bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gain or loss: the double-edged effect of empowering leadership on employees’ innovative behaviours
Authors: Li Zhengwei , Qiu Chenye , Zeng Kai , Wang Feirong
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Empowering leadership is often considered unequivocally positive for employees, but recent studies have shown that this ostensibly straightforward effect is more complex. The dual facets of the effect of empowering leadership – especially on employees’ innovative behaviour – have received insufficient attention. Based on job demand-resource (JD-R) theory, this study aims to propose a theoretical framework for the relationship between empowering leadership and employees’ innovative behaviours with a dual process model of gain and loss.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is survey based, with 261 paired leader–employee data points collected in the People’s Republic of China.

Findings

The results show that empowering leadership has a “double-edged” effect on employees’ innovative behaviours: it affects innovative behaviours positively through employee job engagement and negatively through emotional exhaustion. Moreover, trust in leaders moderates the mediating roles of job engagement and emotional exhaustion.

Originality/value

This study contends that empowering leadership has a dual impact on employees and proposes a promising model of this double-edged effect to contrast with other complex models in the empowering leadership literature. Furthermore, this study uses JD-R theory to deeply explore the dual process whereby empowering leadership influences employees’ innovative behaviour and provides practical guidance for business management.
Whose fault is it? Loan defaults at the Devkhand bank, India
Authors: Joshi Gaurav
Published: February 2022

Learning outcomes

Through this case, the students will be able: to study how developments in the external environment impact businesses, in general, and banking sector, in particular, banks/banking, environmental management, financing/borrowing, government, political business risk and politics; to identify the politico-legal constituents of the external environment which significantly influence businesses; and to analyse the pros and cons of loan-waivers as a policy decision on various stakeholders including banks, borrowers, governments as well as the larger society.

Case overview/synopsis

The case is symptomatic of the dilemmas faced by the Indian bank employees, in charge of loan-disbursals, torn between seemingly contradictory demands from their top management and the governments.

Complexity academic level

The case is meant to be used in the course on “Business Environment” both at the UG and PG levels. It can be used along with the module on “External Environment and its Constituents” to augment students’ understanding of the “Impact of Political Environment on Business.” The case can also enrich the class discussion on the PEST (politico-legal/economic/socio-cultural/technological) framework for analysing the forces in the external environment acting upon a business.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 4: Environmental Management.
Big data analytics in strategic sales performance: mediating role of CRM capability and moderating role of leadership support
Authors: Chatterjee Sheshadri , Chaudhuri Ranjan , Vrontis Demetris
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study investigates how the combined effects of big data ability and CRM capability could impact on an organization's strategic sales performance (SSP), and how the leadership support (LS) could moderate the relationships between SSP with CRM capability and customer retention ability.

Design/methodology/approach

Having inputs from the literature and resource-based view (RBV) theory, a model has been developed conceptually. The conceptual model was validated statistically using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (SEM) technique with 317 responses.

Findings

The study found that organizations' big data analytics (BDA) capability, along with customer relationship management (CRM) capability, positively and significantly impacts organizations' SSP. Also, the study found that LS has a moderating impact on organizations' SSP.

Research limitations/implications

The study cannot be generalizable, as it is cross-sectional in nature. Also, the sample size for statistically validating the model is 317, which is not large enough to generalize the study findings. The study has used only five constructs and one moderator. With more constructs and other moderators, the boundary conditions of the model could have been increased, which could result a better explanative power of the model.

Practical implications

This study shows that organizations' big data and CRM capabilities are important for their SSP; therefore, managers must ensure that their organization has appropriate big data and CRM capabilities. Also, the study shows the significance of LS to increase the SSP of their organizations. Thus, organizational leadership must support big data and CRM-related capabilities and ensure employees are appropriately trained to successfully use these capabilities.

Originality/value

Only a limited number of studies are available on the combined impact of big data capability and CRM capability on an organization's strategic sales. How BDA could help organizations to improve their SSP has not been explicitly studied. The proposed model shows that these capabilities, along with the moderating effects of LS, impact on organizations' SSP. Thus, the proposed theoretical model is a unique model, and the study is novel.
Exploring factors influencing bicycle-sharing adoption in India: a UTAUT 2 based mixed-method approach
Authors: Chopdar Prasanta Kr , Lytras Miltiadis D. , Visvizi Anna
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Bicycle sharing offers a novel way to create smart and sustainable mobility solutions for the future. The purpose of this study is to draw on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT 2) framework for identifying the factors necessary to predict bike-sharing intention among users in India.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through a questionnaire distributed across four major cities in India, and 515 responses were analyzed. A sequential approach was employed to analyze the data using Partial Least Square–Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA).

Findings

The findings from PLS analysis revealed that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, hedonic motivation and price value are the salient variables that affect users' intentions to participate in bike sharing. In addition, based on fsQCA, six configurations of causal conditions are presented as intermediate solutions that produce the same results. Although antecedent conditions, such as habit and social influence, had an insignificant effect on individuals' BSI, they create conditions sufficient to encourage users' participation in bike sharing in combination with other variables.

Research limitations/implications

A few limitations of this research and the implications of the findings in terms of theory and policy implications are also discussed.

Originality/value

The reported study is one of the earliest to explain bike-sharing adoption in India using the UTAUT 2 model.
Toward higher import substitution: does quality governance matter for uptake and pricing of improved local rice in Ghana?
Authors: Ibrahim Latif Apaassongo , Sakurai Takeshi , Tachibana Towa
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Product quality standardization is the solution to market collapses due to quality-insensitive pricing regimes prevalent in West African (WA) rice value chains. However, access to local rice that is differentiated by quality standards is limited. This paper explores feasibility of quality standardization of local rice and evaluates how its price–quality connecting effect depends on retailer characters/reactions.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses panel data from a wholesale randomized control trial (RCT) and three surveys of 135 rice retailers in Ghana.

Findings

Improved local food value chains and access to quality differentiated products are impactful entry points for import substitution policies. The strength of interretailer competition, retail infrastructure and wholesaler activities matter for a stronger connection of prices and quality, given uptake of quality-standardized local rice.

Research limitations/implications

Access to quality-differentiated local rice can be increased via private and third-party certification. This addresses the prevailing inefficient pricing and its related problems. The positive impacts of such access would be magnified by designing quality certification interventions to elicit regular-frequent purchases by retailers and target retailers with adequate retail infrastructure in high competition areas. However, this study only explored profitability and opportunities for strategic behavior as the behavioral basis for quality-sensitive pricing. Other impact mechanisms could be explored in further research that includes consumer data.

Originality/value

Despite their difficulty and limited use in value chains studies, RCT and panel data methods are used. This study is the first to empirically analyze feasibility of introducing product standardization, a missing institution in the WA local rice markets.
Challenges confronting e-learning in higher education institutions in Nigeria amid Covid -19
Authors: Eli-Chukwu Ngozi Clara , Igbokwe Innocent Chiawa , Ifebude Barnabas , Nmadu Daniel , Iguodala Wilfred , Uma Uzubi , Onyeneke Robert Ugochukwu , Akudo Florence Ukamaka
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The shutdown of normal face-to-face educational method of learning caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has made the education stakeholders reconsider and rethink education anew in light of the emerging challenges and opportunities imposed on e-learning in higher education in Nigeria post COVID-19. This study investigates the challenges confronting e-learning in higher education in Nigeria amid COVID-19.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing upon data collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 395 lecturers in various disciplines in private, state and federal universities in Nigeria, the study adopts a quantitative research method. The quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Findings

The findings indicate that Nigeria Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are still in the early stage of adopting the e-learning mode of study. In addition, there was no existing e-learning curriculum before the pandemic. Also, adopting e-learning mode of teaching was an uphill task for both the lecturers and the learners, given the lack of experience in information and communications technology usage and inadequate infrastructure to support e-learning.

Research limitations/implications

A major limitation of the study is the inability to investigate the challenges facing students in using e-learning tools due to the unavailability of access to students during the lockdown. However, the limitations create opportunities for further studies into the subject matter.

Originality/value

The study is timely given that HEIs in Nigeria and some other countries in Africa are yet to adopt blended teaching methods. Literature reveals that most HEIs in Nigeria are using only brick and mortar mode of teaching despite the benefit of blended learning in a pandemic situation.
Content validation of value-adding indicators for corporate real estate management: insights from a developing country
Authors: Amos Daniel , Boakye-Agyeman Naana Amakie
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to test the content validity of value-adding indicators derived from a comprehensive review of literature and expert interviews within the context of the nascent corporate real estate management (CREM) practices in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire survey was conducted on a panel of experts to assess the content relevance and clarity of the value-adding indicators. The individual content validity (I-CVI) index as well as the average scale content validity index (S-CVI) were computed. Preliminary interviews were analyzed using summative content analysis.

Findings

The I-CVI for relevance and clarity ranged from 0.33 to 1.00, whereas the average S-CVI was > 0.80. Critical analysis of the results by corrections, eliminations due to lower I-CVI scores and suggestions from the experts resulted in a final list of 50 indicators grouped under 10 domains. The results from the content validity confirm the applicability of the value-adding indicators in literature within the Ghanaian context. The study provides detailed sustainability indicators while introducing a new value-adding parameter that relates to CREM preparedness for pandemics such as the Covid-19.

Research limitations/implications

Further psychometric assessment such as construct validity, inter- and intra-examiner reliability and internal consistency of the indicators is recommended.

Practical implications

The indicators developed through the content validation can assist in the design and review of measures for the assessment of added value by corporate real estate managers and researchers.

Originality/value

The paper presents the first attempt to test and develop added value indicators within the context of a developing country by taking a systematic content validation procedure.
Accountability in anti-money laundering – findings from the banking sector in Finland
Authors: Juntunen Juuli , Teittinen Henri
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore how the banking industry seeks to prevent money laundering and how the phenomenon is reflected in practice in the daily work of bank employees in Finland.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is a qualitative case study by its nature. The concept of accountability has been used as a theoretical approach in the study.

Findings

This study shows that knowing the customer is one of the most important factors in preventing money laundering. The risk-based approach, customer risk classification and bank’s internal instructions have partially clarified daily routines in anti-money laundering (AML). Technological developments and various payment services have generated new ways of money laundering, but technology has also made it easier to monitor cash flows through various monitoring systems. The challenge is constantly changing regulations concerning how to act in different situations for different customers.

Originality/value

This study investigated the accountability of banks in AML in Finland and highlighted how bank employees implement accountability for AML in an ever-changing socio-technical context.
Augmented reality: Caribbean academic libraries of the future
Authors: Duncan Adrian St. Patrick
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide substantive information for academic libraries in the Caribbean to consider the benefits of implementing augmented reality (AR) for greater access and usage of their services.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative method with the usage of questionnaires as well as the content analysis was used for data collection.

Findings

The research discovered that there is an impending need for AR in academic libraries, especially in this 21st century filled with ever-evolving technological advancements. Additionally, the research outlined the importance for academic libraries to tap into this are for greater access to its services by students off-campus as well as the physically challenged individuals.

Research limitations/implications

This paper will only be focusing on the benefits of AR for academic libraries and their furtherance. It will not attest to the cost of implementation as well as it will not consider the maintenance of it for academic libraries in the Caribbean.

Practical implications

The research disclosed numerous benefits for academic libraries in the Caribbean in developing AR collections. Additionally, with the increasing use and development of technologies in libraries, it is the ideal medium for distance learning as well as greater access to libraries by its students and other users.

Originality/value

This paper is the penultimate appetizer for the AR conversation and, by extension, implementation. Additionally, it sets the framework for researchers and practitioners that the application service is lacking despite the rise of technological advancements in the Caribbean.
Exploring the factors influencing continuous usage intention of academic social network sites
Authors: Yang Zhiwei , Zhou Qingshan , Chiu Dickson K.W. , Wang Yuqi
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Academic social network site (ASNS) is a new form of academic service in the social media age, and the study of ASNS user behavior is of great significance to academic librarians due to its recent popularity. This research explores the influencing factors of the continuous usage intention of ASNSs.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of academics in China was conducted, and 361 responses were collected and analyzed with a structural equation model, which involves satisfaction, continuous usage intention, expectation confirmation, perceived usefulness (PU), social identity, referent network size and perceived interactivity (PI).

Findings

Satisfaction, expectation confirmation, PU, referent network size, social identity and PI significantly impact continuous usage intention. Satisfaction is a mediating variable by which expectation confirmation, PU, referent network size, social identity and other influencing factors affect continuous usage intention. Expectation confirmation and referent network size are two endogenous variables that can explain and predict the continuous usage intention of ASNSs.

Originality/value

Existing research does not consciously distinguish between adoption, use and continuous use, and only scant studies have conducted empirical research. Further, despite the widespread ASNS usage in China, Chinese scholars' studies are few, as existing studies have mainly focused on users of the UK, the US and India.
New technology and desired skills of early career accountants
Authors: Jackson Denise , Michelson Grant , Munir Rahat
Published: February 2022

Purpose

Technological advances have led to accounting roles shifting from transaction focussed tasks to using data generated by technology to inform stakeholder strategies, resulting in changing skill requirements. This study aims to investigate how early career accountants (ECAs) and organisations value different skills among ECAs, how technology is impacting on these skills and the preparedness of ECAs for future technological work in different organisational settings.

Design/methodology/approach

The research adopted a multi-stakeholder, mixed-method approach, surveying 315 ECAs and 175 managers/recruiters and interviewing 10 from each group. The sample drew from different industry sectors and organisation types in Australia, with all states represented.

Findings

There was broad agreement among ECAs and managers on requisite skills for technology. Most ECAs and managers believed new technology is influencing the skills required in accounting, yet the impact was considered greater among ECAs and effects varied by organisational setting. Overall, the research did not support ECAs as “digital natives” and illuminated the importance of exposure to technology, a change mindset and lifelong learning to better prepare them for new technology.

Originality/value

This study makes an important contribution to understanding how and why skills for success in accounting are evolving in the context of new technology and how prepared ECAs are for technology from both their own and managers/recruiters’ perspectives. It highlights the need for greater dialogue, benchmarking and evaluation of performance in technology-related skills among new accountants and their managers. Further, it identifies areas where ECAs would most benefit from targeted support, aiding personal career success and organisational competitiveness.
Correlation between distribution of cash dividends from capital reserves, ultimate controlling shareholders and corporate governance
Authors: Liu Yen-Yu , Lee Pin-Sheng , Yang Chih-Hao
Published: February 2022

Purpose

This study aims to discuss whether a new accounting policy can help enterprises withstand operating risks and whether corporate governance can play a supervisory role. Taiwan took the lead worldwide in allowing companies to distribute cash dividends from capital reserves. Compared with traditional cash dividends distributed from retained earnings, this move was aimed at maintaining the stability of cash dividends and helping listed companies address the risks of temporary downturns. However, the distribution of cash dividends from capital reserves may violate the principle of capital maintenance and damage creditors’ equity. The authors sought to examine whether corporate governance could play a supervisory role.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study targeted Taiwanese listed companies and cited data from the Taiwan Economic Journal. The study period was from 2011–2019. The authors tested the hypotheses using the least square method.

Findings

The results showed that ultimate controlling shareholders of listed companies can maximize their own interests through ownership arrangements, whereas corporate governance cannot play a supervisory role nor protect creditors’ equity. The findings provide insight on whether, in the development process of corporate governance, appropriate measures are taken to protect creditors’ equity in addition to shareholders’ equity, or achieve a good coordination of interests among all stakeholders.

Originality/value

The ultimate controlling shareholders or directors of a listed company would seek to maximize their own interests, and transfer the operating risks to creditors through the arrangement of dividend policy, thus harming creditors’ equity. However, independent directors cannot play a supervisory role. The authors inferred that corporate governance standards previously focused on the shareholder level or alleviation of the agency problem between controlling shareholders and non-controlling shareholders but ignored creditors’ equity.
The buffering role of servant leadership on the relationship between organizational politics and employee task performance and citizenship behaviors
Authors: Khattak Mohammad Nisar , O'Connor Peter , Muhammad Noor
Published: February 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine whether servant leadership (SL) buffers the negative relationship between perceived organizational politics (POP) and employee performance outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Time-lagged multi source data were collected from 236 supervisor-subordinate dyads in a public sector university in Pakistan. SL, POP and several control variables were measured in subordinates at time 1, and supervisor ratings of organization citizenship behaviors and task performance were measured at time 2. The authors performed moderated multiple regression analysis to test the hypotheses underpinning the study.

Findings

Findings revealed that POP was negatively related to employee task performance and two types of organization citizenship behavior (individual and organizational). Findings also revealed that SL attenuated the negative effect of POP on employee task performance and the two types of organization citizenship behavior.

Practical implications

SL is particularly important in organizational cultures characterized by high politics; therefore, managers seeking to enhance task performance and citizenship behavior in employees should adopt this style of leadership if possible.

Originality/value

This is the first study conducted in the South Asian context that has examined whether, and how, SL buffers the negative effects of POP on employee task performance and organization citizenship behavior.
Narrating Democratic Education
Authors: Santora Ellen Durrigan
Published: February 2022

This action research uses grounded theory and constant comparative analysis of electronic portfolios to explore how prospective secondary social studies teachers connect theories and practices of democratic education to give meaning to the complexity of learning how to teach in more democratic ways. I use contrasting case studies to focus on the relative value of theoretical/experiential ways of knowing. I conclude that students need to move more fluidly between theoretical and experiential or narrative thinking to galvanize their wills to teach more democratically. Because teaching democratically implies that teachers have a democratic world view, documenting how one learns to become a teacher cannot be adequately accomplished with only lesson plans, unit plans, or K-12 student work. Instead, those who wish to construct identities as democratic educators need to articulate their struggles through theoretically positioned stories about day-to-day classroom interactions in which they acknowledge the central role of beliefs, values, and epistemic orientations.
Developing Social Studies WebQuests with Teacher Candidates
Authors: Haas Mary E. , Channell Jessica , Linder Michael T. , Vandevander Holly , VanSickle Angela
Published: February 2022

WebQuests are discussed in terms of how pre-service teachers have worked to construct useful and appropriate Internet activities for students. A set of WebQuests that meet high standards for use with students is presented.
Provoking Introspections about Freedom and Justice
Authors: Christensen Lois McFadyen
Published: February 2022

Too often, aesthetic education is neglected in the school curriculum. When school system budget monies are short, the arts seemingly are shortchanged. Nevertheless, aesthetic education is a necessary, intentional, and simultaneous endeavor within early childhood, elementary, secondary, and teacher education social studies curricula. To nurture students in the arts, while they become informed about themselves, promotes freedom, justice, and equality.
Plasticity and evolution shape the scaling of metabolism and excretion along a geothermal temperature gradient
Authors: Benavente Javiera N. , Fryxell David C. , Kinnison Michael T. , Palkovacs Eric P. , Simon Kevin S.
Published: February 2022

Physiological rates are heavily dependent on temperature and body size. Most current predictions of organisms’ response to environmental warming are based on the assumption that key physiological rates such as metabolism and excretion scale independently with body size and temperature and will not evolve. However, temperature is a significant driver for phenotypic variability in the allometric scaling and thermal sensitivity of physiological rates within ectotherm species, suggesting that evolution may play a role in shaping these parameters.

We common‐reared six populations of western mosquitofish that have recently established (~100 years ago) in geothermal springs along a broad thermal gradient (19–33°C) to determine whether these scaling parameters are affected by evolutionary and/or plastic responses to warming over ecological timescales. Each population was reared at four different temperatures (23, 26, 30 and 32°C). We measured routine metabolic and nitrogen excretion rates on mosquitofish across a wide body size range.

We found evidence for plasticity, but not evolution, increasing the allometric scaling of metabolic rate with temperature. Plasticity in metabolism allometry reflected a decrease in thermal sensitivity at smaller body sizes.

We found evidence for evolution of phenotypic plasticity on the allometry of excretion rate, reflecting evolutionary differences in how thermal sensitivity varies with body size across different populations.

Evolutionary differences in excretion rate scaling did not influence the relationship between excretion and metabolism across rearing temperatures, suggesting that warming does not affect the balance between mosquitofish energy demands and nutrient recycling rates.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Improved detection of mass effect species assembly for applied metacommunity thinking
Authors: Bried Jason T. , Vilmi Annika
Published: February 2022

Dispersal mass effects pose major challenges and opportunities for applied metacommunity ecology. A recent paper in Journal of Applied Ecology (https://doi.org/10.1111/1365‐2664.13701) presented a mass effect (ME) detection framework and grouped the species prone to ME in an extensive stream diatom survey.

We tested the putative ME diatom group and two other reported species groups for signatures of (a) dispersal‐based to joint niche–dispersal assembly using the dispersal–niche continuum index and (b) metacommunity homogenization based on total compositional variance and individual species contributions to beta diversity. Signatures of ME were found in all three diatom groups, raising uncertainty about which species were distributed by ME.

Due to the ambiguity and data demands we propose an alternate framework that enables more precise and robust ME detection with simpler data requirements. Demonstrating this approach on the same dataset, we assembled a new candidate ME group and systematically removed niche processes, dispersal limitation, stochasticity and generalist tendency as alternative explanations.

Synthesis and applications. Mass effects have strong implications for biomonitoring and spatial prioritization within dispersal networks, yet standardized methodology explicitly aligned to ME has been lacking. Ecologists now have options to enable ME research and application in more projects, datasets and study systems. Ultimately these new frameworks will help to integrate metacommunity thinking with more spatially informed resource protection and management.
Effects of dual deletion ofglnRandmtrAon expression of nitrogen metabolism genes inStreptomyces venezuelae
Authors: Zhu Yanping , Wang Jiao , Su Wenya , Lu Ting , Li Aiying , Pang Xiuhua
Published: February 2022

GlnR activates nitrogen metabolism genes under nitrogen‐limited conditions, whereas MtrA represses these genes under nutrient‐rich conditions inStreptomyces. In this study, we compared the transcription patterns of nitrogen metabolism genes in a double deletion mutant (ΔmtrA‐glnR) lacking bothmtrAandglnRand in mutants lacking eithermtrA(ΔmtrA) orglnR(ΔglnR). The nitrogen metabolism genes were expressed similarly in ΔmtrA‐glnRand ΔglnRunder both nitrogen‐limited and nutrient‐rich conditions, with patterns distinctly different from that of ΔmtrA, suggesting a decisive role for GlnR in the control of nitrogen metabolism genes and further suggesting that regulation of these genes by MtrA is GlnR‐dependent. MtrA and GlnR utilize the same binding sites upstream of nitrogen metabolism genes, and we showed strongerin vivobinding of MtrA to these sites under nutrient‐rich conditions and of GlnR under nitrogen‐limited conditions, consistent with the higher levels of MtrA or GlnR under those respective conditions. In addition, we showed that bothmtrAandglnRare self‐regulated. Our study provides new insights into the regulation of nitrogen metabolism genes inStreptomyces.
miR‐129‐2upregulation induces apoptosis and promotesNSCLCchemosensitivity by targetingSOX4
Authors: Zhou Weizheng , Cai Chengliang , Lu Jie , Fan Qiao
Published: February 2022

Background

As one of the main causes of death worldwide, the treatment of non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still unsatisfactory. This study aimed to explore the role of miR‐129‐2 in cell apoptosis and NSCLC chemosensitivity.

Methods

The effect of miR‐129‐2 on NSCLC was investigated using lung cancer cell lines (A549, NCl‐H23, and HCC827), a normal lung cell line (BEAS‐2B), and NSCLC tissues and adjacent healthy tissues. The oncogeneSOX4was verified as the target gene of miR‐129‐2 by luciferase reporter assay and real‐time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

miR‐129‐2 expression was downregulated in NSCLC tissues, NCl‐H23 cells, and A549 cells. miR‐129‐2 upregulation induced apoptosis in NCl‐H23 and A549 cells. miR‐129‐2 upregulation also inhibited NSCLC in a xenograft mouse model, which was related to downregulation ofSOX4expression. Furthermore, miR‐129‐2 andSOX4were aberrantly expressed in the cisplatin‐resistant lung cancer cell line A549/DDP, and upregulation of miR‐129‐2 expression promoted cisplatin sensitivity in A549/DDP cells.

Conclusions

In conclusion, miR‐129‐2 expression was downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines, and its upregulation induced cell apoptosis and promoted NSCLC chemosensitivity by regulatingSOX4. Therefore, miR‐129‐2 can serve as a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in NSCLC.
Ants are effective pollinators of common buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum
Authors: Natsume Kae , Hayashi Shouta , Miyashita Tadashi
Published: February 2022

Proper management of wild pollinators of agricultural crops requires identification of effective pollinator species. Although non‐bee pollinators are gaining increasing attention, small ground‐dwelling insects such as ants are often deemed ineffective. However, our previous study found a positive correlation between ant visitations to flowers and seed set in the distylous crop common buckwheat, suggesting a potential role of ants as effective pollinators.

In this study, we aimed to confirm the effectiveness of ant pollination by conducting ant‐exclusion experiments in the field. In addition, as evidence that ants can transfer pollen, we also counted the number of pollen grains attached to the body surface of two abundant flower‐visiting ant species, Formica japonica and Camponotus japonicus.

Under the ant‐exclusion treatment, the buckwheat plants showed a significant reduction (30% on average) in seed set compared with control plants, and this effect was consistent across both flower morphs (pin and thrum) and two seasons (summer and autumn). Moreover, pollen grains of each flower morph were found on both ant species visiting both types of flower, suggesting a potential contribution to seed set in buckwheat.

The results of this study suggest that ants may be an underappreciated pollinator of common buckwheat.
NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in testicular inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide in mice
Authors: Sano Michiya , Komiyama Hiromu , Shinoda Riina , Ozawa Ren , Watanabe Hiroyuki , Karasawa Tadayoshi , Takahashi Masafumi , Torii Yasushi , Iwata Hisataka , Kuwayama Takehito , Shirasuna Koumei
Published: February 2022

Problem

Systemic inflammation induced by infection, which is associated with testicular inflammation, predisposes males to subfertility. Recently, the nucleotide‐binding oligomerization domain, leucine‐rich repeat‐, and pyrin domain‐containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome was identified as a key mediator of inflammation, and excessive activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome was shown to contribute to the pathogenesis of a wide variety of diseases. However, the mechanisms underlying infectious inflammation in the testis remain unclear. We investigated the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced systemic inflammation on the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in murine testes.

Method of study

We performed in vivo and in vitro studies using an LPS‐induced model of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and testicular inflammation.

Results

Intraperitoneal administration of LPS significantly impaired sperm motility in the epididymis of wild type (WT) and NLRP3‐knockout (KO) mice. LPS administration stimulated interleukin (IL)‐1β production and secretion in the testes of WT mice, and these adverse effects were improved in the testes of NLRP3‐KO mice. LPS administration also stimulated neutrophil infiltration as well as its chemoattractant C‐C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) in WT testes, which were suppressed in NLRP3‐KO testes. In in vitro cell culture, treatment with LPS and NLRP3 inflammasome activation significantly induced IL‐1β and CCL2 secretion from WT but not NLRP3‐KO testicular cells.

Conclusions

Taken together, our results suggest that testicular cells have the potential to secrete IL‐1β and CCL2 in an NLRP3 inflammasome‐dependent manner and that these cytokines from the testis may further exacerbate testicular function, resulting in subfertility during infectious diseases.
Clinical effect of laparoscopic partial splenectomy for both benign tumours and trauma‐10 years of experience at a single institution
Authors: Lu Yunjie , Li Yucheng , Yang Yong , Shi Longqing , Ding Wei , Cai Huihua , Duan Yunfei , Chen Xuemin , Zhang Yue , Nong Kate
Published: February 2022

Background

This retrospective study aimed to present our surgical experience in patients with benign tumour or trauma in spleen who underwent laparoscopic partial splenectomy (LPS) and to compare the results with those of patients who underwent an open partial splenectomy (OPS).

Methods

We analysed the medical data of patients who underwent LPS or OPS between January 2010 and January 2020.

Results

In total, 41 patients were enrolled. Nine patients underwent open surgery, 32 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery. The proportion of patients with tumours in the upper pole in LPS group was more than patients in OPS group. No difference was observed in estimated blood loss, allogeneic transfusion, postoperative stay, pathology and complications between LPS and OPS groups. The operation time in the LPS group (137.5 ± 30.8 min) was longer than that in the OPS group (88.3 ± 30.1 min) for patients with splenic traumatic rupture (P = 0.019).

Conclusions

LPS is an effective and safe spleen‐preserving surgery as OPS. The advantages are small trauma, light pain and quick recovery. It is suitable for patients with benign tumours or trauma confined to one side of the spleen.
Reproducing the Plot: Making Life in the Shadow of Premature Death
Authors: Goffe Rachel
Published: February 2022

A protracted process of policy development has been underway in Jamaica to curtail the widespread incidence of informal settlements. Against the logic of emerging policy, this article aims to reconnect present‐time unauthorised use of space to ancestral refusals of plantation land monopoly. Through ethnographic research and a reconsideration of historical texts, the article situates insecure tenure in a long history of conflict over land and livelihood—conflict that produces a boundary around the authorised use of space. That boundary is porous and mobile, the outcome of a palimpsest of colonial violence and its negation. This argument interrogates the gap between “landless” and “ownershipless”, revealing both the role of incomplete dispossession in racialised social reproduction and the spatial practices through which Jamaicans “make life” even in the shadow of premature death.
Discovery of novel inhibitors of CDK2 using docking and physics‐based binding free energy calculation
Authors: Zheng Lei , Yang Yunpeng , Bao Jingxiao , He Liping , Qi Yifei , Zhang John Z. H.
Published: February 2022

Cyclin‐dependent kinase (CDK) is a serine/threonine protein kinase family that cooperates with cyclin and plays an important role in the regulation of cell cycle. Cyclin‐dependent kinase 2 is an important member of the CDK family and holds great promise as an anti‐cancer drug target. In this study, we used molecular docking and physics‐based binding free energy calculation method AS‐IE that explicitly calculated protein‐ligand binding entropy to discover novel inhibitors of CDK2. A total of 17 inhibitors were discovered with the best IC50 reaching ~2 μM. Decomposition of the binding free energy using AS‐IE reveals key protein‐ligand interactions that determines the activity. These results provided a good example of drug design using physics‐based free energy calculation method such as AS‐IE and the novel compounds offered a good start point for further development of CDK2 inhibitors.
A music‐themed early critical media literacy practice with young bilingual learners: A multiple case study
Authors: Kim So Jung , Park Soyeon , Li Iva S. , Tillman Daniel A.
Published: February 2022

Adopting a multiple case‐study approach, the current article explores how a music‐based, early critical media literacy practice can help young Korean bilingual children critically engage with the lyrics of the songs and visual images in the music videos––short animated films that provided audio, corresponding lyrics and visual images simultaneously. As part of a large‐scale research project, this study focuses on data collected over a 4‐month period through multiple sources. The findings revealed that dual language conversations about gender roles through music videos served as powerful mediums to help children deepen their thoughts about gender representations in the songs and articulate their voices.
Recent highlights in periopeative neurological disorders, from bench to bedside
Authors: Guo Yunlu , Li Peiying
Published: February 2022

Perioperative neurological disorders are important causes of postoperative disability and even perioperative death, bringing a huge challenge to the vulnerable and increasing aging population. Perioperative neurological disorders usually contain ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and neurocognitive disorders during the perioperative period. Although a few prevention and treatment strategies have been developed for each disorder, there is still a lack of effective treatments and the underlying mechanisms are far from well‐understood. This special issue is dedicated to introducing the recent advances in new strategies towards the management of perioperative neurological disorders. The issue collects research articles and reviews focusing on the neuroprotection mechanisms and application of novel technologies in perioperative neurological disorders, including machine learning and nano‐delivery system. These works help to shed lights on developing novel therapeutic targets of perioperative neurological disorders in the pursuit of better recovery and prognosis of the surgical patients.
Predicting citation impact from altmetric attention in clinical and translational research: Do big splashes lead to ripple effects?
Authors: Llewellyn Nicole M. , Nehl Eric J.
Published: February 2022

Publications are commonly used to evaluate the productivity and impact of research programs. Traditional metrics examine publication impact through slowly accumulating academic citations. “Altmetrics” are a new way to describe early publication influence in nonacademic media/community spheres (news, tweets, and blogs). Articles with significant altmetric attention make a big splash of immediate impact, whereas papers with high rates of academic citation reflect ripple effects of influence over time. Past research has found weak associations between altmetrics and academic citations. However, no previous research has focused on clinical/translational research, which aims to translate scientific discoveries to public use. Further, no previous research has assessed the relationship between altmetrics and modern citation impact factors like the National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s Relative Citation Ratio (RCR). It is also unclear whether publication in journals with higher journal impact factors (JIFs) may drive both public attention and academic impact. We investigated whether early altmetric indicators of splash predict citation ripples, beyond the effect of the JIF. For a portfolio of 2188 publications supported by the NIH’s Georgia Clinical and Translational Science Alliance from 2007–2020, we collected 2020 Altmetric Attention Scores (AAS), 2020 JIFs, and 2021 RCRs. All three were significantly correlated with one another. Regression analyses revealed that AAS significantly predicts later RCR, controlling for JIF and publication year. Findings indicate that in clinical/translational science, articles that make a big splash of altmetric attention have ripple effects through increased citation influence, which is not entirely due to publication in higher impact journals. Altmetric attention may be a useful early indicator of eventual influence and potential for translational advancement.
Use of PRAME immunostaining to distinguish early melanoma in situ from benign pigmented conditions
Authors: Olds Hailey , Utz Sarah , Abrams Judith , Terrano David , Mehregan Darius
Published: February 2022

Background

PRAME (PReferentially expressed Antigen in MElanoma) is an antigen that shows marked overexpression in melanoma compared to normal skin melanocytes. PRAME immunohistochemistry has proven effective in distinguishing melanocytic nevi from melanoma, but it is unclear if it may be used to distinguish melanoma in situ from other benign pigmented lesions. In particular, differentiating from melanocytic hyperplasia in sun‐damaged skin is sometimes clinically and histopathologically challenging. We hypothesized that PRAME staining of solar lentigo, sun‐damaged skin, and melanoma in situ would aid in setting a threshold of positivity that could be useful in evaluating such conditions.

Methods

We collected and stained typical examples of solar lentigo, melanoma in situ, and non‐lesional sun‐damaged skin by PRAME immunohistochemistry to assess a potential cutoff of PRAME positivity.

Results

Solar lentigo and non‐lesional sun‐damaged skin had 10 or fewer PRAME‐positive cells per millimeter (mean 1.2), on the other hand melanoma in situ had at least 16 (mean 75.1).

Conclusions

PRAME immunostaining appears sensitive and specific in the current series. This could be clinically useful for distinguishing melanoma in situ from benign melanocytic hyperplasia in sun‐damaged skin. However, further studies are required to determine if 10 cells per millimeter is an acceptable threshold of positivity.
Fine needle aspiration cytology of metastatic carcinomas with papillary architecture: A systemic assessment of clinical, cytological and immunohistochemical parameters
Authors: Li Joshua J. X. , Ng Joanna K. M. , Aphivatanasiri Chaiwat , Chan Ronald C. K. , Poon Ivan K. , Tsang Julia Y. , Tse Gary M.
Published: February 2022

Background

Papillary structures are frequently encountered in metastatic carcinomas from various organs and tumours of different histotypes. This study aims to investigate the predictive value of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and the clinical parameters which can be examined in the assessment of the primary sites of metastatic carcinomas with papillary architecture.

Methods

FNAC samples of metastatic carcinomas with papillary architecture were evaluated for overall cellularity, epithelial cohesion, background features, papillary architecture, cytology and IHC. The corresponding clinical information was also reviewed.

Results

A total of 130 cases were included. The most common primary sites were thyroid (38.5%), lung (30.8%) and gynecological organs (22.3%); the others were pancreaticobiliary, urothelial, colorectal, and esophageal. Age (P = 0.039), biopsy site (P < 0.001) and laterality (P = 0.006) correlated with primary site. Papillary structures were confirmed on biopsy/excision of most cases (n = 85/87, 97.7%). Thyroid primaries exhibited broad papillary stalks, thin lining epithelium, fewer epithelial polymorphs, and the presence of background giant cells and histiocytes (P = 0.021‐ < 0.001). Low‐grade cytological features, nuclear grooves and inclusions (P < 0.001) were seen in thyroid primaries. High‐grade features (P < 0.001‐0.49), multinucleated tumour cells, apoptotic bodies and mitoses (P < 0.001‐0.49) were more common in lung/gynecological primaries. Multivariate analysis identified nuclear/cytoplasmic ratio, chromatin character, the presence of nuclear grooves and mitosis as independent features (P = 0.001‐0.024). TTF1/TGB/PAX8 panel results showed good agreement with the cytological assessment and site of primary.

Conclusion

Papillary structures and cytological features are reproducible in FNAC assessment of metastases and their corresponding primary sites. Cytological features, IHC and clinical information are invaluable in determining the primary site.