bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of ethical leadership, HRM practices and ethical climate on organizational citizenship behaviors in Nigerian local governments
Authors: Tabiu Abubakar
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The increasing number of ethical scandals reported in many public organizations all over the world, highlighted the need for more in-depth studies on the influence of ethical leadership and management practices in the public sector organizations. This study examines the link (direct and indirect) between ethical leadership, HRM practices, ethical climate and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) within the context of Nigerian local governments.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional design was adopted and data for the study was collected quantitatively by administering questionnaires to supervisors/leaders and their respective employees/subordinates. A total of 270 participants comprising 135 leaders/supervisors who are head of departments and another 135 employee/subordinates participated in the study. Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used in testing the hypotheses.

Findings

The findings show that ethical leadership, HRM practices and ethical climate significantly affect OCBs. Also, the study shows that ethical climate mediated both the relationships between ethical leadership and OCBs, and HRM practices and OCBs respectively. Thus, the study concluded that both ethical leadership and HRM practices can influence OCBs directly and also indirectly through ethical climate.

Practical implications

The study empirically delineates the importance of ethical leadership, HRM practices and ethical climate in promoting more OCBs within the context of Nigerian local governments. Therefore, managers/administrators should encourage ethical leadership style, and implement good HRM practices and promote ethical climate within their organization so as to boost their employees' OCBs.

Originality/value

The findings of this study will contribute to the understanding of the relationships between ethical leadership, HRM practices, ethical climate and OCBs in the public sector organizations within Nigeria. The findings will also provide additional support that ethical climate is an important mechanism on the relationship between ethical leadership and HRM practices on OCBs.
Shrinking the market space: consumer (overlapping) preferences for organic wines and three alternative competitors
Authors: Vecchio Riccardo , Toccaceli Daniela , Pacciani Alessandro , Cavallo Carla , Caso Gerarda
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The scenario of clean wines is rather articulated, and many consumers perceive diverse types of wines as a homogeneous category, not actually related with the true characteristics of the products. Additionally, most often, individuals turning to these wines are driven either by health concerns or environmental consciousness or by curiosity. The purpose of this study is to understand whether there are differences in monetary preferences for four distinct clean labels and to analyze the level of interest of diverse market segments of regular wine consumers for this specific category of wines.

Design/methodology/approach

This study applied a computer-assisted Web interviewing technique. A survey was administrated in mid-September 2021 by a professional panel provider to a quota-based sample (N = 1,113) of Italian regular wine consumers. Individual willingness-to-pay (WTP) for red wines carrying different claims (organic, natural, low-sulfites and no-additives) and a conventional counterpart were collected. Clean wines’ WTP were subsequently used for hierarchical clustering.

Findings

Among the clean labels presented, respondents reported a higher WTP for organic wine. Cluster analysis yielded three actionable segments: “Easygoing wine enjoyers” (63.7%), “Convenience drinkers” (13.4%) and “Clean wine passionate” (23%). The latter reveals high preferences for all the investigated clean wines.

Research limitations/implications

Sociodemographics and wine-related characteristics of regular wine consumers particularly interested in clean wines are depicted in this study; further analysis should delve on the core drivers of individual preferences.

Practical implications

Wineries should consider the heterogeneous interest of regular wine consumers for clean wines, developing tailored strategies for specific market segments. Stakeholders interested in safeguarding consumers should carefully monitor the landscape of different clean claims entering the wine market.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no previous study has simultaneously analyzed regular wine consumers’ preferences for the four types of clean labels.
Small businesses and e-government participation: the role of personalisation preference and intermediaries
Authors: Scutella Maryanne , Plewa Carolin , Reaiche Carmen
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Advances in technology have given rise to an increased demand by small businesses for personalised e-government services. Given the importance of small businesses to the Australian economy, it is vital to deliver small business-centric services that offer potential to generate value. To do that effectively, government departments need to understand factors that affect small business. The purpose of this study is to explore how preferences for personalised services and the use of intermediaries affect small business participation behaviour and, in turn, stimulate positive outcomes that are of interest to the government.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws on secondary data from a survey of 800 Australian small businesses about the digital services offered by a large government department. Structural equation modelling was used to empirically test the model.

Findings

The findings demonstrate that whilst preference for personalisation has a positive relationship with participation behaviour, reliance on an intermediary does not. While such behaviour fosters emotional connection and perceptions of partner quality, the results of this study show no significant impact on satisfaction.

Originality/value

This study advances knowledge about how small businesses can gain value from personalised support services. Importantly, it focuses on participation behaviour and small business – both of which are largely absent from existing studies. The findings can assist government departments to design personalised services that are valued by small businesses.
Marketing research agency, creative agency and client relationships: a study of relationship tensions
Authors: Vejnovic Ena , Purchase Sharon , Tarabashkina Liudmila
Published: May 2023

Purpose

To this date, research on tensions has been carried out on business networks and value co-creation, with no studies exploring tensions within the marketing services context. This study aims to use the three tension categories proposed by Toth et al. (2018) and Pressey and Vanharanta (2006) to address this gap by identifying the tensions experienced in the market research agency (MRA), creative agency (CA) and client relationship, as well as the processes that increase or minimize these tensions.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 25 in-depth interviews were carried out with MRA, CA and client employees. NVivo 12 was used to conduct a thematic analysis to identify the overarching processes that influenced tensions.

Findings

Six second-order codes were identified, designating processes that exacerbated or minimized each of the three tensions experienced. Two new processes were identified (“adopting governance processes” and “aspects of identity formation”) which have not been previously reported. An empirical framework was developed pinpointing processes that influenced each tension category, also highlighting complex interdependencies between behavioral, emotional and structural tensions.

Originality/value

This study presents the perspectives of all actors within the marketing services triad providing a more nuanced understanding of tensions at the triadic level, as previous literature predominantly focused either on dyads or on networks. Furthermore, this study highlights important interdependencies between tension categories, providing novel contributions, as well as directions for future research.
Bottom-line mentality and abusive supervisory behaviour in MSMEs: how do they affect employee outcomes?
Authors: Hanu Charles , Agbenyegah Albert T. , Kumadey Gifty , Amankwaa Robert , Ofosu-Appiah Samuel
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Grounded on trait activation and social learning theories, this study aims to examine the effects of bottom-line mentality (BLM) and perceived abusive supervisory behaviour on proactive employee work behaviour and employee bottom-line mentality (EBLM) in micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Ghana. The moderating effects of relational attachment on how abusive supervisory behaviour relates to employee proactive work behaviour (PWB) and BLM were examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was based on a quantitative approach. An online questionnaire was used in a cross-sectional survey to elicit data from 643 conveniently sampled employees. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data.

Findings

The results support the proposition that owner-manager bottom-line mentality (OMBLM) positively and significantly predicts abusive supervision. The findings also revealed that owner-manager abusive supervisory behaviour significantly predicts employee PWB and EBLM. While the moderating effect of relational attachment on the relationship between perceived owner-manager abusive supervisory behaviour and EBLM is positive and significant, its effect on perceived owner-manager abusive supervisory and proactive employee work behaviour relationship was positive but insignificant.

Originality/value

The authors studied owner-manager abusive supervisory behaviour to understand how OMBLM relates to proactive employee work behaviour and EBLM among MSMEs in Ghana. The study sets the tone to investigate further the impact of OMBLM and the functional effect of owner-manager abusive supervisory behaviour on manager–employee relationships and outcomes among MSMEs in emerging economies.
Knowledge development in non-fungible tokens (NFT): a scoping review
Authors: Behl Abhishek , Pereira Vijay , Nigam Achint , Wamba Samuel , Sindhwani Rahul
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the potential of NFTs in revolutionizing innovation management and information systems. Innovations done by firms are blatantly used by other firms to develop cheap knock-off. This leads to huge economic loses to the firm investing in research and development activities. Firms are in need of trusted, immutable and verifiable means of storing information which cannot be used by others, even if publically available without their consent. Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) appear to be one such solution to this problem that has recently attracted a lot of investor interest. Using NFTs the information is tokenized and is stored in a secure manner.

Design/methodology/approach

Through this scoping review, the authors investigate the influence of NFTs towards the innovation management from the dual aspects of management and information systems. This scoping review is underpinned by the five-stage framework by Arksey and O’Malley. The five stages of Arksey and O’Malley’s framework were used in this analysis to classify the literature through five stages of identifying the initial research questions; locating relevant studies; study selection; charting the data; and compiling, summarizing and reporting the results.

Findings

This study suggests that NFTs on the blockchain have significant potential to revolutionize innovation management and information systems. Theoretical frameworks used in investigating the role of digital tokens in blockchain management are mainly based on contracts, diversity theory, portfolio theory and faking likelihood theory. The study reveals gaps in the literature, particularly in the under-researched areas of behavioural psychology and social psychology theories. The appropriate regulation and regulation authority for different types of digital tokens are required. The study also presents archetypes that represent patterns in the current landscape of blockchain tokens, which have significant potential for future research and practical applications.

Originality/value

This study is unique in its approach to assessing the future of NFTs in the field of innovation and information management. While many existing reviews have focused on describing the progress and development of NFTs in the past, this study takes a forward-looking perspective and projects the future potential of NFTs. This innovative approach allows for a deeper understanding of the potential impact of NFTs in various fields such as entrepreneurship, innovation management and tokenomics. Therefore, this study contributes to the literature on NFTs by providing insights and recommendations for future research and practical applications.
Mothers’ self-representations and representations of childhood on social media
Authors: Kallioharju Minna , Wilska Terhi-Anna , Vänskä Annamari
Published: May 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine mothers’ social media accounts that focus on children’s fashion. The authors probed children’s fashion photo practices as representations of the mothers’ extended self and the kind of childhood representations produced by the social media accounts. They also investigated mothers’ perceptions of children’s privacy when engaging in sharenting – the sharing of information about children or parenting online.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on 16 semi-structured interviews with Finnish mothers who had Instagram accounts focusing on children’s fashion.

Findings

Children’s fashion photos play a diverse role in mothers’ identity work. The photos can be used to express a mother’s taste and aesthetic skills, to express values, to fit into peer groups and to store memories of oneself and the children. Through the photos, representations of the prevailing Finnish childhood ideals, such as authenticity, naturalness and playfulness, are reproduced. The mothers perceived the children as part of their extended self and justified sharenting with mother- and child-centered arguments.

Originality/value

Through shedding light on the practices of social media fashion photography, this paper provides insights into how commercialism and social media shape cultural expectations for both motherhood and childhood. The paper contributes to previous research on sharenting, extending it to the context of fashion photography.
Energetics and fuel use vary with migration strategy across populations of Common Blackbirds
Authors: Twining Cornelia W. , Shipley Jeremy Ryan , McCue Marshall D. , Pokrovsky Ivan , Gregoire Arnaud , Faivre Bruno , Wikelski Martin , Partecke Jesko
Published: May 2023

Seasonal migration is a physiologically demanding endeavour that animals prepare for by finding and storing energy. Species and populations vary in their tendencies to migrate and the energetic demands of migration likely determine the degree and type of preparation that different animals undergo.

Birds fuel their migratory flight using stored fat. Previous work has suggested that in addition to being energetically dense, certain lipids like polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may be particularly efficient fuels that are preferentially mobilized for flight or serve may additional functions, such as modulating membrane fluidity or stimulating gene expression as ligands, during long‐distance migratory flight.

Using a series of behavioural and metabolic experiments in a partial transplant aviary setting of Common Blackbirds (Turdus merula) populations that range from being fully migratory to partially migratory to sedentary, we asked how migratory restlessness (Zugunruhe), weight gain and oxidation of stearic acid (18:0), oleic acid (18:1n‐9), linoleic acid (18:2n‐6) and alpha linolenic acid (18:3n‐3; ALA) varied with migratory mode and season.

We found no population‐level differences in the timing of Zugunruhe. However, before migration, a greater proportion of individuals from fully migratory populations exhibited weight gain and migratory restlessness, as well as increased oxidation of PUFAs. After Zugunruhe, only individuals from migratory populations showed reduced PUFA oxidation. All populations showed increased oxidation of saturated fat after Zugunruhe.

Our results demonstrate that certain migratory traits, like the timing of Zugunruhe are expressed similarly across populations in response to local environmental conditions, while other traits, like lipid oxidation, can vary among populations.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Biostratigraphy, Microfacies, Sedimentary Environments and Sequence Stratigraphy of the Late Devonian–Carboniferous Deposits at the Anarak Section, Central Iran
Authors: SATTARI Elaheh , BAHRAMI Ali , VAZIRI‐MOGHADDAM Hossein , TAHERI Azizollah , BONCHEVA Iliana
Published: May 2023

The Late Devonian–early Carboniferous deposits of the Anarak section in northeastern Isfahan, Central Iran, evaluated based on conodont biostratigraphy, sedimentary environment and sequence stratigraphy. According to the field observations, five lithological units were identified. Investigating the conodont fauna of the Late Devonian–Carboniferous (Mississippian–Pennsylvanian) deposits of Bahram, Shishtu, and Qaleh (Sardar 1) formations in Anarak section led to the identification of 67 species of 18 conodont genera, and accordingly 22 conodont biozones were differentiated. The correlation of sea‐level change curves, regarding to the conodont biofacies with the global sea‐level curve, demonstrates the relative correlation in the mentioned times due to the shallow condition of the central Iran basin compared to the European and American basins. The microfacies analysis led to the identification of 12 microfacies related to the open sea, bioclastic barrier, lagoon and tidal flat sub‐sedimentary environments in a homoclinal carbonate ramp environment. Based on sequence stratigraphy studies, three 3rd order sequences were identified. The first sequence, which is of the Late Devonian (upper part of the Bahram Formation, 32.5 m), the second sequence (12.5 m) is the Late Devonian (uppermost part of the Bahram Formation), and the third sequence (68 m) is the early Carboniferous (the Shishtu I Formation).
Differences in CO2‐Water‐Rock Chemical Reactions among ‘Sweet Spot’ Reservoirs: Implications for Carbon Sequestration
Authors: YANG Leilei , SONG Ziyang , LIU Yi , WEI Guo , ZHANG Xing , MO Chenchen , FENG Bo , LI Yaohua
Published: May 2023

The Lucaogou Formation, located in the Jimsar Sag, Junggar Basin, NW China, has great potential for shale oil resources. In the process of CO2‐EOR (CO2 enhance oil recovery), mineral dissolution, precipitation and transformation, leading to the local corrosion or blockage of reservoirs, have a significant influence on recovery. In this study, a combination of high‐temperature and high‐pressure laboratory experiments and coupled temperature/fluid‐chemistry multi‐field numerical simulations are used to investigate CO2‐water‐rock reactions under various reservoir conditions in the upper and lower ‘sweet spots’, to reveal the mechanisms underlying CO2‐induced mineral dissolution, precipitation and transformation. In addition, we quantitatively calculated the evolution of porosity over geological timescales; compared and analyzed the variability of CO2 transformation in the reservoir under a variety of temperature, lithology and solution conditions; and identified the main factors controlling CO2‐water‐rock reactions, the types of mineral transformation occurring during long‐term CO2 sequestration and effective carbon sequestration minerals. The results demonstrate that the main minerals undergoing dissolution under the influence of supercritical CO2 are feldspars, while the main minerals undergoing precipitation include carbonate rock minerals, clay minerals and quartz. Feldspar minerals, especially the initially abundant plagioclase in the formation, directly affects total carbon sequestration, feldspar‐rich clastic rocks therefore having considerable sequestration potential.
Transinfected Wolbachia strains induce a complex of cytoplasmic incompatibility phenotypes: Roles of CI factor genes
Authors: Li Jing , Dong Bei , Zhong Yong , Li Zheng‐Xi
Published: May 2023

Wolbachia can modulate the reproductive development of their hosts in multiple modes, and cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) is the most well‐studied phenotype. The whitefly Bemisia tabaci is highly receptive to different Wolbachia strains: wCcep strain from the rice moth Corcyra cephalonica and wMel strain from the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster could successfully establish and induce CI in transinfected whiteflies. Nevertheless, it is unknown what will happen when these two exogenous Wolbachia strains are co‐transinfected into a new host. Here, we artificially transinferred wCcep and wMel into the whitefly and established double‐ and singly‐transinfected B. tabaci isofemale lines. Reciprocal crossing experiments showed that wCcep and wMel induced a complex of CI phenotypes in the recipient host, including unidirectional and bidirectional CI. We next sequenced the whole genome of wCcep and performed a comparative analysis of the CI factor genes between wCcep and wMel, indicating that their cif genes were phylogenetically and structurally divergent, which can explain the crossing results. The amino acid sequence identity and structural features of Cif proteins may be useful parameters for predicting their function. Structural comparisons between CifA and CifB provide valuable clues for explaining the induction or rescue of CI observed in crossing experiments between transinfected hosts.
Navigating through space and time: A methodological approach to quantify spatiotemporal connectivity using stream flow data as a case study
Authors: Cunillera‐Montcusí David , Fernández‐Calero José María , Pölsterl Sebastian , Argelich Roger , Fortuño Pau , Cid Núria , Bonada Núria , Cañedo‐Argüelles Miguel
Published: May 2023

The growing interest in combining spatial and temporal patterns in nature has been fostered by the current availability of high‐frequency measurements. However, we still lack a methodological framework to process and interpret spatiotemporal datasets into meaningful values, adaptable to different time windows and/or responding to different spatial structures. Here, we developed and tested a framework to evaluate spatiotemporal connectivity using two new measures: the spatiotemporal connectivity (STcon) and the spatiotemporal connectivity matrix (STconmat).

To obtain these measures, we consider a set of spatially connected sites within a temporally dynamic network. These measures are calculated from a spatiotemporal matrix where spatial and temporal connections across sites are captured. These connections respond to a determined network structure, assign different values to these connections and generate different scenarios from which we obtain the spatiotemporal connectivity. We developed these measures by using a dataset of stream flow state spanning a 513‐day period obtained from data loggers installed in seven temporary streams. These measures allowed us to characterise connectivity among stream reaches and relate spatiotemporal patterns with macroinvertebrate community structure and composition.

Spatiotemporal connectivity differed within and among streams, with STcon and STconmat capturing different hydrological patterns. Macroinvertebrate richness and diversity were higher in more spatiotemporally connected sites. Community dissimilarity was related to STconmat showing that more spatiotemporally connected sites had similar communities for active and passive dispersers. Interestingly, both groups were related to spatiotemporal connectivity patterns for some of the analysed scenarios, highlighting the relevance of spatiotemporal connectivity in dynamic systems.

As we exemplified, the proposed framework can help to disentangle and quantify spatiotemporal dynamics or be applied in the conservation of dynamic systems such as temporary streams. However, the current framework is not limited to the temporal and spatial features of temporary streams. It can be extended to other ecosystems by including different time windows and/or consider different network structures to assess spatiotemporal patterns. Such spatiotemporal measures are especially relevant in a context of global change, with the spatiotemporal dynamics of ecosystems being heavily disrupted by human activities.
Combinatorial approach of immuno‐proton therapy in cancer: Rationale and potential impact
Authors: Gaikwad Utpal , Bajpai Jyoti , Jalali Rakesh
Published: May 2023

Cancer management is an expansive, growing, and evolving field. In the last decade or so, immunotherapy (IT) and particle beam therapy have made a tremendous impact in this domain. IT has already established itself as the fourth pillar of oncology. Recent emphasis has been centred around combination therapy, postulating additive or multiplicative effects of combining IT with one or more of the three conventional “pillars,” that is, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Radio‐IT is being increasingly explored and has shown promising outcomes in both preclinical and clinical settings. Particle beam therapy such as protons, when used as the radiotherapeutic modality in conjunction with IT, can potentially limit toxicities and improve this synergism further. Modern proton therapy has demonstrated a reduction in integral dose of radiation and radiation‐induced lymphopenia in various sites. Protons, by virtue of their inherent clinically desirable physical and biological characteristics, namely, high linear energy transfer, relative biological effectiveness of range 1.1–1.6, and proven anti‐metastatic and immunogenic potential in preclinical studies, might have a superior immunogenic profile than photons. Proton‐IT combination is being studied currently by various groups in lung , head neck and brain tumors, and should be evaluated further in other subsites to replicate preclinical outcomes in a clinical setting. In this review, we summarize the currently available evidence for combinatorial approaches and feasibility of proton and IT combination, and thereafter highlight the emerging challenges for practical application of the same in clinics, while also proposing plausible solutions.
Optimizing carboplatin dosing by an improved prediction of carboplatin clearance using a CT‐enhanced estimate of renal function
Authors: Molenaar‐Kuijsten Laura , Pieters Tobias T. , Veldhuis Wouter B. , Moeskops Pim , Rijkhorst Erik Jan , Dorlo Thomas P. C. , Beijnen Jos H. , Steeghs Neeltje , Rookmaaker Maarten B. , Huitema Alwin D. R.
Published: May 2023

Aims

Carboplatin is generally dosed based on a modified Calvert formula, in which the Cockcroft–Gault‐based creatinine clearance (CRCL) is used as proxy for the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). The Cockcroft–Gault formula (CG) overpredicts CRCL in patients with an aberrant body composition. The CT‐enhanced estimate of RenAl FuncTion (CRAFT) was developed to compensate for this overprediction. We aimed to evaluate whether carboplatin clearance is better predicted by CRCL based on the CRAFT compared to the CG.

Methods

Data of four previously conducted trials was used. The CRAFT was divided by serum creatinine to derive CRCL. The difference between CRAFT‐ and CG‐based CRCL was assessed by population pharmacokinetic modelling. Furthermore, the difference in calculated carboplatin dose was assessed in a heterogeneous dataset.

Results

In total, 108 patients were included in the analysis. Addition of the CRAFT‐ and CG‐based CRCL as covariate on carboplatin clearance led, respectively, to an improved model fit with a 26‐point drop in objective function value and a worsened model fit with an increase of 8 points. In 19 subjects with serum creatinine <50 μmol/L, the calculated carboplatin dose was 233 mg higher using the CG.

Conclusions

Carboplatin clearance is better predicted by CRAFT vs. CG‐based CRCL. In subjects with low serum creatinine, the calculated carboplatin dose using CG exceeds the dose using CRAFT, which might explain the need for dose capping when using the CG. Therefore, the CRAFT might be an alternative for dose capping while still dosing accurately.
Clinical effectiveness of Liraglutide 3.0 mg and impact of weight loss in improving obesity‐related comorbid conditions in King Fahad Medical City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A real‐world experience
Authors: Alshehri Ali , AlFaris Nasreen , Al Qahtani Abdulhadi M. , Shams Mahmoud , Yahia Moataz
Published: May 2023

Obesity has emerged as one of the most challenging worldwide problems and, if left untreated, can lead to major illnesses and consequences that can impair patients' health The study's objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of Liraglutide 3.0 mg in inducing weight loss and to assess the improvement of obesity‐related comorbid conditions among people living with obesity (PwO) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A retrospective cohort review of PwO with or without diabetes and taking Liraglutide 3.0 mg in combination with diet and exercise for weight management was performed and evaluated at King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh, KSA. We collected patient data from electronic medical records for different parameters. The side effects were not recorded. A cohort of 399 patients who used Liraglutide 3.0 mg for 6 months was included in the study. At baseline, the mean age of the cohort was 46.4 (±12.1) years, mean BMI was 40.4 (±7.7) kg/m2 and most patients (74.4%) were women. Their mean average weight loss was 6.5 (±9.5) kg; p < .001. In the entire cohort, 52.6% of subjects had lost ≥5% of their bodyweight, 27.8% of subjects had lost ≥10%, and 11.3% of subjects had lost ≥15% of their bodyweight. There was a significant reduction in HbA1c by 0.5% (p < .0001) at 6 months of the treatment. Liraglutide 3.0 mg treatment did not affect systolic blood pressure and alanine transferase. Liraglutide 3.0 mg resulted in clinically significant weight loss with better glycaemic control, confirming the drug's effectiveness in the real‐world evidence setting.
Evaluating the pure effect of weight on cardiac function in patients with cardiac syndrome X
Authors: Zoroufian Arezou , Sahebjam Mohammad , Rezaee Malihe , Hosseini Kaveh , Fallahzadeh Aida , Jalali Arash , Salehi Safoura
Published: May 2023

Background

Obese patients have more coronary artery disease (CAD) risk factors that may affect myocardial function. We aimed to assess the ability of echocardiography‐derived conventional parameters, left atrial strain, and global longitudinal strain to detect early diastolic and systolic dysfunction in obese individuals with almost no CAD risk factors.

Method

We studied 100 participants with structurally normal hearts, ejection fractions above 50%, almost normal coronary arteries in coronary angiogram (syndrome X), and no cardiovascular risk factor except dyslipidemia. Participants were classified as normal‐weight (BMI < 25.0 kg/m2, n = 28) and high‐weight (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2, n = 72). Conventional echocardiographic parameters and two‐dimensional speckle tracking (2DSTE) were used to measure peak LA strain and global longitudinal strain to evaluate diastolic and systolic function, respectively.

Result

There was no significant difference in the standard and conventional echocardiographic parameters between the two groups. 2DSTE echocardiographic parameters of the longitudinal deformation of the LV myocardium were not significantly different within the two groups. However, there were significant differences between the subjects with normal‐weight and high‐weight in terms of LA strain (34.51 ± 8.98% vs. 39.06 ± 8.62%, p = .021). The normal‐weight group had lower LA strain, in compression with the high‐weight group. All echocardiographic parameters were in the normal range.

Conclusion

In the present study we demonstrated that global longitudinal subendocardial deformations, for the evaluation of systolic function, and conventional echocardiographic parameters, for the evaluation of diastolic function, were not significantly different between normal‐ and high‐weight groups. Although LA strain was higher among overweight patients, it was not above the normal range of diastolic dysfunction.
Chromosomal breakage tests in the differential diagnosis of Fanconi anemia and aplastic anemia
Authors: Farkas Gyöngyi , Székely Gábor , Goda Veronika , Kállay Krisztián M. , Kocsis Zsuzsa S. , Szakszon Katalin , Benyó Gábor , Erdélyi Dániel , Liptai Zoltán , Csordás Katalin , Kertész Gabriella , Szegedi István , Kriván Gergely , Takácsi‐Nagy Zoltán , Polgár Csaba , Jurányi Zsolt
Published: May 2023

Background

FA patients are hypersensitive to preconditioning of bone marrow transplantation.

Objective

Assessment of the power of mitomycin C (MMC) test to assign FA patients.

Methods

We analysed 195 patients with hematological disorders using spontaneous and two types of chromosomal breakage tests (MMC and bleomycin). In case of presumed Ataxia telangiectasia (AT), patients' blood was irradiated in vitro to determine the radiosensitivity of the patients.

Results

Seven patients were diagnosed as having FA. The number of spontaneous chromosomal aberrations was significantly higher in FA patients than in aplastic anemia (AA) patients including chromatid breaks, exchanges, total aberrations, aberrant cells. MMC‐induced ≥10 break/cell was 83.9 ± 11.4% in FA patients and 1.94 ± 0.41% in AA patients (p < .0001). The difference in bleomycin‐induced breaks/cell was also significant: 2.01 ± 0.25 (FA) versus 1.30 ± 0.10 (AA) (p = .019). Seven patients showed increased radiation sensitivity. Both dicentric + ring, and total aberrations were significantly higher at 3 and 6 Gy compared to controls.

Conclusions

MMC and Bleomycin tests together proved to be more informative than MMC test alone for the diagnostic classification of AA patients, while in vitro irradiation tests could help detect radiosensitive—as such, individuals with AT.
Fatigue crack initiation and growth behavior within varying notch geometries in the low‐cycle fatigue regime for FV566 turbine blade material
Authors: Cunningham Benjamin M. D. , Leering Mitchell , Fan Yuhui , You Chao , Morris Andrew , Reed Philippa A. S. , Hamilton Andrew R. , Fitzpatrick Michael E.
Published: May 2023

Plain bend bars made from FV566 martensitic stainless steel were extracted from the root of ex‐service power plant turbine blades and several industry‐relevant notch geometries were introduced. Some of the samples were shot peened. The notched bend bars were loaded plastically in the low‐cycle fatigue regime and finite element (FE) modeling carried out to investigate the effects of changing notch geometry, combined with shot peening, on fatigue behaviors such as crack initiation, short crack growth, and coalescence. Shot peening damaged the notch surface, accelerating initiation behaviors, but had a lifetime‐extending effect by retarding short crack growth in all tested notch geometries. At a total strain range higher than 1.2%, the lifetime extension benefit from shot peening was diminished due to compressive residual stress relaxation in the notch stress field. Notch geometry (and the associated varying constraint levels and stress/strain gradients) was found to have no notable difference on fatigue life when tested at identical notch‐root strain ranges.
Climatic seasonality challenges the stability of microbial‐driven deep soil carbon accumulation across China
Authors: Wen Shuhai , Chen Jiaying , Yang Ziming , Deng Lei , Feng Jiao , Zhang Wen , Zeng Xiao‐Min , Huang Qiaoyun , Delgado‐Baquerizo Manuel , Liu Yu‐Rong
Published: May 2023

Microbial residues contribute to the long‐term stabilization of carbon in the entire soil profile, helping to regulate the climate of the planet; however, how sensitive these residues are to climatic seasonality remains virtually unknown, especially for deep soils across environmental gradients. Here, we investigated the changes of microbial residues along soil profiles (0–100 cm) from 44 typical ecosystems with a wide range of climates (~3100 km transects across China). Our results showed that microbial residues account for a larger portion of soil carbon in deeper (60–100 cm) vs. shallower (0–30 and 30–60 cm) soils. Moreover, we find that climate especially challenges the accumulation of microbial residues in deep soils, while soil properties and climate share their roles in controlling the residue accumulation in surface soils. Climatic seasonality, including positive correlations with summer precipitation and maximum monthly precipitation, as well as negative correlations with temperature annual range, are important factors explaining microbial residue accumulation in deep soils across China. In particular, summer precipitation is the key regulator of microbial‐driven carbon stability in deep soils, which has 37.2% of relative independent effects on deep‐soil microbial residue accumulation. Our work provides novel insights into the importance of climatic seasonality in driving the stabilization of microbial residues in deep soils, challenging the idea that deep soils as long‐term carbon reservoirs can buffer climate change.
Strengthening mental health research outcomes through genuine partnerships with young people with lived or living experience: A pilot evaluation study
Authors: Lee Grace Yeeun , McKenna Sarah , Song Yun Ju C. , Hutcheon Alexis , Hockey Samuel J. , Laidler Rachael , Occhipinti Jo‐An , Perry Claudia , Lindsay‐Smith Tara , Ramsay Annabel , Choi Skye , Feirer Dakota , Shim Andrew W. , Cottle Jessica , Mukherjee Anith , New Joshua , Yu Rebecca , Scott Elizabeth Mary , Freebairn Louise , Hickie Ian Bernard
Published: May 2023

Background

Despite increasing support for stakeholder inclusion in research, there is limited evaluative research to guide safe (i.e., youth‐friendly) and meaningful (i.e., non‐tokenistic) partnerships with young people with lived experience of mental ill‐health in research. This paper describes a pilot evaluation and iterative design of a Youth Lived Experience Working Group (LEWG) protocol that was established by the Youth Mental Health and Technology team at The University of Sydney's Brain and Mind Centre, based on the results of two studies.

Methods

Study one consisted of a pilot evaluation of the extent to which youth partners felt empowered to contribute, to qualitatively explore how LEWG processes could be improved. Youth partners completed online surveys, and results were shared over two LEWG meetings in 2021 to empower youth partners to collectively identify actions of positive change regarding LEWG processes. These meetings were audio‐recorded and transcripts were subsequently coded using thematic analysis. Study two assessed whether LEWG processes and proposed improvements were acceptable and feasible from the perspective of academic researchers via an online survey in 2022.

Results

Quantitative and qualitative data collected from nine youth partners and 42 academic researchers uncovered initial learnings regarding facilitators, motivators, and barriers to partnering with young people with lived experience in research. Implementing clear processes for youth partners and academic researchers on effective partnership strategies, providing training opportunities for youth partners to develop research skills, and providing regular updates on how youth partner contributions led to research outcomes were identified as key facilitators.

Conclusions

This pilot study provides insight into a growing international field on how to optimise participatory processes so that researchers and young people with lived experience can be better supported and engaged to make meaningful contributions to mental health research. We argue that more transparency is needed around participatory research processes so that partnerships with young people with lived experience are not merely tokenistic.

Consumer Contributions

Our study has also been approved by and reflects the concepts and priorities of our youth lived experience partners and lived experience researchers, all of whom are authors of this paper.
Three‐year efficacy of switching to dolutegravir plus lamivudine: A real‐world study
Authors: Palmier E. , De Miguel R. , Montejano R. , Busca C. , Micán R. , Ramos L. , Cadiñanos J. , Serrano L. , Bernardino J. I. , Pérez‐Valero I. , Valencia E. , Arribas J. R. , Montes M. L. , González‐García J. , Martín‐Carbonero L.
Published: May 2023

Background

Dolutegravir (DTG) plus lamivudine (3TC) has proven highly efficacious as a switching strategy in virologically suppressed people with HIV (PWH). As this strategy was introduced relatively recently, real‐world, long‐term durability studies are lacking.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of treatment‐experienced patients who started DTG + 3TC in a cohort of PWH. HIV‐RNA <50 copies/mL was analysed at 144 weeks in an intention‐to‐treat (ITT) analysis (missing = failure) and a per‐protocol (PP) analysis (patients with missing data or changes for reasons other than virological failure were excluded).

Results

The study population comprised 358 PWH (19% women). Median age and time with HIV infection were 51.7 and 13.4 years, respectively. The median number of previous antiretroviral combinations was three. Previous virological failure was reported in 27.1% of patients, and the M184V resistance mutation was detected in 17 patients. At 144 weeks, the percentage of individuals with HIV‐RNA <50 copies/mL was 77.4% (277/358) in the ITT analysis and 95.5% (277/290) in the PP analysis. A total of 68 participants were excluded from the PP analysis (data missing, 25, discontinuation due to toxicity, 19; other, 16; death, 8). Two people with virological failure selected resistance‐associated mutations (M184V and M184V + R263K). HIV‐RNA remained undetectable in 17 patients with a previous history of the M184V mutation.

Conclusion

Our results confirm the real‐world, long‐term efficacy, tolerability and high genetic barrier of DTG + 3TC in treatment‐experienced PWH. Although scarce, mutations causing resistance to nucleosides and integrase can emerge.
Rice pollen‐specific OsRALF17 and OsRALF19 are essential for pollen tube growth
Authors: Kim Eui‐Jung , Kim Ji‐Hyun , Hong Woo‐Jong , Kim Eun Young , Kim Myung‐Hee , Lee Su Kyoung , Min Cheol Woo , Kim Sun Tae , Park Soon Ki , Jung Ki‐Hong , Kim Yu‐Jin
Published: May 2023

Pollen tube growth is essential for successful double fertilization, which is critical for grain yield in crop plants. Rapid alkalinization factors (RALFs) function as ligands for signal transduction during fertilization. However, functional studies on RALF in monocot plants are lacking. Herein, we functionally characterized two pollen‐specific RALFs in rice (Oryza sativa) using multiple clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated protein 9‐induced loss‐of‐function mutants, peptide treatment, expression analyses, and tag reporter lines. Among the 41 RALF members in rice, OsRALF17 was specifically expressed at the highest level in pollen and pollen tubes. Exogenously applied OsRALF17 or OsRALF19 peptide inhibited pollen tube germination and elongation at high concentrations but enhanced tube elongation at low concentrations, indicating growth regulation. Double mutants of OsRALF17 and OsRALF19 (ralf17/19) exhibited almost full male sterility with defects in pollen hydration, germination, and tube elongation, which was partially recovered by exogenous treatment with OsRALF17 peptide. This study revealed that two partially functionally redundant OsRALF17 and OsRALF19 bind to Oryza sativa male‐gene transfer defective 2 (OsMTD2) and transmit reactive oxygen species signals for pollen tube germination and integrity maintenance in rice. Transcriptomic analysis confirmed their common downstream genes, in osmtd2 and ralf17/19. This study provides new insights into the role of RALF, expanding our knowledge of the biological role of RALF in regulating rice fertilization.
Efficacy of anti‐sebum moisturizing cream containing 2% l‐carnitine and 5% epigallocatechin gallate in seborrhea: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Detudom Pipatpong , Kamanamool Nanticha , Paichitrojjana Anon , Udompataikul Pawat , Udompataikul Montree
Published: May 2023

Background

Seborrhea leads to facial greasiness and unpleasant feeling. People with seborrhea also have trouble with selecting moisturizers. l‐Carnitine and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) are reported anti‐sebum properties. However, neither efficacy comparison nor the combination effect of the two topical anti‐sebum agents was studied. Moisturizing cream with these agents is supposed to provide skin with an optimal water–oil balance.

Aims

To compare the efficacy of moisturizer containing 2% l‐carnitine or 5% EGCG alone on sebum controlling, and the synergistic effect of these two agents.

Methods

Three study creams were formulated by adding three kinds of anti‐sebum agents which were 2% l‐carnitine, 5% EGCG, and 2% l‐carnitine plus 5% EGCG in moisturizing cream base of dimethicone and glycerin. A randomized clinical trial was conducted. Ninety subjects, divided into three groups, applied the cream for 4 weeks. Sebum level, skin capacitance, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were evaluated at Weeks 0, 1, 2, and 4. Life qualities and subjective outcomes were assessed before and after treatment.

Results

The mean sebum reduction from baseline was statistically significant in all treatment groups (p < 0.01). The median time to oil control was longer in l‐carnitine group. The combine group had significantly greater anti‐sebum efficacy than l‐carnitine group (p = 0.009). All three groups had significant improvement of other objective parameters and subjective outcomes.

Conclusions

The anti‐sebum moisturizing cream exhibited beneficial effect on the sebum reduction with improve skin hydration in people with seborrhea and made users satisfied. The EGCG group and the combine group show the greater anti‐sebum effect than the l‐carnitine group.