de La Villarmois Olivier
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to show the role of employees’ self-regulation in defining the effect of job demands on employees’ burnout. Moreover, the paper also highlights the importance of a high-performance work system (HPWS) on the relation between job demands and employee self-regulation.

Design/methodology/approach

Data has been collected from public sector hospital nurses through a survey strategy following a time-lagged approach. This data has been analysed to validate the measure and to test the hypotheses through structural equation modelling.

Findings

Results of this study indicate that job demands affect employees’ burnout through adaptive regulation (recovery) and maladaptive regulation (self-undermining). Adaptive regulation minimizes while maladaptive regulation supports this effect. Moreover, results also highlight the role of HPWS in mitigating the negative impact of job demands on adaptive regulation.

Practical implications

This study serves as a guide for managers to minimize the burnout of their subordinates in the face of increasing job demands. This study also emphasizes the use of HPWS in organizations so that the burnout of the employees may be decreased by increasing adaptive self-regulation or recovery.

Originality/value

This study enriches the literature on the job demand resource theory by showing how employee job demands, employee self-regulation (psychological processes) and HPWS (organizational processes) collaborate to determine the extent of job burnout of employees.
Modelling and analysing the enablers of digital resilience for small and medium enterprises
Authors: Kumar Vikas , Sindhwani Rahul , Behl Abhishek , Kaur Amanpreet , Pereira Vijay
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) significantly contribute to economic growth, development, exports and employment of the nations. To maintain competitiveness in today's market, SMEs must explore and identify enablers to enhance their digital transformation process. This paper aims to shed light on some essential enablers SMEs can use to implement digital resilience successfully.

Design/methodology/approach

The quantitative assessment and validation of the enablers have been done using powerful and novel techniques, namely, the Delphi method, “fuzzy interpretive structural modelling” (F-ISM) method and “cross-impact matrix multiplication applied to classification (MICMAC)” analysis. The F-ISM model is developed using the information drawn from digital transformation experts and practitioners involved in the digital transformation process for SMEs. Furthermore, the F-ISM model provides four paths to complete the pathway to digital resilience.

Findings

The F-ISM and MICMAC analysis revealed four ways to enhance the digital transformation process in SMEs. These enterprises can utilise these path assessments to become digitally resilient in the present dynamic scenario. To enhance digital resilience among SMEs, the study identified ten enablers. Among these, “management competencies” was the most crucial, followed by “knowledge management” and “monitoring and controlling”.

Research limitations/implications

The present study is limited in that the data used to develop the models were collected from a small group of industry experts whose opinions may not exhibit the comprehensive views of the population.

Practical implications

The findings can help SMEs enhance the digital transformation process by taking up different pathways to integrate the various enablers of digital resilience depending on resource availability.

Originality/value

The results indicate the most critical and influential enablers for enhancing digital resilience among SMEs. This research can be valuable to academicians, industry practitioners and researchers for guiding their future work.
Exploring Shariah audit practices in zakat and waqf institutions in Malaysia
Authors: Kamaruddin Muhammad Iqmal Hisham , Shafii Zurina , Hanefah Mustafa Mohammed , Salleh Supiah , Zakaria Nurazalia
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to explore the current Shariah audit practices in zakat and waqf institutions in Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

A focus group discussion (FGD) with 38 zakat and waqf officers from 17 different zakat and waqf institutions in Malaysia was conducted. For reporting purposes, this study used a single-case study approach. The FGD was conducted and completed at the end of June 2021 via an online approach through Microsoft Teams.

Findings

The finding highlights the existing Shariah governance practices especially in terms of Shariah supervision roles, Shariah audit implementation in terms of Shariah audit scopes and common findings, Shariah audit competency, Shariah audit effectiveness especially the need for external Shariah audit function and Shariah audit issues and challenges faced in the implementation of Shariah audit practices.

Practical implications

The study findings and recommendations are useful for zakat and waqf institutions as well as the State Islamic Religious Councils to enhance Shariah audit practices in Malaysia.

Originality/value

This study is among the pioneer studies that explore Shariah audit practices in zakat and waqf institutions in Malaysia.
Government administrative capacity, e-government performance and citizen’s e-government adoption: evidence from a transition country
Authors: Tran Pham Toan Khanh
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of government administrative capacity and e-government performance on the citizens’ intention to use e-government services by integrating into the technology acceptance model (TAM). In addition, the study investigates the mediating effect of perceived usefulness in these nexus.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative and cross-sectional approach is used to gather the data from 443 respondents in Vietnam. The squares structural equation modeling is used to access the impact of government administrative capacity and e-government performance on the citizens’ intention to use e-government, the mediating effect of perceived usefulness.

Findings

The results show that e-government performance, government administrative capacity and perceived usefulness are critical determinants of citizens’ intention. Furthermore, government administrative capacity positively impacts e-government performance. More importantly, perceived usefulness plays a mediating role in these relationships. The results also show that both age and qualification moderate the relationship between perceived usefulness and intention.

Practical implications

The findings of this study provide valuable evidence and implications. Public officials must enhance the administrative capacity as the determination for the application of e-government. They must demonstrate their commitment to implementing e-government initiatives. Moreover, the government should continually carry out policies to improve e-government performance.

Originality/value

This study uses the TAM by incorporating government administrative capacity and e-government performance. Evidence about the mechanism linking government administrative capacity and e-government performance to citizens' intention to use e-government is scant. With this stated, this study fills these gaps by pioneering exploring the mediating role of perceived usefulness in these relationships.
Immersive simulation and experimental design in risk and crisis management: Implications for learning
Authors: Petridou Evangelia , Sparf Jörgen , Hemmingsson Olov , Pihl Kari
Published: March 2023

Experiments have long been recognized as effective tools in teaching natural sciences and, to a lesser degree, in social sciences. However, understanding the role of immersive simulation experiments in undergraduate degree programmes demands more scholarly attention, given the pace of technological advances and research literacy in immersive simulation. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the potential of integrating immersive simulation laboratory experiments in social science education and specifically in a risk and crisis management undergraduate degree programme. Based on the work of Claire Dunlop, we demonstrate how an experiment with a high degree of experimental realism was a fruitful vehicle for initiating conversations about sensitive subjects in a safe environment and made teaching more inclusive, while high mundane realism made teaching risk and crisis management fun, and, we argue, fostered practical aspects of risk and crisis management.
How Do Firms Respond to Political Uncertainty? Evidence from U.S. Gubernatorial Elections
Authors: BIRD ANDREW , KAROLYI STEPHEN A. , RUCHTI THOMAS G.
Published: March 2023

We examine the joint response to political uncertainty along two margins: changes in real activity and voluntary disclosure. We focus on within‐firm variation in exposure to ex ante competitive U.S. gubernatorial elections using data on preelection poll margins and firms’ state exposures. Despite real activity falling in the years leading up to a close election, we find that voluntary disclosure increases both in frequency and content, including mentions of risk in filings that reference states holding elections. Our tests use a decomposition of 8‐K filings into real activity and voluntary disclosure to address the endogenous complementarity between these two responses. These results hold when using alternative ex ante measures of political uncertainty based on term‐limited incumbents, historically competitive offices, or state legislature gridlock. Both effects of political uncertainty are stronger for firms in highly regulated industries and weaker for those least exposed to the local market, linking the real activity and disclosure responses to uncertainty.
Sodium chloride or plasmalyte‐148 for patients presenting to emergency departments with diabetic ketoacidosis: A nested cohort study within a multicentre, cluster, crossover, randomised, controlled trial
Authors: Attokaran Antony George , Ramanan Mahesh , Hunt Lisa , Chandra Kavita , Sandha Rajbir , Watts Stacey , Venkatesh Balasubramanian
Published: March 2023

Objective

To test the hypothesis that fluid resuscitation in the ED with plasmalyte‐148 (PL) compared with 0.9% sodium chloride (SC) would result in a lower proportion of patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Methods

We performed a prespecified nested cohort study at two hospitals within a cluster, crossover, open label, randomised, controlled trial comparing the effects of PL versus SC as fluid therapy for patients who presented to the ED with DKA. All patients presenting within a fixed recruitment period were included. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients admitted to ICU.

Results

Eighty‐four patients were enrolled (SC n = 38, PL n = 46). The SC group had a lower median pH on admission (SC: 7.09 [interquartile range (IQR) 7.01–7.21], PL: 7.17 [IQR 6.99–7.26]). The median volume of intravenous fluids administered in ED was 2150 mL (IQR 2000–3200 mL; SC) and 2200 mL (IQR 2000–3450; PL); respectively. A higher proportion of patients in the SC group, 19 (50%), was admitted to ICU compared with PL group, 18 (39.1%); however, after adjustment for pH at presentation and diabetes type in a multivariable logistic regression model, the PL group did not have a significantly different rate of ICU admission compared with the SC group (odds ratio for ICU admission 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.13–3.97, P = 0.71).

Conclusion

Patients with DKA treated with PL compared with SC in the EDs had similar rates of requiring ICU admission.
Trends and patterns of care of sentinel node biopsy in cutaneous melanoma: a population‐based study in Queensland
Authors: Wong Jessica , Moore Julie , Soyer H. Peter , Mar Victoria , Smithers B. Mark
Published: March 2023

Background

Sentinel node biopsy (SNB) has evolved from offering staging and prognostication to a procedure that guides therapeutic management. The aim was to evaluate the rate of SNB for patients with high‐risk melanoma and assess factors that may have impacted on the procedure being performed.

Methods

Data of patients with primary invasive cutaneous melanoma from 01 January 2009 to 31 December 2019 were obtained from the Queensland Oncology Repository. High‐risk melanoma was defined as ≥0.8 mm thick or < 0.8 mm with ulceration present (AJCC eighth edition pT1b–pT4).

Results

14 006 (33.8%) of 41 412 patients diagnosed with cutaneous invasive melanoma were in the high‐risk group. 2923(20.9%) patients had SNB, with the rate increasing from 14.2% (2009) to 36.8% (2019) (P = 0.002), and an increasing proportion being performed in public hospitals over the 11 year period (P = 0.02). Older age (OR0.96 (0.959–0.964) (P < 0.001)), female (OR0.91 (0.830–0.998) (P = 0.03)), head and neck primary (OR0.38 (0.33–0.45) (P < 0.001)), and pT1b (OR0.22 (0.19–0.25) (P < 0.001)) were factors associated with SNB not being performed. Travel out of the Hospital and Health Services of residence for SNB occurred in 26.2%. Although the travel rate decreased from 24.7% (2009) to 23.0% (2019) (P = 0.04), the absolute number increased due to the increase in SNB rate. Those most likely to travel were younger, from remote areas, or from affluent backgrounds.

Conclusion

In this first Australian population‐based study, there was an increased adherence to SNB guideline, although overall SLNB rates remain low, with nearly 2/3 of eligible cases not having the procedure in 2019. Although travel rates decreased marginally, the overall number increased. This study highlights the crucial need to further improve access to SNB for melanoma surgery for the Queensland population.
Decoupled responses of biodiversity facets driven from anuran vulnerability to climate and land‐use changes
Authors: Ceron Karoline , Sales Lilian P. , Santana Diego J. , Pires Mathias M.
Published: March 2023

Biodiversity loss not only implies the loss of species but also entails losses in other dimensions of biodiversity, such as functional, phylogenetic and interaction diversity. Yet, each of those facets of biodiversity may respond differently to extinctions. Here, we examine how extinction, driven by climate and land‐use changes may affect those different facets of diversity by combining empirical data on anuran–prey interaction networks, species distribution modelling and extinction simulations in assemblages representing four Neotropical ecoregions. We found a mismatch in the response of functional, phylogenetic and interaction diversity to extinction. In spite of high network robustness to extinction, the effects on interaction diversity were stronger than those on phylogenetic and functional diversity, declining linearly with species loss. Although it is often assumed that interaction patterns are reflected by functional diversity, assessing species interactions may be necessary to understand how species loss translates into the loss of ecosystem functions.
Personalizing Large‐Scale Assessment in Practice
Authors: Buzick Heather M. , Casabianca Jodi M. , Gholson Melissa L.
Published: March 2023

The article describes practical suggestions for measurement researchers and psychometricians to respond to calls for social responsibility in assessment. The underlying assumption is that personalizing large‐scale assessment improves the chances that assessment and the use of test scores will contribute to equity in education. This article describes a spectrum of standardization and personalization in large‐scale assessment. Informed by a review of existing theories, models, and frameworks in the context of current and developing technologies and with a social justice lens, we propose steps to take, as part of assessment research and development, to contribute to the science of personalizing large‐scale assessment in technically defensible ways.
The politics of police accountability: Police expulsions in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Authors: Flom Hernán
Published: March 2023

Police accountability has long been deemed an essential component of democratizing reform. Reformist administrations in Latin America and other developing regions have consequently created oversight agencies to monitor police misconduct. However, the literature has not yet explored how these institutions operate and the politics that undergird them. This paper examines how police accountability institutions work in developing democracies. I focus on the police of the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, using an untapped database of more than 6400 expelled police officers. I find that the extent to which reformist ministers expel police officers and thus exercise greater control of the police peaks during their first year in office. Contrarily, it is not bolstered by mid‐term electoral victories or factors such as scandals or violent crimes. The paper extends our knowledge of the politics of police accountability in developing democracies, outlining the incentives and obstacles for politicians to control the police.