bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conceptualizing life competencies: EFL teachers' qualitative perspective
Authors: Alzahrani Sahar M. , Almalki Mansoor S. , Almossa Samar Y.
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Meeting the 21st century skills is critically significant to ensure success in today's world, collegiate context and neoteric careers. This qualitative study turns attention to teachers' mindsets, dispositions and perceptions concerning 21st century life competencies required to meet the current, emerging and future needs of learners.

Design/methodology/approach

One-to-one structured interviews were conducted with English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers (N = 8), where open-ended questions were asked in order to determine the participants' perception of, support to, and integration of the life competencies into an EFL classroom setting. In addition, teachers' performance and implementation of life competencies (males and females) was observed in the classroom over a long time.

Findings

The results showed that teachers' practices contradict their conceptions of the life competencies. Critical thinking was seen as a priority from teachers' perspectives. Teachers perceived learning to learn and critical thinking as the most important competencies for students to learn. Findings of the study indicated that teachers hold positive attitudes toward integrating life competencies into EFL context; however, they lack a clear vision about how to incorporate them.

Research limitations/implications

This study recommends equipping teachers with professional training and customized orientations offering new insights into how life-competency-oriented instruction might be designed.

Originality/value

Career readiness should be a prominent aim of education where students are equipped with life skills or competencies. EFL practitioners need to understand, support and implement life-competency-instruction.
Analysing sustainability change management in government owned companies: experiences from European ports
Authors: Barreiro-Gen María , Lozano Rodrigo , Carpenter Angela , Bautista-Puig Nuria
Published: July 2022

Purpose

Government-owned companies (GOCs), such as ports, have engaged in efforts to become more sustainable. Most of such efforts have been technological and policy ones and mainly focusing on the environment, with limited research on organisational change management. This paper aims to provide insights into how ports have been addressing sustainability change forces and pressures.

Design/methodology/approach

Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with top-level directors and sustainability managers, representing ports across Europe’s maritime regions and a range of port types and sizes. The interviews were analysed using grounded theory’s constant comparative analysis.

Findings

The findings highlighted that the ports’ success in their process to become more sustainable depends on how they take advantage of the thrust forces and reduce the drag ones. The findings serve to develop the “ports’ sustainability change management framework”, with five stages: reactive, proactive, transactive, interactive, and sustainable port.

Practical implications

Ports, and other GOCs, should capitalise on their private–public nature in their contribution to making societies more sustainable by adopting a holistic perspective and interactive changes.

Originality/value

This paper provides a dynamic perspective on corporate sustainability efforts, particularly on GOCs, through organisational change management complementing technocentric and managerial approaches.
The role of fintech in driving financial inclusion in developing and emerging markets: issues, challenges and prospects
Authors: Ediagbonya Victor , Tioluwani Comfort
Published: July 2022

Purpose

In recent times, various governments in the developing and emerging markets are increasingly embracing financial technology to help improve financial inclusion and integration within the governments' countries. One of the primary goals of using such technology is to reduce poverty. This paper explores Fintech innovations' effectiveness in developing and emerging markets in driving financial inclusion using Nigeria as a case study. The paper explores the challenges militating against financial inclusion and the role of government, financial institutions, and fintech companies in ensuring financial inclusion for the vast majority of the unbanked population in the developing and emerging markets.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on doctrinal, sociological, and comparative research methodologies. The researchers conducted a content analysis drawing on data from both primary and secondary sources, including existing legislation, journal articles, newspaper reports, and policy documents.

Findings

The research showed that the financial inclusion gap has expanded despite the government, regulators, and financial institutions' various efforts by developing various digital platforms, including encouraging the use of smartphones for mobile payments and automated teller machines (ATMs) and mobile money. Several reasons are responsible for the gap in financial inclusion: illiteracy, poor infrastructural facilities, intermittent power supply, poor mobile receptions, especially in rural areas, constant banks' network failures, unnecessary charges, information asymmetry and data privacy breaches, amongst others.

Practical implications

Financial inclusion through fintech is essential in eradicating poverty in developing and emerging markets if adequately implemented. Therefore, this paper will be useful to researchers exploring how technology influences financial inclusion. The paper will also aid policymakers and practitioners in financial technology regulation to improve the effectiveness of policymakers and practitioners' policies and implementation strategies of financial inclusion in developing and emerging markets.

Originality/value

This research is significant, especially in developing and emerging markets, by exploring issues and challenges of fintech in promoting financial inclusion in challenging institutional contexts. This paper suggested potential areas for further research, particularly women's attitudes and expectations towards services provided by fintech companies and other financial institutions.
Connecting organizational learning and open innovation research: an integrative framework and insights from case studies of strategic alliances
Authors: Ferrigno Giulio , Del Sarto Nicola , Cucino Valentina , Piccaluga Andrea
Published: July 2022

Purpose

This study aims to combine open innovation (OI) and organizational learning (OL) literature in the context of strategic alliances.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors develop a conceptual framework that links OI to OL literatures. The authors empirically validate this framework through four representative cases of dyadic strategic alliances in which the allied partners have (mainly) adopted an inbound or outbound OI strategy and (mainly) used an experiential or experimental learning approach to access knowledge in the alliance.

Findings

The authors propose and validate a framework that links two well-known OI strategies (inbound and outbound) and two types of OL, namely, experiential and experimental learning. This, in turn, allows us to propose four different typologies of learning opportunities that could be pursued by alliance partners.

Research limitations/implications

The research offers a framework that links experiential and experimental learning to inbound and outbound OI strategies. However, the authors focused on inbound and outbound OI. The authors are aware that sometimes coupled innovation could take place in alliances.

Practical implications

This study proposes best practices for companies willing to open their innovation processes with alliance partners by bearing in mind the learning outcomes that may be exploited through the alliance.

Originality/value

This study highlights four alliance archetypes emerging from the nexus between OI strategies to OL methods.
Exploring students’ motivations in choosing to study information systems: is there a gender difference? A survey study in Norway
Authors: Acilar Ali , Sæbø Øystein
Published: July 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the motivations of undergraduate students in choosing to study the information systems (IS) program and explore gender differences in students’ motivations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines the results of an online survey of undergraduate IS students at a public university in Norway. An online survey was used to collect the data from undergraduate students who enrolled in an introductory IS course. T-test was used to test the differences between male and female students.

Findings

The results identified that career-related factors such as job availability and job security were the two most prominent factors for both male and female students to choose IS. The results also show that male and female students have essentially similar motivations to choose IS. There were only two significant differences found between female and male students in the perceptions of the importance of factors that influence the decision to choose IS: “personal interest in subject matter” and “ease of study topics.” Male students rated the importance of personal interest and ease of study topics significantly higher than female students.

Originality/value

Despite the fact that Norway is a highly digitalized and gender-equal country, women are still underrepresented in IT-related jobs and higher education studies. Findings from this study will help to understand the motivations of students in choosing IS and gender differences in their motivations in a highly gender-equal and digitalized European country.
The association of strained ICU capacity with hospital patient racial and ethnic composition and federal relief during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Levinson Zachary , Cantor Jonathan , Williams Malcolm V. , Whaley Christopher
Published: July 2022

Objective

To identify the association between strained intensive care unit (ICU) capacity during the COVID‐19 pandemic and hospital racial and ethnic patient composition, federal pandemic relief, and other hospital characteristics.

Data Sources

We used government data on hospital capacity during the pandemic and Provider Relief Fund (PRF) allocations, Medicare claims and enrollment data, hospital cost reports, and Social Vulnerability Index data.

Study Design

We conducted cross‐sectional bivariate analyses relating strained capacity and PRF award per hospital bed with hospital patient composition and other characteristics, with and without adjustment for hospital referral region (HRR).

Data Collection

We linked PRF data to CMS Certification Numbers based on hospital name and location. We used measures of racial and ethnic composition generated from Medicare claims and enrollment data. Our sample period includes the weeks of September 18, 2020 through November 5, 2021, and we restricted our analysis to short‐term, general hospitals with at least one intensive care unit (ICU) bed. We defined “ICU strain share” as the proportion of ICU days occurring while a given hospital had an ICU occupancy rate ≥ 90%.

Principal Findings

After adjusting for HRR, hospitals in the top tercile of Black patient shares had higher ICU strain shares than did hospitals in the bottom tercile (30% vs. 22%, p < 0.05) and received greater PRF amounts per bed ($118,864 vs. $92,407, p < 0.05). Having high versus low ICU occupancy relative to pre‐pandemic capacity was associated with a modest increase in PRF amounts per bed after adjusting for HRR ($107,319 vs. $96,627, p < 0.05), but there were no statistically significant differences when comparing hospitals with high versus low ICU occupancy relative to contemporaneous capacity.

Conclusions

Hospitals with large Black patient shares experienced greater strain during the pandemic. Although these hospitals received more federal relief, funding was not targeted overall toward hospitals with high ICU occupancy rates.
COVID‐19‐related Medicaid enrollment in Medicaid expansion and non‐expansion states
Authors: Benitez Joseph A. , Dubay Lisa
Published: July 2022

Research Objective

To explore whether expanded Medicaid helps mitigate the relationship between unemployment due to COVID and being uninsured. Unanticipated unemployment spells are generally associated with disruptions in health insurance coverage, which could also be the case for job losses during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Expanded access to Medicaid may insulate some households from long uninsurance gaps due to job loss.

Data Source

Phase 1 of the Census Bureau's Experimental Household Pulse Survey covering April 23, 2020–July 21, 2020.

Study Design

We compare differences in health insurance coverage source and status linked to recent lob losses attributable to the COVID‐19 pandemic in states that expanded Medicaid against states that did not expand Medicaid.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Our analytical dataset was limited to 733,181 non‐elderly adults aged 20–64.

Principal Findings

Twenty‐six percent of our study sample experienced an income loss between March 13, 2020, and the time leading up to the survey—16% experienced job losses (e.g., layoff, furlough) due to the COVID‐19 crisis, and 11% had other reasons they were not working. COVID‐linked job losses were associated with a 20 (p < 0.01) percentage‐point (PPT) lower likelihood of having employer‐sponsored health insurance (ESI). Relative to persons in states that did not expand Medicaid, persons in Medicaid expansion states experiencing COVID‐linked job losses were 9 PPT (p < 0.01) more likely to report having Medicaid and 7 PPT (p < 0.01) less likely to be uninsured. The largest increases in Medicaid enrollment were among people who, based on their 2019 incomes, would not have qualified for Medicaid previously.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that expanded Medicaid eligibility may allow households to stabilize health care needs and they should become detached from private health coverage due to job loss during the pandemic. Households negatively affected by the pandemic are using Medicaid to insure themselves against the potential health risks they would incur while being unemployed.
Primary care physicians' participation in the Medicare shared savings program and preventive services delivery: Evidence from the first 7 years
Authors: Huang Huang , Zhu Xi , Wehby George L.
Published: July 2022

Objective

To evaluate whether primary care physicians' participation in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) is associated with changes in their preventive services delivery.

Data Sources

Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment Physician and Other Supplier Public Use File and MSSP Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) Provider‐Level Research Identifiable File from 2012 to 2018.

Study Design

The design was a two‐way fixed effects model estimating within‐provider changes in preventive services delivery over time controlling for provider time‐invariant characteristics, national time trends, and characteristics of served patients. The following preventive services were evaluated: influenza vaccination, pneumococcal vaccination, clinical depression screening, colorectal cancer screening, breast cancer screening, Body Mass Index (BMI) screening and follow‐up, tobacco use assessment, and annual wellness visits. Both the likelihood of providing services and the volume of services delivered were evaluated.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Secondary data linked at the provider level.

Principal Findings

MSSP participation was associated with an increase in the likelihood of providing influenza vaccination (0.7 percentage‐points), pneumococcal vaccination (2.0 percentage‐points), clinical depression screening (2.1 percentage‐points), tobacco use assessment (0.3 percentage‐points), and annual wellness visits (4.1 percentage‐points). A similar increase was found for the volume of services delivered per 100 patients for several preventive services: influenza vaccination (0.18), pneumococcal vaccination (0.56), clinical depression screening (0.46), and annual wellness visits (1.52). MSSP participation was associated with a decrease in the likelihood (−0.4 percentage‐points) and the volume of colorectal cancer screening (−0.03).

Conclusions

Primary care physicians' participation in MSSP was associated with an increase in the likelihood and the volume of several preventive services.
Presumptive eligibility for pregnancy Medicaid and timely prenatal care access
Authors: Eliason Erica L. , Daw Jamie R.
Published: July 2022

Objective

To assess the association between the adoption of presumptive eligibility for pregnancy Medicaid in Kansas in 2016 and timely prenatal care access.

Data Source

2012–2019 National Center for Health Statistics natality files.

Study Design

We used difference‐in‐differences to compare outcomes before (2012–2015) and after (2017–2019) presumptive eligibility in Kansas relative to seven control group states overall and stratified by maternal education. Outcomes included first‐trimester prenatal care, the month of first prenatal visit, and adequate prenatal care.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

All live births among adults aged 20 or older in Kansas, Idaho, Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Principal Findings

Among all births, we found no evidence that presumptive eligibility in Kansas resulted in changes in prenatal care use. Among individuals with high school education or less, presumptive eligibility was associated with a 1.92 percentage‐point increase (95% CI: 0.64, 4.35) in first‐trimester prenatal care, driven by earlier month of first prenatal care visit.

Conclusions

Presumptive eligibility in Medicaid non‐expansion states may lead to small improvements in early prenatal care among individuals with lower education, but other interventions may be needed.
Feasibility and effectiveness of deprescribing benzodiazepines and Z‐drugs: systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Soni Anisha , Thiyagarajan Arun , Reeve Joanne
Published: July 2022

Background and Aims

A total of 2.4 million adults in England were dispensed a benzodiazepine or Z‐drug (BZRA) in 2017/18, and more than 250 000 patients in the UK take BZRAs beyond the recommended duration. Deprescribing is a clinician‐guided process of withdrawing inappropriate drugs. This review aimed to evaluate the evidence base supporting the feasibility and clinical effectiveness of all forms of deprescribing initiatives used to discontinue long‐term (≥ 4 weeks) BZRAs.

Method

Systematic review of randomized controlled trials evaluating BZRAs deprescribing among adults in community, primary or outpatient settings. MEDLINE, Embase and PsycINFO were searched from inception to February 2021. Primary outcomes were successful discontinuation in the short (< 4 weeks) or long term (≥ 4 weeks) and the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms, behavioural or psychological symptoms. Studies were categorized as pharmacological or non‐pharmacological supported interventions. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane risk‐of‐bias tool. Where appropriate, risk ratios (RRs), mean differences and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, and Mantel–Haenszel methods using the random‐effect meta‐analysis was undertaken to calculate summary effect estimates.

Results

Ten studies were included (n = 1431 participants). Heterogeneity in study design and effect was observed. Benzodiazepines were successfully deprescribed when gradually tapered with non‐pharmacological support compared with gradual tapering alone in the short term (n = 124; RR = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.41, 2.89) and long term (n = 123; RR = 2.45; 95% CI = 1.56, 3.85). Benzodiazepine deprescribing was more successful when supported by non‐pharmacological methods versus routine care (n = 189; RR = 3.26; 95% CI = 2.36, 4.51). Quality of evidence reporting effectiveness was very low to low.

Conclusions

It may be feasible to deprescribe benzodiazepines depending on the process and support mechanisms employed.
Secukinumab treatment demonstrated high drug survival and sustained effectiveness in patients with severe chronic plaque psoriasis: 21‐month analysis in Australian routine clinical practice (SUSTAIN study)
Authors: Foley Peter , Manuelpillai Nick , Dolianitis Con , Cains Geoffrey D. , Mate Eric , Tronnberg Rebecca , Baker Christopher
Published: July 2022

Background

Drug survival measures the rate and duration of adherence to a given therapeutic agent and evaluates its long‐term effectiveness, safety, and real‐world utility. The SUSTAIN study sought to establish the drug survival and effectiveness of secukinumab for patients with severe chronic plaque psoriasis (CPP) in the Australian clinical setting.

Methods

Data of all patients (aged ≥18 years) from Australasian Psoriasis Registry (APR) treated with secukinumab were analysed. The primary objective was to describe the drug survival of secukinumab at 9 months. Key secondary objectives included drug survival of secukinumab at 3, 6, 15, and 21 months, stratified by biologic‐naïve vs biologic‐experienced patients; proportion of patients achieving Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75/90/100 responses; and changes in health‐related quality of life over time utilising the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).

Results

Of 294 patients included in this analysis, 110 (37.4%) were biologic‐naïve and 184 (62.6%) biologic‐experienced. Kaplan–Meїer drug survival rates in biologic‐naïve vs biologic‐experienced patients were 0.92 vs. 0.86 (9 months) and 0.82 vs. 0.68 (21 months), respectively. The proportion of patients with PASI 75/90/100 responses for biologic‐naïve vs. biologic‐experienced was 100/87.7/38.4 vs 98.5/61.5/27.2 (9 months) and 100/81.0/41.7 vs. 98.4/62.0/24.2 (21 months), respectively. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) DLQI in biologic‐naïve vs. experienced patients was 2.2 (4.1) vs. 3.1 (5.2) (9 months) and 1.4 (2.5) vs. 3.1 (5.3) (21 months). No new safety signals were observed.

Conclusions

Secukinumab demonstrated high drug survival and sustained effectiveness in Australian real‐world setting, in biologic‐naïve and biologic‐experienced patients with severe CPP.
Acute myocardial infarction with normal electrocardiogram and biomarkers of cardiac injury: A case report
Authors: Zha Ke‐Lan , Wen Chen  , Qiang Ye
Published: July 2022

Patients with AMI usually present with the specific changes for electrocardiogram (ECG) and biomarkers of cardiac injury. Here, we present a rare case with chest pain and normal ECG and biomarkers of cardiac injury. Emergent coronary angiography revealed an occlusion of proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. The patient was diagnosed with AMI, and his symptom relieved after implantation of drug‐eluting stents. Caution should be exercised for the exclusion of AMI in patients with chest pain and both normal ECG and biomarkers of cardiac injury.
A sacred plant of neuronal effect: the use of ibogaine in addiction treatments in Brazil
Authors: Gomes Bruno Ramos , Tofoli Luis Fernando
Published: July 2022

This research qualitatively investigated four treatments for addiction in Brazil that use ibogaine as the main tool in the process. Ibogaine is a substance derived from an African plant, Tabernanthe iboga, traditionally used in its region of origin and which leads to intense sensations during its acute effects and also different experiences of oneself and the surrounding world in the period after its use. It’s considered a non‐typical psychedelic. We visited the clinics and interviewed professionals and patients of these places. In this article, we focus on how ibogaine is used for addiction and depression treatment and how its effect is understood. There is variation in patient screening and preparation, how the ibogaine is determined, and the care practices proposed after the treatment. These variations seem to be influenced by the context where ibogaine is inserted and their practices. We identified three different contexts that influence ibogaine use in Brazil: the market of addiction treatment clinics, the Brazilian urban religious use of ayahuasca, and the medical context of ibogaine use developed by Howard Lotsof.
Review article: Follow‐up of coeliac disease
Authors: Tye‐Din J. A.
Published: July 2022

Coeliac disease is a lifelong immune‐mediated enteropathy with systemic features associated with increased morbidity and modestly increased mortality. Treatment with a strict gluten‐free diet improves symptoms and mucosal damage but is not curative and low‐level gluten intake is common despite strict attempts at adherence. Regular follow‐up after diagnosis is considered best‐practice however this is executed poorly in the community with the problem compounded by the paucity of data informing optimal approaches. The aim of dietary treatment is to resolve symptoms, reduce complication risk and improve quality of life. It follows that the goals of monitoring are to assess dietary adherence, monitor disease activity, assess symptoms and screen for complications. Mucosal disease remission is regarded a key measure of treatment success as healing is associated with positive health outcomes. However, persistent villous atrophy is common, even after many years of a gluten‐free diet. As the clinical significance of asymptomatic enteropathy is uncertain the role for routine follow‐up biopsies remains contentious. Symptomatic non‐responsive coeliac disease is common and with systematic follow‐up a cause is usually found. Effective models of care involving the gastroenterologist, dietitian and primary care doctor will improve the consistency of long‐term management and likely translate into better patient outcomes. Identifying suitable treatment targets linked to long‐term health is an important goal.
Editorial: is functional cure the only holy grail for treatment discontinuation in patients with HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B?
Authors: Liu Yen‐Chun , Jeng Wen‐Juei
Published: July 2022

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Hall et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.16968
Plasma and breast milk pharmacokinetics of tenofovir alafenamide in mothers with chronic hepatitis B infection
Authors: Lee Mei‐Hsuan
Published: July 2022

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Kayes et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17040
Editorial: dying while waiting for a hepatitis B cure?
Authors: Jourdain Gonzague , Panpradist Nuttada
Published: July 2022

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Lim et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17052
Editorial: tradipitant has promise for treating gastroparesis but leaves gastric function alone
Authors: Ehrenpreis Eli D. , Kruchko David H.
Published: July 2022

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Khanna et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17065
Plasma and breast milk pharmacokinetics of tenofovir alafenamide of mothers with chronic hepatitis B infection—Authors' reply
Authors: Levy Miriam T. , Kashuba Angela , Gane Edward
Published: July 2022

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Kayes et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17040
Association of childhood maltreatment with subsequent dating violence: An analysis of revictimization among the Korean population
Authors: Yoon Yoewon , Song Ahyoung
Published: July 2022

Childhood maltreatment is a universal issue impacting developmental outcomes, including the likelihood of experiencing violence in later life. Although previous works have focused on the cycle of abuse, the cycle of revictimization and neglect is less well‐understood. In the current study, childhood exposure to maltreatment (physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect) are examined as potential risk factors for dating relationships in adulthood. A group of 1200 adults (mean age = 46.60 years; range: 20–84 years) were recruited from the registered residential population of the Ministry of Public Administration and Security. Logistic regression analyses were conducted and revealed that childhood physical abuse was associated with physical, emotional, and financial violence in dating relationships. In addition, childhood emotional abuse exposure was associated with physical and sexual dating violence. Although childhood exposure to neglect did not explain any types of adulthood dating violence, it appears that experiencing abuse during childhood is highly related to dating violence in adulthood. Our findings revealed the importance of understanding the different types of childhood maltreatment, especially in terms of how they relate to violence victimization in the context of dating in adulthood. Interventions should address the various types of childhood victimization by family members to help prevent dating violence in adulthood.
Toxic and nutritional factors trigger Leber hereditary optic neuropathy due to a mitochondrial tRNA mutation
Authors: Vela‐Sebastián Ana , López‐Gallardo Ester , Emperador Sonia , Hernández‐Ainsa Carmen , Pacheu‐Grau David , Blanco Ignacio , Ros Andrea , Pascual‐Benito Ester , Rabaneda‐Lombarte Neus , Presas‐Rodríguez Silvia , García‐Robles Pilar , Montoya Julio , Ruiz‐Pesini Eduardo
Published: July 2022

Leber hereditary optic neuropathy is a mitochondrial disease mainly due to pathologic mutations in mitochondrial genes related to the respiratory complex I of the oxidative phosphorylation system. Genetic, physiological, and environmental factors modulate the penetrance of these mutations. We report two patients suffering from this disease and harboring a m.15950G > A mutation in the mitochondrial DNA‐encoded gene for the threonine transfer RNA. We also provide evidences supporting the pathogenicity of this mutation.
Identification of genetic variants of the IL‐22 gene in association with an altered risk of COPD susceptibility
Authors: Wang Yan , Zhou Qipeng , Chen Lingzhu , Dong Lian , Xiong Mingmei , Xie Xiaohui , Zhao Li , Xu Jingyi , Zheng Zeguang , Wang Jian , Lu Wenju
Published: July 2022

The incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is related to the interaction between environmental exposure and genetic factors. Far more than 15% of smokers eventually develop COPD. In addition to smoking, genetic susceptibility may be another factor in the development of COPD. IL‐22 and its receptors are increased in human and experimental COPD and contribute to pathogenesis. Here, we conducted a case–control study to evaluate the association between IL‐22 tag‐single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and COPD risk. Four tag‐SNPs (rs2227478, rs2227481, rs2227484 and rs2227485) were identified according to linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis in 30 healthy controls. A total of 513 COPD cases and 504 controls were recruited to perform an association study between these four tag‐SNPs and COPD risk. We found that the “C” allele of rs2227478T>C and the “T” allele of rs2227481C>T were obviously related to decreased COPD susceptibility. Genetic model analysis showed that rs2227478T>C and rs2227481C>T were significantly associated with a decreased risk of COPD under dominant models after adjusting for the above factors. In the recessive model, rs2227485T>C was obviously associated with decreased COPD risk. Our data showed that only rs2227485T>C was associated with a decreased COPD risk after Bonferroni correction. The eQTL analysis showed that rs2227485T>C was significantly associated with IL‐22 expression. The pGL4‐rs2227485‐C gene reporter had a higher promoter activity than pGL4‐rs2227485‐T. In our study, rs2227485T>C, located in the promoter region of IL‐22, was associated with a decreased risk of COPD and increased IL‐22 promoter activity, suggesting that this variant might modulate COPD susceptibility.
Metastatic lung carcinoma in thyroid aspirates: A case series and literature review illustrating diagnostic challenges
Authors: Ng Joanna Ka Man , Li Joshua Jing Xi
Published: July 2022

Background

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common primary malignant thyroid neoplasm and malignant diagnosis in thyroid aspirates. Metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung is an under‐recognised mimicker which overlaps cytomorphologically and immunocytochemically with PTC. This case series reviews thyroid aspirates of metastatic lung carcinomas, aiming to address the similarities and methods of differentiating this entity from PTC.

Methods

Thyroid aspirates of metastatic lung carcinomas were obtained by a computerised search. Clinico‐cytological features and ancillary test results were reviewed. A literature review was performed for published cases of metastatic lung carcinomas in thyroid aspirates.

Results

A total of 14 cases were found, including nine adenocarcinomas, three TTF1‐positive non‐small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs), one small cell carcinoma and one squamous cell carcinoma. The adenocarcinomas and TTF1‐positive NSCLCs displayed PTC‐like features including papillae/papillary‐like fronds (n = 6/12, 50%), nuclear grooves (n = 5/12, 41.7%) and inclusions (n = 1/12, 8.3%), chromatin clearing (n = 3/12, 25%), calcifications (n = 3/12, 25%) and multinucleated giant cells (n = 2/12, 16.7%). Useful distinguishing features observed were prominent nucleoli, coarse chromatin, mitosis, and necrosis. TTF‐1 immunocytochemistry was positive in most cases (n = 5/6, 83.3%), while PAX8 and thyroglobulin were consistently negative. EGFR exon 19 deletion was detected on cell block preparation in a single case, corresponding to its lung primary. The literature search yielded 84 cases of metastatic malignancies, with lung carcinomas comprising of 3.6%–33.3% in case series of metastatic malignancies.

Conclusion

Metastatic adenocarcinoma of lung and PTC share significant cytomorphological and immunocytochemical similarities. A high degree of caution, meticulous clinico‐cytological assessment and prudent use of ancillary techniques is necessary to avoid potential misdiagnosis.
Labour market perspectives for PhD graduates in Europe
Authors: Hnatkova Eva , Degtyarova Iryna , Kersschot Margaux , Boman Julia
Published: July 2022

An increase in the number of PhD candidates in the last decades has changed the landscape of employment and the nature of what it means to be a PhD holder. Embarking on a career in academia is a challenging endeavour for early‐career researchers while they are confronted with a limited number of job opportunities in academia. Taking into account that knowledge based societies need highly skilled professionals beyond the academic environment, it is important to understand what is the role and value of a PhD for the labour market; and what the current labour market perspectives are for PhD holders. To answer these questions, the authors analysed the available data on PhD holders' employment and conducted semi‐structured interviews with European experts on doctoral education and career development. The data and expert interviews point to different contexts across European countries. The numbers of researchers and PhDs employed in sectors outside higher education varies to a great extent—in business enterprises, government, and private non‐profit sectors. The article maps out different factors which need to be considered when assessing the labour market perspectives of PhD holders, such as the geographic area or country and its economic development, the sector of employment, type of work and the field of research.
Predictive parameters of early respiratory decline in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Michels Sebastian , Widmann Paul , Rapp Daniel , Willkomm Frank , Ludolph Albert C. , Dorst Johannes
Published: July 2022

Background and purpose

Respiratory insufficiency is a common symptom during the course of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The diagnostic workup may be challenging and includes a wide array of diagnostic measures. In this study, the aim was to analyze the relationship between hypercapnia‐associated symptoms, blood gas parameters and pulmonary function tests.

Methods

In total, 109 patients (56 women, 53 men, 62.4 ± 11.9 years) with definite, possible or probable ALS according to El Escorial criteria were included. All patients received either arterial blood gas analysis, nocturnal capnometry or both. Pulmonary function was assessed by spirometry and peak cough flow. Clinical symptoms potentially indicating hypercapnia were assessed using 17 dichotomous (yes/no) items.

Results

Of 109 ALS patients, 40 had hypercapnia. The highest accuracy and specificity for predicting hypercapnia was observed for dyspnea at rest (Youden's index 17%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2%–34%; sensitivity 23%, 95% CI 9%–38%; specificity 95%, 95% CI 88%–100%). Daytime fatigue yielded the highest sensitivity of 58% (95% CI 40%–76%). Logistic regression for all assessed symptoms combined yielded an area under the receiver operating charteristic curve of 0.8 (95% CI 0.7–0.9). Compared to the clinical symptoms, forced vital capacity and peak cough flow showed higher sensitivity (70% and 87%, respectively) but lacked specificity (33% and 20%).

Conclusion

Evaluation of the presence of hypercapnic symptoms can be utilized to predict incipient respiratory insufficiency and should complement pulmonary function tests. Further studies are needed to validate specific questionnaires in this regard. No single hypercapnia‐associated symptom or pulmonary function test on its own seems sufficient to safely predict hypercapnia.
Impact of relative cerebral blood volume reduction on early neurological improvement in extensive ischemic stroke
Authors: Broocks Gabriel , Haupt Wolfgang , McDonough Rosalie , Elsayed Sarah , Flottmann Fabian , Bechstein Matthias , Schön Gerhard , Kniep Helge , Kemmling Andre , Zeleňák Kamil , Fiehler Jens , Hanning Uta , Meyer Lukas
Published: July 2022

Background and purpose

The benefit of endovascular treatment (EVT) for patients with low Alberta Stroke Program early computed tomography score (ASPECTS) is still ambiguous and is currently being investigated in randomized trials. Computed tomography (CT) perfusion, used to estimate infarct extent and progression, might predict early neurological improvement (ENI) after EVT. We hypothesized that the degree of relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) reduction is directly associated with ENI in low ASPECTS patients undergoing EVT.

Methods

Ischemic stroke patients with ASPECTS ≤ 5 who received multimodal CT and underwent thrombectomy were analyzed. rCBV reduction was defined as the ratio of cerebral blood volume (CBV), measured in the ischemic lesion to contralateral CBV. Complete reperfusion was defined as an expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score 2c‐3. The clinical endpoint was ENI at 24 h, defined continuously (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score change from baseline to 24 h) and binarized (NIHSS score at 24 h ≤ 8).

Results

A total of 102 patients were included. Lower rCBV reduction and complete EVT were independently associated with ENI (−11.4 NIHSS points, p = 0.04; −7.3 points, p < 0.0001, respectively). The effect of complete EVT on ENI was directly linked to the degree of rCBV reduction: the probability for binary ENI was +34.6% (p = 0.004) in patients with low rCBV reduction versus +8.2% (p = 0.28) in patients with high rCBV reduction).

Conclusion

In patients with ischemic stroke with low ASPECTS, ENI was directly linked to the degree of rCBV reduction, a potential indicator of ischemia depth in extensive baseline infarction. Lower rCBV reduction was associated with higher probability of ENI after complete reperfusion, suggesting less pronounced lesion progression despite its large extent and hence, a higher susceptibility to EVT.
B‐cell repopulation dynamics and drug pharmacokinetics impact SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine efficacy in anti‐CD20‐treated multiple sclerosis patients
Authors: Asplund Högelin Klara , Ruffin Nicolas , Pin Elisa , Hober Sophia , Nilsson Peter , Starvaggi Cucuzza Chiara , Khademi Mohsen , Olsson Tomas , Piehl Fredrik , Al Nimer Faiez
Published: July 2022

Background and purpose

Recent findings document a blunted humoral response to SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination in patients on anti‐CD20 treatment. Although most patients develop a cellular response, it is still important to identify predictors of seroconversion to optimize vaccine responses.

Methods

We determined antibody responses after SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination in a real‐world cohort of multiple sclerosis patients (n = 94) treated with anti‐CD20, mainly rituximab, with variable treatment duration (median = 2.9, range = 0.4–9.6 years) and time from last anti‐CD20 infusion to vaccination (median = 190, range = 60–1032 days).

Results

We find that presence of B cells and/or rituximab in blood predict seroconversion better than time since last infusion. Using multiple logistic regression, presence of >0.5% B cells increased probability of seroconversion with an odds ratio (OR) of 5.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0–28.1, p = 0.055), whereas the corresponding OR for ≥6 months since last infusion was 1.45 (95% CI = 0.20–10.15, p = 0.705). In contrast, detectable rituximab levels were negatively associated with seroconversion (OR = 0.05, 95% CI = 0.002–0.392, p = 0.012). Furthermore, naïve and memory IgG+ B cells correlated with antibody levels. Although retreatment with rituximab at 4 weeks or more after booster depleted spike‐specific B cells, it did not noticeably affect the rate of decline in antibody titers. Interferon‐γ and/or interleukin‐13 T‐cell responses to the spike S1 domain were observed in most patients, but with no correlation to spike antibody levels.

Conclusions

These findings are relevant for providing individualized guidance to patients and planning of vaccination schemes, in turn optimizing benefit–risk with anti‐CD20.
Effective deep learning based multimodal sentiment analysis from unstructured big data
Authors: Thandaga Jwalanaiah Swasthika Jain , Jeena Jacob Israel , Mandava Ajay Kumar
Published: July 2022

More recently, as images, memes and graphics interchange formats have dominated social feeds, typographic/infographic visual content has emerged as an important social media component. This multimodal text combines text and image, defining a novel visual language that must be analysed because it has the potential to modify, confirm or grade the sentiment's polarity. The problem is how to effectively use information from the visual and textual content in image‐text posts. This article presents a new deep learning‐based multimodal sentiment analysis (MSA) model using multimodal data such as images, text and multimodal text (image with embedded text). The text analytic unit, the discretization control unit, the picture analytic component and the decision‐making component are all included in this system. The discretization unit separates the text from the picture using the variant and channel augmented maximally stable extremal regions (VCA‐MSERs) technique, which are then analysed as discrete elements and fed into the appropriate image and text analytics units. The text analytics system utilizes a stacked recurrent neural network with multilevel attention and feedback module (SRNN‐MAFM) to detect the sentiment of the text. A deep convolutional neural network (CNN) structure with parallel‐dilated convolution and self‐attention module (PDC‐SAM) is developed to forecast the emotional response to visual content. Finally, the decision component employs a Boolean framework including an OR function to evaluate and classify the output into three fine‐grained sentiment classes: positive, neutral and negative. The proposed work is simulated in the python platform using the STS‐Gold, Flickr 8k and B‐T4SA datasets for sentiment analysis of text and visual and multimodal text. Simulation outcomes proved that the suggested method achieved better accuracy of 97.8%, 97.7% and 90% for text, visual and MSA individually compared to other methods.
Multi‐specific small‐scale fisheries rely on few, locally essential, species: Evidence from a multi‐area study in the Mediterranean
Authors: Calò Antonio , Di Franco Antonio , Quattrocchi Federico , Dimitriadis Charalampos , Ventura Patricia , Milazzo Marco , Guidetti Paolo
Published: July 2022

Achieving sound management of small‐scale fisheries (SSFs) is globally recognized a key priority for sustaining livelihoods, local economies, social wealth and cultural heritage in coastal areas. The paucity of information on SSFs often prevents the proper assessment of different socio‐ecological aspects, potentially leading to draw inappropriate conclusions and hampering the development and adoption of effective policies to foster SSF sustainability. To respond to the growing global call to assess these fisheries, we carried out a multi‐disciplinary and data‐rich assessment of SSFs at 11 areas in 6 Mediterranean EU countries, combining the analysis of 1292 SSF fishing operations and 149 semi‐structured surveys of fishers. Specifically, we aimed at assessing (1) landed species contribution to SSF catches and revenues and (2) the spatial variability in a set of fishery socio‐ecological descriptors. Results highlighted that, in spite of a high species diversity, Mediterranean SSFs actually rely economically upon a very limited number of species with catch and revenues per unit of effort mostly determined by less than 5 species, that can guarantee high and stable catches and revenues over time. Moreover, some fishing communities were found to rely on a restricted number of gears. These evidences suggest, that some SSFs' properties often assumed, but never broadly verified, should be carefully reconsidered, especially when viewed from a broader socio‐ecological perspective, as in the case of the diversified portfolio or of the polyvalence of fishing gears. Taking the local scale into proper account is likely to reduce the risk of implementing management strategies potentially generating socio‐ecological inequalities.
Linking observed changes in pelagic catches to temperature and oxygen in the Eastern Tropical Pacific
Authors: Clarke Tayler M. , Wabnitz Colette C. C. , Frölicher Thomas L. , Reygondeau Gabriel , Pauly Daniel , Cheung William W. L.
Published: July 2022

Warming increases the metabolic rates of fishes and drives their oxygen demands above environmental oxygen supply, leading to declines in fish growth and smaller population sizes. Given the wide variability in species' sensitivity to changing temperature and oxygen levels, warming and oxygen limitation may be altering the composition of fish communities and hence, that of fisheries catches. Here, we test the hypothesis that changing temperatures shape the composition of pelagic fisheries catches in the Eastern Tropical Pacific. We expect that under warmer conditions, pelagic fisheries catches will be dominated by tropical species with higher oxygen demands and less surplus oxygen for growth. To test this hypothesis, we combined an index of the physiological vulnerability of exploited large pelagic fishes (e.g. tuna and billfish) to changing ocean temperatures and oxygen levels with fisheries catch data from 1970 to 2016. We found that warming is the main driver of changes in the physiological performance and catch composition of this fishery, and that oxygen limitation may be causing a significant breakpoint in the relationship between sea surface oxygen and the index of vulnerability of pelagic catches in the Ecuador and Galapagos Exclusive Economic Zones. Warm temperature anomalies due to El Niño were projected to cause reductions in the physiological performance of large pelagic fishes, although this only led to changes in catch composition during the extremely warm events. Our results suggest that catches are vulnerable to future warming, as the increasing frequency, duration and magnitude of marine heatwaves associated with climate change impact catch composition.