bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Desquamative Inflammatory Vaginitis and Plasma Cell Vulvitis Represent a Spectrum of Hemorrhagic Vestibulovaginitis
Authors: Song Myriarm , Day Tania , Kliman Len , Otton Geoff , Yap Desiree , Pagano Ross , Tan Yasmin , Scurry James
Published: December 2021

Objective

The aim of the study was to identify whether desquamative inflammatory vaginitis (DIV) and plasma cell vulvitis (PCV) are distinct clinicopathologic entities.

Materials and Methods

The pathology database identified biopsies described as “vaginitis” or “vulvitis” occurring in nonkeratinized epithelium or mucocutaneous junction. Exclusions were age less than 18 years, unavailable slides or records, concurrent neoplasia, or histopathology consistent with other entities. Clinical data included demographics, symptoms, examination, microbiology, treatment, and response. Histopathologic review documented site, epithelial thickness and characteristics, infiltrate, and vascular abnormalities. Cases were analyzed according to histopathologic impression of DIV or PCV based on previous pathologic descriptions.

Results

There were 36 specimens classified as DIV and 18 as PCV from 51 women with mean age of 51 years; 3 (6%) had concurrent biopsies with both. Pain was more common in PCV, but rates of discharge, itch, and bleeding were comparable. Rates of petechiae or erythema were similar and vaginal examination was abnormal in 72% of PCV cases. All DIV and 33% of PCV occurred in squamous mucosa; the remaining PCV cases were from mucocutaneous junction. Mean epithelial thickness, rete ridge appearance, exocytosis, and spongiosis were similar in DIV and PCV. Epithelial erosion, wide-diameter lesions, plasma cells, and stromal hemosiderin occurred in both but were more common in PCV. Lymphocyte-obscured basal layer, narrow-diameter lesions, hemorrhage, and vascular congestion were seen in both, but more common and marked in DIV.

Conclusions

Desquamative inflammatory vaginitis and PCV have overlapping symptoms, signs, and histopathologic features. They may represent a single condition of hemorrhagic vestibulovaginitis with varying manifestations according to location and severity.
Thermal Ablation of High-Grade Premalignant Disease of the Cervix—Standing the Test of Time: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Ragupathy Kalpana , Jayasinghe Thummini , McMullen Wendy
Published: December 2021

Objective

Analyze long-term (20 years) cytology and histology outcomes after treatment of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (HGCIN) with thermal ablation (TA).

Methods

All women having TA for HGCIN between January 1996 and December 1998 (36 months; N = 885) were identified; data were collected on age of patients, symptoms, colposcopy findings, and biopsy reports. Local and national (cytology and colposcopy) databases and colposcopy records were used to collect long-term follow-up data. Probability of CIN recurrence was assessed using Kaplan-Meier “survival” curve.

Results

Follow-up data (available for 796) was collected in 2018 capturing 20 years of follow-up data. Two hundred eighty-one women were treated for CIN 2 and 515 women for CIN 3. Seven hundred ninety-one of 796 (>99%) were treated at first visit. Two hundred sixty two of 796 (33%) had evidence of crypt involvement on pretreatment biopsy. Probability of having consistently normal cytological follow-up was 92%, 89%, 86%, and 83% at 5, 10, 15, and 20 years, respectively. Cumulative probability of having recurrent HGCIN was 0.5% at 5 years, 1% at 10 years, 1.9% at 15 years, and 3% at 18 years. There was 1 invasive squamous cell cancer at 11 years after treatment.

Conclusions

Thermal ablation is a safe and effective treatment for HGCIN, which is now shown to have stood the test of time. We advise more widespread adoption in the United Kingdom and globally so long as agreed criteria are met.
Long-Term Multilevel Intervention Impact on Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Rates Spanning the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Casey Sharon M. , Jansen Emily , Drainoni Mari-Lynn , Schuch Thomas J. , Leschly Karin S. , Perkins Rebecca B.
Published: December 2021

Objective

The aim of the study was to evaluate the long-term sustainability of a multilevel intervention and the COVID-19 pandemic impact on adolescent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage.

Materials and Methods

In 2016, a pediatric and family medicine practice within a federally qualified health center completed a multilevel intervention, Development of Systems and Education for Human Papillomavirus Vaccination. We examined the intervention impact on HPV vaccine initiation and completion rates among adolescents 10–18 years between March 2016 and October 2020. We determined the total number of HPV vaccine doses administered monthly. Data were plotted on statistical process control charts.

Results

Vaccine initiation increased from an average of 14% to an average of 42% for 10-year-old patients and from an average of 72% to an average of 92% for 11- to 12-year-old patients between March 2016 and January 2017 and remained stable through March 2020. Complete vaccination by age 13 years increased from 62% to 88% through October 2020.

Conclusions

This intervention led to continued improvement for on-time HPV vaccination coverage 4 years after intervention completion.

Clinical Trial Registration: This trial has been registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov (identifier NCT02812732).
Lower Genital Tract Microbiome—A Work in Progress
Authors: Sobel Jack D.
Published: December 2021

The lower genital tract microbiome is composed of millions upon millions of microbes colonizing this unique anatomical niche reflecting the influence of genetic, biologic, and behavioral factors. Over the last decade, as a result of ever advancing technology and research investment, our knowledge of this complex microbiome ecosystem has grown enormously. All too often such progress remains invisible to practitioners. In this special issue, clinical scientists, in a unique contribution, have bridged the ever-increasing distance between vaginal microbiota science and clinical disease. Approaching a myriad of pathologic entities, authors describe the clinical application of recent molecular laboratory findings encouraging diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic advances. Nevertheless, challenges are recognized and the authors outline vulvovaginal disease management opportunities. Above all, exposing the dynamism of vaginal microbiota affords a better understanding of pathogenesis of lower genital tract disease.
Case Report: Bilateral Valsalva Retinopathy in an Acutely Anemic Patient
Authors: Castillo Alvaro Jose
Published: December 2021

SIGNIFICANCE

The Valsalva maneuver is known to cause pre-retinal hemorrhages, which have a predilection to affect the macula. Certain conditions may increase the risk of developing Valsalva retinopathy including anemia. Knowing these associations can aid in uncovering underlying systemic conditions for which a patient may not otherwise be aware.

PURPOSE

This case report reviews the presentation of Valsalva retinopathy and the impacts of acute anemia on retinal findings. Recommendations for management are also reviewed and reported.

CASE REPORT

A 30-year-old Hispanic man presented to the emergency department for progressing weakness over the previous month. He had a history of polysubstance abuse and had not been eating for the previous month except for water intake. He was diagnosed with unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypercoagulable state, hypokalemia, and hypomagnesia and admitted to the intensive care unit for treatment and observation. He was referred to the eye clinic to be examined for Kayser-Fleischer rings because of concern for Wilson disease. On ophthalmological examination, the patient had reduced vision in both eyes attributed to bilateral subinternal limiting membrane macular hemorrhages likely due to Valsalva, with acute anemia and thrombocytopenia as contributing factors. The patient was referred to a retinal specialist, and observation was recommended with follow-up in 3 months. The patient, unfortunately, never followed up despite multiple attempts to reschedule.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient history and the common location of retinal hemorrhages aid in diagnosing Valsalva retinopathy. In this case, the patient had a known history of acute anemia and thrombocytopenia with a recent history of straining. Anemia, among other systemic conditions, can increase the risk of developing retinopathy after a Valsalva maneuver. Although Valsalva retinopathy can occur in healthy patients without underlying conditions, it is important to rule out other conditions that might present with retinal hemorrhage or that may increase the risk of Valsalva retinopathy.
Effects of anesthesia on ozone-induced lung and systemic inflammation
Authors: Wilson Miranda L. , Thysell Jarl A. , Baumann Kristen K. , Quaranta Danny V. , Liang W. Sandy , Erickson Michelle A.
Published: December 2021

Anesthetics are required for procedures that deliver drugs/biologics, infectious/inflammatory agents, and toxicants directly to the lungs. However, the possible confounding effects of anesthesia on lung inflammation and injury are underreported. Here, we tested the effects of brief isoflurane (Iso) or ketamine/xylazine/atipamezole (K/X/A) anesthesia prior to ozone exposure (4 hours, 3ppm) on lung inflammatory responses in mice. Anesthesia regimens modeled those used for non-surgical intratracheal instillations, and were administered 1-2 hours or 24 hours prior to initiating ozone exposure. We found that Iso given 1-2 hours prior to ozone inhibited inflammatory responses in the lung, and this effect was absent when Iso was given 23-24 hours prior to ozone. In contrast, K/X/A given 1-2 hours prior to ozone increased lung and systemic inflammation. Our results highlight the need to comprehensively evaluate anesthesia as an experimental variable in the assessment of lung inflammation in response to ozone and other inflammatory stimuli.
DIY caging apparatus to facilitate chronic and continuous stimulation or recording in an awake rodent
Authors: Enam Syed Faaiz , Kang Brian J. , Lyon Johnathan G. , Bellamkonda Ravi V.
Published: December 2021

Chronic stimulation of and recording from the brain and brain diseases can require expensive apparatus and tedious cycles of inducing rodents with anesthesia. To resolve this, we have designed and fabricated a low-cost (∼$75 vs. $450) DIY rodent caging apparatus consisting of commercially available and 3D-printed components. This apparatus is customizable and can be used to rapidly prototype devices with large rodent sample sizes. Importantly, it enables continuous and chronic stimulation of and recording from the brains of awake and freely moving rodents. It also opens the possibilities of trying complex paradigms of treatment (continuous, intermittent, variable, and chronic). We have successfully used this caging apparatus for chronic intratumoral hypothermia treatment and are currently using it while advancing electrotactic therapies.
isoformant: A visual toolkit for reference-free long-read isoform analysis at single-read resolution
Authors: Le Daniel D. , Stephenson William , Orcales Faye T.
Published: December 2021

isoformant is an analytical toolkit for isoform characterization of Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) long-transcript sequencing data (i.e. direct RNA and cDNA). Deployment of these tools using Jupyter Notebook enables interactive analysis of user-defined region-of-interest (ROI), typically a gene. The core module of isoformant clusters sequencing reads by k-mer density to generate isoform consensus sequences without the requirement for a reference genome or prior annotations. The inclusion of differential isoform usage hypothesis testing based on read distribution among clusters enables comparison across multiple samples. Here, as proof-of-principle, we demonstrate the utility of isoformant for analyzing isoform diversity of commercially-available isoform standard mixtures. isoformant is available here: https://github.com/danledinh/isoformant.
Large scale similarity search across digital reconstructions of neural morphology
Authors: Ljungquist Bengt , Akram Masood A. , Ascoli Giorgio A.
Published: December 2021

Most functions of the nervous system depend on neuronal and glial morphology. Continuous advances in microscopic imaging and tracing software have provided an increasingly abundant availability of 3D reconstructions of arborizing dendrites, axons, and processes, allowing their detailed study. However, efficient, large-scale methods to rank neural morphologies by similarity to an archetype are still lacking. Using the NeuroMorpho.Org database, we present a similarity search software enabling fast morphological comparison of hundreds of thousands of neural reconstructions from any species, brain regions, cell types, and preparation protocols. We compared the performance of different morphological measurements: 1) summary morphometrics calculated by L-Measure, 2) persistence vectors, a vectorized descriptor of branching structure, 3) the combination of the two. In all cases, we also investigated the impact of applying dimensionality reduction using principal component analysis (PCA). We assessed qualitative performance by gauging the ability to rank neurons in order of visual similarity. Moreover, we quantified information content by examining explained variance and benchmarked the ability to identify occasional duplicate reconstructions of the same specimen. The results indicate that combining summary morphometrics and persistence vectors with applied PCA provides an information rich characterization that enables efficient and precise comparison of neural morphology. The execution time scaled linearly with data set size, allowing seamless live searching through the entire NeuroMorpho.Org content in fractions of a second. We have deployed the similarity search function as an open-source online software tool both through a user-friendly graphical interface and as an API for programmatic access.
Representational drift influences learning of a sensory cortical microstimulation task
Authors: Pancholi Ravi , Ryan Lauren , Peron Simon
Published: December 2021

Sensory cortical representations can be highly dynamic, raising the question of how representational stability impacts perception. We used volumetric two-photon calcium imaging to track neural activity as mice learned an optical microstimulation task. Mice were required to report the number of photostimulation pulses delivered to opsin-expressing neurons in layer 2/3 of primary vibrissal somatosensory cortex. We found that the amount of photostimulus-evoked activity could predict animal choice. Over the course of training, this photostimulus-evoked activity rapidly declined, particularly among highly photoresponsive neurons. Population activity levels across training were similar between animals that learned and those that did not. However, the photoresponsive population exhibited turnover both within and across behavioral sessions that was elevated among animals that failed to learn. Animals that failed to learn also exhibited a faster deterioration in stimulus decoding. Our results show that the rate at which sensory cortical representations change constrains learning and impacts behavior.
Mesoscale cortex-wide neural dynamics predict goal-directed, but not random actions in mice several seconds prior to movement
Authors: Mitelut C. , Zhang Y , Sekino Y , Boyd J , Bolanos F , Swindale N.V. , Silasi G , Saxena S , Murphy T.H.
Published: December 2021

Volition - the sense of control or agency over one’s voluntary actions - is widely recognized as the basis of both human subjective experience and natural behavior in non-human animals. Several human studies have found peaks in neural activity preceding voluntary actions, e.g. the readiness potential (RP), and some have shown upcoming actions could be decoded even before awareness. Others propose that random processes underlie and explain pre-movement neural activity. Here we seek to address these issues by evaluating whether pre-movement neural activity in mice contains structure beyond that present in random neural activity. Implementing a self-initiated water-rewarded lever pull paradigm in mice while recording widefield [Ca++] neural activity we find that cortical activity changes in variance seconds prior to movement and that upcoming lever pulls could be predicted between 3 to 5 seconds (or more in some cases) prior to movement. We found inhibition of motor cortex starting at approximately - 5sec prior to lever pulls and activation of motor cortex starting at approximately 2sec prior to a random unrewarded left limb movement. We show that mice, like humans, are biased towards commencing self-initiated actions during specific phases of neural activity but that the pre-movement neural code changes over time in some mice and is widely distributed as behavior prediction improved when using all vs single cortical areas. These findings support the presence of structured multi-second neural dynamics preceding self-initiated action beyond that expected from random processes. Our results also suggest that neural mechanisms underlying self-initiated action could be preserved between mice and humans.
Lipid hydroperoxides promote sarcopenia through carbonyl stress
Authors: Eshima Hiroaki , Shahtout Justin L. , Siripoksup Piyarat , Pearson MacKenzie J. , Mahmassani Ziad S. , Ferrara Patrick J. , Lyons Alexis W. , Maschek J. Alan , Peterlin Alek D. , Verkerke Anthony R. P. , Johnson Jordan M. , Salcedo Anahy , Petrocelli Jonathan J. , Miranda Edwin R. , Anderson Ethan J. , Boudina Sihem , Ran Qitao , Cox James E. , Drummond Micah J. , Funai Katsuhiko
Published: December 2021

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation is a cardinal feature of skeletal muscle atrophy. ROS refers to a collection of radical molecules whose cellular signals are vast, and it is unclear which downstream consequences of ROS are responsible for the loss of muscle mass and strength. Here we show that lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) are increased with age and disuse, and the accumulation of LOOH by deletion of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPx4) is sufficient to augment muscle atrophy. LOOH promoted atrophy in a lysosomal-dependent, proteasomal-independent manner. In young and old mice, genetic and pharmacologic neutralization of LOOH or their secondary reactive lipid aldehydes robustly prevented muscle atrophy and weakness, indicating that LOOH-derived carbonyl stress mediate age- and disuse-induced muscle dysfunction. Our findings provide novel insights for the role of LOOH in sarcopenia including a therapeutic implication by pharmacologic suppression.
Hepatocyte-specific activity of TSC22D4 triggers progressive NAFLD by impairing mitochondrial function
Authors: Wolff Gretchen , Sakurai Minako , Mhamane Amit , Maida Adriano , Deligiannis Ioannis K. , Yin Kelvin , Weber Peter , Weider Annika , Troullinaki Maria , Zeigerer Anja , Roden Michael , Volk Nadine , Poth Tanja , Hackert Thilo , Wiedmann Lena , De Angelis Rigotti Francesca , Rodriguez-Vita Juan , Fischer Andreas , Mukthavaram Rajesh , Limphong Pattraranee , Tachikawa Kiyoshi , Karmali Priya , Payne Joseph , Chivukula Padmanabh , Ekim-Üstünel Bilgen , Martinez-Jimenez Celia P. , Szendrödi Julia , Nawroth Peter , Herzig Stephan
Published: December 2021

Objective

Fibrotic organ responses have recently been identified as long-term complication in diabetes. Indeed, insulin resistance and aberrant hepatic lipid accumulation represent driving features of progressive non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), ranging from simple steatosis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to fibrosis. Effective pharmacological regimens to stop progressive liver disease are still lacking to-date.

Methods

Based on our previous discovery of transforming growth factor beta-like stimulated clone (TSC)22D4 as a key driver of insulin resistance and glucose intolerance in obesity and type 2 diabetes, we generated a TSC22D4-hepatocyte specific knockout line (TSC22D4-HepaKO) and exposed mice to control or NASH diet models. Mechanistic insights were generated by metabolic phenotyping and single cell liver sequencing.

Results

Hepatic TSC22D4 expression was significantly correlated with markers of liver disease progression and fibrosis in both murine and human livers. Indeed, hepatic TSC22D4 levels were elevated in human NASH patients as well as in several murine NASH models. Specific genetic deletion of TSC22D4 in hepatocytes led to reduced liver lipid accumulation, improvements in steatosis and inflammation scores and decreased apoptosis in mice. Single cell RNA sequencing revealed a distinct gene signature identifying an upregulation of mitochondrial-related processes. An enrichment of genes involved in the TCA cycle, mitochondrial organization, and triglyceride metabolism underscored the hepatocyte-protective phenotype and overall decreased liver damage as seen in mouse models.

Conclusions

Together, our data uncover a new connection between targeted depletion of TSC22D4 and intrinsic metabolic processes in progressive liver disease. Cell-specific reduction of TSC22D4 improves hepatic steatosis, inflammation and promotes hepatocyte survival thus paving the way for further preclinical therapy developments.
Cerebellar associative learning underlies skilled reach adaptation
Authors: Calame Dylan J. , Becker Matthew I. , Person Abigail L.
Published: December 2021

Cerebellar output has been shown to enhance movement precision by scaling the decelerative phase of reaching movements in mice. We hypothesized that during reach, initial kinematics cue late-phase adjustments through cerebellar associative learning. We identify a population-level response in mouse PCs that scales inversely with reach velocity, suggesting a candidate mechanism for anticipatory control to target limb endpoint. We next interrogate how such a response is generated by combining high-density neural recordings with closed-loop optogenetic stimulation of cerebellar mossy fiber afferents originating in the pontine nuclei during reach, using perturbation schedules reminiscent of classic adaptation paradigms. We found that reach kinematics and PC electrophysiology adapt to position-locked mossy fiber perturbations and exhibit aftereffects when stimulation is removed. Surprisingly, we observed partial adaptation to position-randomized stimulation schedules but no opposing aftereffect. A model that recapitulated these findings provided novel insight into how the cerebellum deciphers cause-and-effect relationships to adapt.
Identification and characterization of the WYL BrxR protein and its gene as separable regulatory elements of a BREX phage restriction system
Authors: Luyten Yvette A. , Hausman Deanna E. , Young Juliana C. , Doyle Lindsey A. , Higashi Kerilyn M. , Ubilla-Rodriquez Natalia C. , Lambert Abigail R. , Arroyo Corina S. , Forsberg Kevin J. , Morgan Richard D. , Stoddard Barry L. , Kaiser Brett K.
Published: December 2021

Bacteriophage exclusion (‘BREX’) phage restriction systems are found in a wide range of bacteria. Various BREX systems encode unique combinations of proteins that usually include a site-specific methyltransferase; none appear to contain a nuclease. Here we describe the identification and characterization of a Type I BREX system from Acinetobacter and the effect of deleting each BREX ORF on growth, methylation, and restriction. We identified a previously uncharacterized gene in the BREX operon that is dispensable for methylation but involved in restriction. Biochemical and crystallographic analyses of this factor, which we term BrxR (‘BREX Regulator’), demonstrate that it forms a homodimer and specifically binds a DNA target site upstream of its transcription start site. Deletion of the BrxR gene causes cell toxicity, reduces restriction, and significantly increases the expression of BrxC. In contrast, the introduction of a premature stop codon into the BrxR gene, or a point mutation blocking its DNA binding ability, has little effect on restriction, implying that the BrxR coding sequence and BrxR protein play independent functional roles. We speculate that the BrxR coding sequence is involved in cis regulation of anti-phage activity, while the BrxR protein plays an additional regulatory role, perhaps during horizontal transfer.
Long-range promoter–enhancer contacts are conserved during evolution and contribute to gene expression robustness
Authors: Laverré Alexandre , Tannier Eric , Necsulea Anamaria
Published: December 2021

Gene expression is regulated through complex molecular interactions, involving cis-acting elements that can be situated far away from their target genes. Data on long-range contacts between promoters and regulatory elements are rapidly accumulating. However, it remains unclear how these regulatory relationships evolve and how they contribute to the establishment of robust gene expression profiles. Here, we address these questions by comparing genome-wide maps of promoter-centered chromatin contacts in mouse and human. We show that there is significant evolutionary conservation of cis-regulatory landscapes, indicating that selective pressures act to preserve not only regulatory element sequences but also their chromatin contacts with target genes. The extent of evolutionary conservation is remarkable for long-range promoter–enhancer contacts, illustrating how the structure of regulatory landscapes constrains large-scale genome evolution. We show that the evolution of cis-regulatory landscapes, measured in terms of distal element sequences, synteny, or contacts with target genes, is significantly associated with gene expression evolution.
Insights into the organic labelling effect: the special case of wine
Authors: Macht Janine , Klink-Lehmann Jeanette , Piqueras-Fiszman Betina , Hartmann Monika
Published: December 2021

Purpose

While research shows that organic labels are perceived positively for most food products, the findings are more ambiguous for wine. This may be due to the complexity of the product. Accordingly, the labelling effect might be influenced by people's prior knowledge of wines and their attitudes towards organic wines and thus be more pronounced for certain consumer groups. Providing insights into those moderators could help to steer people towards sustainable wine consumption. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the effect of organic labelling on consumers' liking of, and their willingness to pay (WTP) for white wine, and the role of potential moderators.

Design/methodology/approach

A wine tasting experiment was conducted using a within-subjects design (n = 214). The mediating role of expected liking and the moderating roles of subjective knowledge and attitude towards organic wine were analysed using the MEMORE macro in SPSS.

Findings

The results do not confirm an overall positive halo effect of labelling on liking of organic wine. Nevertheless, a positive halo effect on actual liking was observed for those respondents who have a positive attitude towards organic wine. Furthermore, an overall positive effect of organic labelling on WTP was found. Mediation effects could not be confirmed.

Originality/value

This study used an experimental design that considers not only expected liking but also actual liking and WTP for organic wines. Using a moderation-mediation framework helps to better understand consumers' quality evaluation and WTP for organic wine. Finally, it could be shown that the organic halo is more complex for the product category of wine than others have previously stated.
Development of a knowledge scale for nutrients of tropical and traditional fruits
Authors: Ozgen Leyla , Güllü Mehmet , Ozturk Elif Esra
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The aim of this study is to develop a knowledge scale for nutrients of tropical and traditional fruits for university students and conduct its validity and reliability. Another purpose of the study is to determine whether or not the students' knowledge mean scores about nutrients of tropical and traditional fruits vary based on their demographic information.

Design/methodology/approach

The design of the study was the survey model. While the population consisted of 1,551 students studying in the faculty of health sciences, Gazi University, the sample consisted of 668 students who were determined based on criterion sampling.

Findings

When examining in terms of gender of the students, it was determined that even though mean score of the knowledge scale for nutritional values of tropical and traditional fruits was slightly higher in female students (X¯ = 8.12) than male students (X¯ = 7.71), there was an insignificant difference between them (t(666) = 1.25, p > 0.05). A significant difference was determined between the students' knowledge mean scores of the knowledge scale for nutritional values of tropical and traditional fruits in terms of residence place (t(666) = 2.86, p < 0.5). While the nutritional value mean score of the students residing in Ankara was low (X¯ = 7.67), the nutritional value mean score of the students residing out of Ankara was high (X¯ = 8.58).

Originality/value

When the scale developed in this study is analysed according to demographic information, it can be asserted that the students had knowledge about the nutrients of tropical and traditional fruits. Although tropical fruits are expensive, they still prefer these fruits. It can be stated that the students had knowledge about the diversity, nutritional compounds and antioxidant content of tropical and traditional fruits.
The determinants of ESG in the banking sector of MENA region: a trend or necessity?
Authors: El Khoury Rim , Nasrallah Nohade , Alareeni Bahaaeddin
Published: December 2021

Purpose

As reporting environmental, social and governance (ESG) information is not yet mandatory in all countries, it is intriguing to understand ESG’s underlying driving mechanisms. This study aims to investigate ESG determinants in the banking sector of the Middle East and North Africa countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors gather data for 38 listed banks for the period 2011–2019. The data used is threefold as follows: data related to ESG; firm-level; and country-level data. While ESG and firm’s level data are taken from Refinitiv, country-level data are extracted from the World Bank. Using panel regression, the authors test the effect of firm- and country-specific variables on the overall ESG score and its pillars.

Findings

Results indicate that banks’ ESG scores are negatively affected by performance and positively affected by size. The level of economic development exerts a negative impact on the environmental pillar while the social development exerts a positive impact on ESG and governance pillar. Corruption is the only country-level that gathers a homogenous effect on ESG scores. Finally, the three pillars follow heterogeneous patterns.

Originality/value

This study extends the scope of previous studies by introducing new country-level independent variables to contribute to the understanding of ESG antecedents.
Tackling organizational innovativeness through strategic orientation: strategic alignment and moderating role of strategic flexibility
Authors: Nassani Abdelmohsen A. , Aldakhil Abdullah Mohammed
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of the research was to examine the effect of strategic orientation on organizational innovativeness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Moreover, in order to highlight the constructive role of strategic orientation, the study also observes the intervening role of strategic alignment and moderating role of strategic flexibility.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 209 owner/managers of SMEs through self-administered questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, correlation and hierarchical regression were used for testing the study hypotheses.

Findings

Results revealed that strategic orientation is positively related to SMEs innovativeness. Strategic alignment mediates between the strategic orientation and innovativeness link. Furthermore, the findings also established that the association between strategic orientation and strategic alignment is stronger when SMEs are strategically flexible.

Originality/value

Organizational innovativeness is of vital importance for SMEs strength, especially in the context of developing economies. Although researchers have acknowledged several antecedents of SMEs innovativeness, however, it is still unclear how strategic orientation influences organizational innovativeness. Moreover, the study focuses on another important element of strategic alignment through the integration of goals and strategies to achieve innovativeness.
The role of healthcare supply chain management in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic: hot off the press
Authors: Sriyanto Sriyanto , Lodhi Muhammad Saeed , Salamun Hailan , Sardin Sardin , Pasani Chairil Faif , Muneer Gulnaz , Zaman Khalid
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The study aims to examine the role of health-care supply chain management during the COVID-19 pandemic in a cross-section of 42 selected sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used cross-sectional robust least square regression for parameter estimates.

Findings

The results confirmed the N-shaped relationship between the health-care logistics performance index (HLPI) and COVID-19 cases. It implies that initially HLPI increases along with an increase in COVID-19 cases. Later down, it decreases COVID-19 cases by providing continued access to medical devices and personal protective equipment. Again, it increases due to resuming economic activities across countries.

Practical implications

The continuing health-care supply chain is crucial to minimize COVID-19 cases. The international support from the developed world in providing health-care equipment, debt resettlement and resolving regional conflicts is deemed desirable to escape the SSA countries from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Originality/value

The importance of the health-care supply chain during the COVID-19 pandemic is evident in the forecasting estimates, which shows that from August 2021 to April 2022, increasing the health-care supply chain at their third-degree level would reduce coronavirus registered cases. The results conclude that SSA countries required more efforts to contain coronavirus cases by thrice increasing their health-care logistics supply chain.
Digital tools and smart technologies in marketing: a thematic evolution
Authors: Diaz Estrella , Esteban Águeda , Carranza Vallejo Rocío , Martín-Consuegra Navarro David
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the evolution of digital and smart technologies and their relationship with different themes within marketing journals. In addition, this study has included the evolution of digital and smart technologies in relevant International Marketing (IM)/International Business (IB) journals to describe the impact of technology on this specific area to draw some interesting conclusions.

Design/methodology/approach

A bibliometric approach is applied in this research using science mapping analysis to visualize and reveal the evolution of smart and digital technologies in this specific academic area.

Findings

By combining science maps with performance indicators, the results of this study suggest that new technologies are related to eight main topics within marketing journals: implementation-completion, perceptions, behavior, market competition, adoption-diffusion model, social media, competitive advantage and disruptive technology. Additionally, this work provides new avenues for future research. When analyzing IM and IB journals, the findings highlight six thematic areas: perceptions-eWOM relationship, innovative foreign markets, performance determinants, Japan, industrial research and China.

Originality/value

This study contributes theoretically to developing and describing a framework for research in smart and digital technologies in the general marketing and international marketing/business fields. It adds a coherent perspective on the points of contact in marketing evolution, where smart technology has a meaningful role. This study outlines the changing questions surrounding the touchpoints as well as emerging research topics.
Why being sustainable is not enough: embracing a net positive impact
Authors: Lichtenthaler Ulrich
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This paper develops the concept of positive sustainability or positainability to go beyond many leaders’ traditional understanding of sustainability as primarily avoiding harm. Rather, executives need to embrace a positive perspective in terms of doing good and creating value in a firm’s core business as the next level of sustainability management. Positive sustainability is defined as the combination of doing good and avoiding bad to arrive at innovative solutions for achieving a “net positive impact” in the core business rather than merely targeting “no net loss” by reducing harm for the environment and society.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper with an example, and it relies on prior insights from related research fields, including the sustainable development goals, corporate social responsibility, creating shared value, positive psychology, social entrepreneurship and social innovation.

Findings

Many organizations have recently launched sustainability initiatives, which often focus on achieving efficiency gains, for example, by reducing power consumption to lower carbon emissions in the face of climate change and to simultaneously save costs. In future competition, however, avoiding unsustainability in the core business and potentially doing good in separate social responsibility programs will not be enough. Furthermore, a focus on “quick win” efficiency gains may limit a more fundamental transformation, which is needed in many firms. There is a massive shift in consumer expectations, especially among younger generations, concerning firms’ active contribution to solving environmental and social challenges. Consistent with positive psychology, these market shifts require a positive perspective in terms of doing good in the core business.

Originality/value

The concept of positive sustainability has major implications for innovation, transformation and communications management. Even those firms that view themselves as leaders hardly realize the opportunities from positive sustainability. By developing innovative solutions, products and services, companies may positively contribute to the environment and society. In the medium to long term, this positive impact will often exceed the short-term benefits of efficiency-centered programs. Most firms and leaders will simply have no choice but to embrace a “net positive impact” because customers strongly expect companies to take action in terms of positive sustainability.
Campus sustainability in an entrepreneurial framework
Authors: Andruk Christina , Altinay Zeynep
Published: December 2021

Purpose

This study aims to introduce a new framework for environmental entrepreneurship education.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test their environmental entrepreneurship framework using a Trash-to-Treasure experiential learning activity. The authors observed student entrepreneurs coordinate entrepreneurial efforts in a real-life context and collaborate with stakeholders across campus to achieve project goals. Grounded in action learning and action research frameworks, the authors describe how theory can be used to inform pedagogical practices and transform any sustainability event into problem-based innovative learning.

Findings

The authors report on two key outcomes: increased campus sustainability and contributions to entrepreneurial education and sustainability education. The authors conclude that student-run environmental businesses are win–win projects that truly integrate the three pillars of sustainability (people, profit, planet). The authors provide valuable teaching resources so that this project or similar campus greening initiatives could be implemented at any institute of higher education.

Originality/value

Despite the recognized critical need for innovative workers that have an ethical and sustainable mindset, there has been relatively little research into the intersection of environmental and entrepreneurial education. This report provides a toolkit for educators to implement similar projects at their institutions.
The importance of employee inclusion: lessons for HR managers
Authors: Norman Mario V. , Johnson Kimberly M.
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the phenomenon, or the lack thereof, of building a culturally inclusive organization, specifically suggesting this paper will offer tips for human resources (“HR”) practitioners in their quest to understand and enhance inclusivity.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is written for practitioners, focusing on ways to foster employee inclusiveness through personal awareness. It includes business and professional rationales for HR practitioners recognizing the need for and the factors impeding employee inclusiveness in the workplace.

Findings

Organizations are facing an increasingly dynamic environment in which they must interact with and, possibly, rapidly respond to changes. As a competition, both domestically and globally, increases progressive organizations recognize ways to retain and grow their talent pool. Not having a robust understanding of diversity, generally and cultural diversity, specifically, can lead to a less inclusive work environment.

Originality/value

This paper discusses the multifaceted nature of diversity and the need to understand cultural diversity. Particularly how HR practitioners can be a catalyst for organizational change. This paper then proposes practical steps for HR professionals to help improve cultural inclusiveness in their workplaces.
Pathogenesis of cutaneous T cell lymphoma: Involvement of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Fujii Kazuyasu
Published: December 2021

Mycosis fungoides (MF) and Sézary syndrome (SS) are representative cutaneous lymphomas. In their early stage, a small number of tumor cells and a large number of non‐malignant cells form a Th1‐dominant tumor microenvironment. Increase in malignant T cells is accompanied by a decrease in CD8‐positive T cells, with a shift toward a Th2‐dominant milieu in advanced‐stage lesions. The etiologies of MF/SS are diverse, and the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms are yet to be elucidated. Advanced MF/SS is known to be highly sensitive to Staphylococcus aureus, and the majority of deaths are caused by severe infections. The susceptibility to infection is associated with barrier dysfunction and immunosuppression, which are the main symptoms of MF. In recent years, skin‐colonizing S. aureus has been identified to not only cause severe infections but also play an important role in the pathogenesis of MF/SS. Staphylococcal superantigens activate the proliferation of tumor cells and induce CD25 upregulation, FOXP3 expression, IL‐17 expression, and miR‐155 expression. Alpha‐toxin eliminates non‐neoplastic CD4‐positive cells and CD8‐positive cells and plays a major role in tumor cell selection. Lipoprotein may also be associated with the induction of Th2‐dominant milieu. Antibiotic therapy for S. aureus eradication has been reported to cause considerable clinical improvement in the majority of individuals with advanced cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma. Therefore, S. aureus may be a novel target for the treatment of advanced‐stage MF/SS in the future.
Deadly stays: A 10‐year autopsy study of deaths in hotels in Antalya, Turkey
Authors: Atilgan Mehmet , Deveci Cemyigit , Demircin Sema , Akman Refik
Published: December 2021

The hotel industry is essential for travelers, for both touristic and business purposes. Deaths in hotel rooms, which can occur in various manners from various causes, can result in serious problems for the industry. This study evaluated 8137 autopsies performed by the Antalya Group Administration of the Turkish Council of Forensic Medicine between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019. All deaths occurred during a hotel accommodation and within hotel borders, including their respective beach areas, and those who collapsed during their hotel stay and died shortly afterward in a hospital or on their way to a hospital were included. A total of 900 cases were identified and ultimately included in this study. According to the autopsy reports, the decedents who died during their stays were from 42 different countries and had a mean age of 54.3 ± 18.55 years. Most decedents were from Russia (n = 251, 27.9%). The most common manner of death was natural causes (n = 552, 61.3%) followed by accidents (n = 284, 31.6%), suicides (n = 40, 4.4%), and homicides (n = 7, 0.8%). Existing cardiovascular diseases (n = 379, 42.1%) were the leading cause of death, followed by drowning in the sea (n = 116, 12.9%) or a pool (n = 58, 6.4%). Most of the causes of deaths identified within this study are preventable with timely intervention or resuscitation. Providing medical personnel 24/7 with adequate equipment in accommodation options, and enabling hotels to take appropriate measures may decrease preventable deaths and improve international travel.
Waste's translations
Authors: CHITRA V.
Published: December 2021

Mumbai's dumping grounds, located on the city's estuarine edge, are sites where garbage and marsh are turned into salable land. This process of translating waste into land depends on keeping matter, beings, and landscapes separate and on limiting their interactions. Yet waste and the marsh interact and transform in ways that escape managerial discourse, revealing a haze of category and control errors that complicate knowledge, agency, and responsibility. While developers translate waste to land in relation to developmental goals, fishing communities, scientists, and activists translate it differently: scientists translate it in relation to chemical properties, interactions, and timelines; marine‐life activists draw attention to its coastal ecologies; and fisher communities look for productive possibilities on a polluted shore. These translations attend to the inseparability of waste substances from the coast and its futures. They articulate a politics that acknowledges waste's sociopolitics, material agency, temporalities, and multispecies ethics. [coast, waste, development, pollution, marine life, ecology, chemistry, Mumbai]
Review article: Physical and psychological comorbidities associated with irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Shiha Mohamed G. , Aziz Imran
Published: December 2021

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders encountered by physicians in primary and secondary care. Patients with IBS commonly present with various extraintestinal complaints, which account for a substantial clinical and economic burden. The common extraintestinal comorbidities associated with IBS include anxiety, depression, somatisation, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pelvic pain, interstitial cystitis, sexual dysfunction and sleep disturbance. The presence of comorbidity in IBS poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge with patients frequently undergoing unnecessary investigations and interventions, including surgery. This review discusses the different physical and psychological comorbidities associated with IBS, the shared pathophysiological mechanisms and potential management strategies.