bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
When Bitcoin is high: cryptocurrency value, illicit markets and US marijuana bills
Authors: Shanaev Savva , Johnson Efan , Vasenin Mikhail , Panta Humnath , Ghimire Binam
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the implications of illicit market use for the value of Bitcoin in an event studies framework.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a data set of 58 state-level marijuana decriminalisation and legalisation bills and referenda in the USA in 2010–2022.

Findings

Decriminalisation is associated with a strong and consistent positive Bitcoin price response around the event, recreational legalisation induces a more ambiguous reaction and medical legalisation is found to have a negative albeit small impact on Bitcoin value. This suggests decriminalisation enhances shadow economy use value of Bitcoin, whereas recreational and medical legalisation are not consistently reducing illicit drug cryptomarket activity. The effects are robust to various estimation windows, in subsamples, and also when outliers, heavy tails, conditional heteroskedasticity and state size are accounted for.

Originality/value

New to the literature, the choice of US marijuana bills, specifically as sample events, is based on both theoretical and empirical grounds.
Role of human resource practices, leadership and intellectual capital in enhancing organisational performance: the mediating effect of organisational agility
Authors: Alhosani Fatima Hasan , Ahmad Syed Zamberi
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The objective of this study aims to investigate the manner in which Human Resource Practices (HRP), leadership, and intellectual capital contribute to organisational agility within the healthcare sector, and to assess how this agility influences overall organisational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This research was undertaken within healthcare organisations situated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The study sample comprised of 275 participants, and the distribution of the sample across various classifications closely mirrored that of the larger population. To assess the formulated hypotheses, the research utilized Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) software.

Findings

Results confirmed the proposed framework and uncovered the significance of HRP, leadership and intellectual capital on organisational agility and organisational performance in a dynamic environment like hospitals.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates originality by investigating hospital responsiveness within a highly dynamic context necessitating agility from both managerial and non-technical perspectives. Additionally, it explores the impact of HRP, leadership, and intellectual capital on organisational agility, along with its repercussions for overall organisational performance.
Exploring the interplay of corporate and ecosystem change
Authors: Öberg Christina
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Corporate changes not only impact the firms involved but also have consequences for their ecosystems. However, the existing literature on ecosystem change is limited. This paper describes and discusses the interconnected patterns between corporate and ecosystem change, shedding light on the various forms these changes take.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical part of the paper is based on the case study of two previously merged organizations' separation.

Findings

The paper reveals intensifying and dissipating change patterns, illustrating the linkages between rapid and gradual corporate and ecosystem changes within and across various ecosystem spheres. Three spheres are conceptualized: sphere of control, sphere of interdependency and sphere of negotiation, each indicating a separate change pattern.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper lies in its discussion on interconnected corporate and ecosystem changes, offering valuable insights for situating corporate change within the ecosystem and establishing a vocabulary for ecosystem change. Moreover, through the empirical study of a corporate divorce, the paper enhances our understanding of this specific form of change.
Green innovation: exploring the impact of environmental patents on the adoption and advancement of renewable energy
Authors: Esmaeilpour Moghadam Hadi , Karami Arezou
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The MENA region faces energy security and environmental challenges, necessitating the adoption of sustainable energy for sustainable development. Green innovation has emerged as a crucial factor in promoting renewable energy adoption and building an enduring and eco-friendly energy system. This research examines the influence of green innovation on clean energy adoption from 1985 to 2019.

Design/methodology/approach

To ensure the robustness of the analysis, this study employs three indicators as proxies for renewable energy and develops three models that incorporate urbanization, CO2 emissions, and economic growth as control variables. Various statistical tests, including panel unit root tests, diagnostic tests, the Least Squares Dummy Variables (LSDV) method, and a Granger causality test, are utilized. In addition, the study incorporates the Augmented Mean Group (AMG) method as a robustness check.

Findings

The findings reveal a positive relationship between green innovation and the advancement of renewable energy across all models. This highlights the significance of investing in green innovation as a fundamental driver for promoting sustainable energy generation in the MENA region. The research also emphasizes the positive impact of economic growth on renewable energy development. Furthermore, urbanization contributes to the progress of renewable energy. Additionally, the study demonstrates that increased CO2 emissions are associated with higher levels of sustainable energy generation.

Originality/value

This study addresses a research gap by investigating the impact of green innovation on clean energy progress in the MENA region, an aspect overlooked in existing literature that primarily focuses on regulatory barriers. Specifically, it examines the influence of green innovation, measured through environmental-related technology patents, on sustainable energy systems in MENA. Utilizing patents as a metric offers advantages by directly assessing innovation deployment and providing broader geographical coverage.
Foundational concepts of collaborative practice with parents in occupational therapy for children
Authors: Lage Carla R. , Wright Shelley , Monteiro Rafaelle G. de S. , Aragão Luisa , Boshoff Kobie
Published: June 2024

Introduction

In occupational therapy for children, collaborative practice with parents is crucial for meaningful family‐centred interventions, yet it remains undefined and inconsistently addressed. This study aimed to establish foundational concepts for collaborative practice with parents in occupational therapy for children in progressing the field with a universal description.

Methods

This paper encompasses the second dataset of a larger scoping review and a preliminary validation of findings by an advisory panel. Data were gathered from indexed sources on collaborative practice with parents in occupational therapy for children (ages 0–10) using MedLine, PsychInfo, ERIC, Embase, OTSeeker, Scopus, and ProQuest Central. Data were extracted, charted, and descriptively analysed by paired independent reviewers. The Joanna Briggs Institute Manual and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis—extension for Scoping Reviews were used. A draft definition of collaborative practices, developed based on preliminary review findings and an operational definition, was validated by an advisory panel of 13 experienced Australian occupational therapists, whose input was integrated into a final, comprehensive description of collaborative practice.

Results

The scoping review encompassed 299 sources, revealing three major components of collaborative practice: ‘collaborative practice aims’, ‘parent–therapist partnership’, and ‘strategies for collaboration’. The advisory panel endorsed the draft definition, confirmed its professional relevance, and suggested some modifications.

Conclusion

The major outcome of this study is an evidence‐based and discipline‐specific preliminary description of collaborative practice with parents in occupational therapy for children. This description provides a common language and foundational concepts for the future development of a collaborative practice framework to guide practice and research. Future studies can explore specific components, exploring their mechanisms and significance. Further expanded validation is required, incorporating the perspectives of a wider community of occupational therapists and families to enhance the description's applicability.
Vulnerability and Policing: Rethinking the Role and Limits of the Police
Authors: Crawford Adam
Published: June 2024

Police are increasingly called upon to manage a host of social ills and vulnerable people, often filling gaps left by the withdrawal of other public and third sector services. Yet, there remains a distinct lack of critical assessment of what problems the police are expected to solve and whether they are the most appropriate agency to do so. This article highlights the need to rethink policing through multilateral networks that explicitly locate police within broader tasks of public safety and the protection of vulnerable citizens. It argues for a whole‐system response that harnesses the roles of diverse public, private and voluntary organisations and clarifies the parameters of police within that system. It explores the opportunities and challenges that attend to delimiting the police role through recent developments and debates concerning responses to mental health‐related problems and the ‘Right Care, Right Person’ agreement. It concludes with some thoughts on how we might recast, through the lens of vulnerability, a decentred role for police within a wider system of public safety.
A Hexagonal Aim as a Driver of Change for Health Care and Health Insurance Systems
Authors: BRÉCHAT PIERRE‐HENRI , FAGERLIN ANGELA , ARIOTTI ANTHONY , LEE ALEXIS PEARL , WARRIER SMITHA , GREGOVICH NANCY , BRIOT PASCAL , SRIVASTAVA RAJENDU
Published: June 2024

Policy Points

Improving health systems requires the pursuit of both patient‐centered care and a supportive environment for health professionals. This Quadruple Aim includes improving the experience of care, improving the health of populations, reducing per capita costs of care, and improving the work life of the care providers.

We propose expanding a recently defined Fifth Aim of health equity to include health democracy, ensuring that that the health and health care wants, needs, and responsibilities of populations are being met, and also propose adding a Sixth Aim of preserving and improving the health of the environment to create the best health possible.

As social tension and environmental changes continue to impact the structure of our society, this “Hexagonal Aim” might provide additional ethical guiderails as we set our health care goals to foster sustainable and improved population health.
Rethinking legislation to cope with transboundary crises
Authors: Broekema Wout , de Graaf Beatrice , Bron Roland
Published: June 2024

Societies are increasingly subject to transboundary crises that pose new challenges to crisis management and require a structural rethinking of longstanding arrangements. This study explores which governance aspects could be embedded in legislation to facilitate the organization of such transboundary crisis management. It builds upon research findings from the comprehensive 2020 governmental evaluation study of the Safety Regions Act in the Netherlands and the relevant literature. First, we provide a framework for a systematic study of the relationship between law and practice. Second, we present a model on how legislation for crisis management could be adapted to better fit with transboundary crises. This consists of a set of 10 key aspects categorized into five pillars: the interconnectedness of the various phases of crisis management and risk assessments as a starting point; flexible crisis management organization and network collaboration; allocated facilitator and exceptional decision‐making power; professional competences and netcentric information management; and learning capacities and democratic feedback. This model provides a point of departure for researchers and policymakers alike for rethinking the role that legislation can play in preparing for the crises of the future.
Incidence distributions, risk factors and trends of vaginal cancer: A global population‐based study
Authors: Huang Junjie , Chan Sze Chai , Pang Wing Sze , Mak Fung Yu , Fung Yat Ching , Lok Veeleah , Zhang Lin , Lin Xu , Lucero‐Prisno Don Eliseo , Xu Wanghong , Zheng Zhi‐Jie , Elcarte Edmar , Withers Mellissa , Wong Martin C. S. ,   the NCD Global Health Research Group, Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU)
Published: June 2024

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the incidence, risk factors and trends for vaginal cancer.

Design

Retrospective observational design.

Setting

Data were collected from multiple sources, including the Global Cancer Observatory, Cancer Incidence in Five Continents Plus, Global Burden of Disease, World Bank and the United Nations.

Population

Individuals diagnosed with vaginal cancer.

Methods

The study collected data on vaginal cancer from the specified sources. The age‐standardised rate (ASR) of vaginal cancer was calculated for different regions and age groups. Multivariable and univariable linear regression analyses were performed to examine the associations between risk factors and the incidence of vaginal cancer. Trend analysis was conducted using joinpoint regression analysis, and the average annual percentage change (AAPC) was calculated to quantify the temporal trend.

Main Outcome Measures

The main outcome measures of the study were the incidence of vaginal cancer, risk factors associated with the disease and the trend of its incidence over time.

Results

There were 17 908 newly reported cases of vaginal cancer (ASR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.30–0.44) in 2020, with the highest ASRs reported in South–Central Asia and Southern Africa. Risk factors associated with a higher incidence of vaginal cancer included a higher prevalence of unsafe sex and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The temporal trend showed an overall rising incidence globally, with Iceland (AAPC = 29.56, 95% CI 12.12–49.71), Chile (AAPC = 22.83, 95% CI 13.20–33.27), Bahrain (AAPC = 22.05, 95% CI 10.83–34.40) and the UK (AAPC = 1.40, 95% CI 0.41–2.39) demonstrating the most significant rising trends.

Conclusions

The significant regional disparities and risk factors associated with vaginal cancer underscore the necessity for targeted interventions and education, particularly in regions with a lower human development index (HDI) and a higher prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The increasing incidence trend emphasises the need for enhanced HPV vaccination rates to prevent the development of vaginal cancer.
Prediction model of browning inhibitor concentration and its optimal composition for mass processing of ready‐to‐eat fresh‐cut ‘Fuji’ apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) strains
Authors: Baek Soo Min , Ahn Sung‐Il , Lee Sang Hoon , Choi Jae‐Mun , Hong Jiyoun , Kim Young Jun , Han Bok Kyung
Published: June 2024

In this study, we optimized the composition of the browning inhibitor for apples and established a prediction model for the browning inhibitor concentration in mass‐processed fresh‐cut apples based on electrical conductivity measurements. The “Fuji” apples that were harvested in Chungju, Korea, were used for this study. Vitamin C mixture (VCM) and trehalose (Tre) were used as browning inhibitors at a 4% ratio. The browning reaction under Δ3 of BI (browning index) for 5 days was defined as the target shelf‐life of the apple flesh. The ΔBI of VCM and Tre was lower than that of VCM by 4%. It is revealed that the electrical conductivity of the browning inhibitor was highly correlated with its concentration and the number of soaked apples. Finally, the regression of the conductivity was fitted as Y = −0.0024 (number of soaked apples) + 0.5111 (R2 = 0.9931). In the validation test, the conductivity must be maintained at 0.4373 S/m or higher to maintain the target anti‐browning level of Δ3 or less, which corresponded to ∼80% of the initial qualitative level after manufacture. The conductivity measurement of the browning inhibitor is suitable for monitoring and predicting its concentration in the mass processing of fresh‐cut apple production due to the convenience of this method.

Practical Application

The conductivity measurement of browning inhibitors can be applied not only to the mass processing of apple production but also to the anti‐browning treatment of other fruits and vegetables, due to the convenience of this method. From these research results, it is expected to derive a formula that can predict the concentration of browning inhibitors through simple experiments for other fruits or vegetables.
An efficient visual screening of gene knockout mutants in the insect pathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana
Authors: Mao Ajing , Wang Junyao , Zhu Shengan , Jin Dan , Fan Yanhua
Published: June 2024

Beauveria bassiana is an entomopathognic fungus, which is widely employed in the biological control of pests. Gene disruption is a common method for studying the functions of genes involved in fungal development or its interactions with hosts. However, generating gene deletion mutants was a time‐consuming work. The transcriptional factor OpS3 has been identified as a positive regulator of a red secondary metabolite oosporein in B. bassiana. In this study, we have designed a new screening system by integrating a constitutive OpS3 expression cassette outside one of the homologous arms of target gene. Ectopic transformants predominantly exhibit a red colour with oosporein production, while knockout mutants appear as white colonies due to the loss of the OpS3 expression cassette caused by recombinant events. This screening strategy was used to obtain the deletion mutants of both tenS and NRPS genes. Correct mutants were obtained by screening fewer than 10 mutants with a positive efficiency ranging from 50% to 75%. This system significantly reduces the workload associated with DNA extraction and PCR amplification, thereby enhancing the efficiency of obtaining correct transformants in B. bassiana.
Psychological processes and alcohol reduction in patients with chronic hepatitis C: Results from the HepART trial
Authors: Evon Donna M. , Yao Jia , Zimmer Catherine , Muir Andrew J. , Hendershot Christian S. , Proeschold‐Bell Rae Jean
Published: June 2024

Background

There is a lack of randomized controlled trials of behavioral interventions and process‐level research related to alcohol reduction among patients with chronic liver disease (e.g., hepatitis C viral (HCV) infection). We conducted a process‐level, secondary analysis of the Hepatitis C‐Alcohol Reduction Treatment (HepART) trial to investigate the association between change in psychological processes posited by the Integrated Behavioral Model (IBM) and change in World Health Organization (WHO) drinking risk levels.

Methods

Patients with HCV who consume alcohol were recruited from hepatology clinics and received provider‐delivered SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, Referral to Treatment) or SBIRT+ 6 months of co‐located alcohol counseling. Treatment arms were combined for this analysis because no between‐group differences were found. At baseline and 6 months, the timeline followback method was used to determine alcohol risk levels according to the 2000 WHO risk categories (based on average grams of alcohol per day). Changes in alcohol consumption and WHO risk levels were quantified and regressed on change in individual psychological processes (e.g., readiness, self‐efficacy, motives, attitudes, and strategies) from baseline to 6 months.

Results

At the baseline assessment, 162 participants were classified as abstinent (5%), low (47%), moderate (16%), high (19%), or very high (13%) WHO risk levels. At 6 months, 38% remained at the same risk level and 48% decreased by at least one level. In univariate analyses, changes in 7 of 12 psychological processes were associated with change in risk levels. Adjusted multivariate analyses demonstrated that change in four processes were significantly associated with change in risk levels, including SOCRATES Taking Steps, Ambivalence, and Recognition scores and alcohol reduction strategies.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate significant reductions in quantitative indices of alcohol consumption following opportunistic alcohol interventions in patients with HCV. However, results provided mixed support for associations between change in IBM psychological processes and alcohol consumption.
Endodontic apical surgery with novel endoscope: Three‐case series
Authors: Tso Kai‐Yun , Wu Yu‐Hsueh , Tsai Yu‐We , Lin Yu‐Sheng , Chiu Wei‐Chih
Published: June 2024

Successful apical surgery relies on effective magnification and illumination. In the field of endodontics, the microscope has emerged as the predominant tool for meeting these requirements. The rigid endoscope is also a valuable instrument in apical surgery. This study introduces three cases demonstrating the application of endoscope technology in endodontic apical surgery. The first case employs a soft endoscope for treating an anterior tooth with apical periodontitis, the second integrates an endoscope with new attachments for a premolar, and the third combines an endoscope, attachments and navigation for the lower first molar surgery. It revealed that endoscopes offer certain advantages that are not achievable with microscope‐assisted surgery, these cases had a great outcome. In the future, a broader application of endoscopic technology in various procedures is anticipated.
Response to adalimumab in Caucasian and Asian patients with hidradenitis suppurativa: A retrospective cohort study of an Australian cohort stratified by patient‐reported ethnicity
Authors: Pham James , Flora Akshay , Guttman Lauren , Allan Timothy , Chandran Nisha Suyien , Frew John W.
Published: June 2024

Background/Objectives

Caucasian and Asian patients with hidradenitis suppurativa demonstrate significant differences with regard to age, gender and body mass index. Demographic characteristics are known to influence the efficacy and drug survival of hidradenitis suppurativa therapeutics including biologic therapies. What remains unknown is the impact of ethnicity upon the efficacy of therapeutics once demographic and disease characteristics have been taken into account. This is an important question given the expansion of biologic therapies for HS into the global patient community.

Methods

We assessed 170 patients from a single HS specialist centre in Australia stratified by patient‐identified ethnicity including those identifying as either Caucasian or Asian.

Results

Asian patients demonstrated lower BMI, higher rates of smoking and greater odds of Hurley stage 3 disease with tunnels than Caucasian patients in line with the reported literature. There was no significant difference between percentage of individuals achieving HiSCR50 or IHS4‐55 at Week 16. Significant differences were seen in median time to secondary loss of response, and Kaplan–Meier curve analysis showed a significant difference between curves when stratified by patient‐reported ethnicity. Cox regression analysis demonstrated after accounting for age, gender, BMI, smoking and Hurley stage, the significance of ethnicity in influencing time to secondary loss of response disappears.

Conclusions

Caucasian or Asian ethnicity does not influence response to adalimumab treatment on patients with hidradenitis suppurativa.
Helminth induced monocytosis conveys protection from respiratory syncytial virus infection in mice
Authors: Burgess Matthew O. , Janas Piotr , Berry Karla , Mayr Hannah , Mack Matthias , Jenkins Stephen J. , Bain Calum C. , McSorley Henry J. , Schwarze Jurgen
Published: June 2024

Background

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in infants is a major cause of viral bronchiolitis and hospitalisation. We have previously shown in a murine model that ongoing infection with the gut helminth Heligmosomoides polygyrus protects against RSV infection through type I interferon (IFN‐I) dependent reduction of viral load. Yet, the cellular basis for this protection has remained elusive. Given that recruitment of mononuclear phagocytes to the lung is critical for early RSV infection control, we assessed their role in this coinfection model.

Methods

Mice were infected by oral gavage with H. polygyrus. Myeloid immune cell populations were assessed by flow cytometry in lung, blood and bone marrow throughout infection and after secondary infection with RSV. Monocyte numbers were depleted by anti‐CCR2 antibody or increased by intravenous transfer of enriched monocytes.

Results

H. polygyrus infection induces bone marrow monopoiesis, increasing circulatory monocytes and lung mononuclear phagocytes in a IFN‐I signalling dependent manner. This expansion causes enhanced lung mononuclear phagocyte counts early in RSV infection that may contribute to the reduction of RSV load. Depletion or supplementation of circulatory monocytes prior to RSV infection confirms that these are both necessary and sufficient for helminth induced antiviral protection.

Conclusions

H. polygyrus infection induces systemic monocytosis contributing to elevated mononuclear phagocyte numbers in the lung. These cells are central to an anti‐viral effect that reduces the peak viral load in RSV infection. Treatments to promote or modulate these cells may provide novel paths to control RSV infection in high risk individuals.
Volumetric citizenship
Authors: Elinoff Eli
Published: June 2024

In Thailand, the volatile period from 2019 to 2023 was marked by changing material and political atmospheres. Air pollution, the COVID‐19 pandemic, and government restrictions on speech transformed how Thai citizens breathed and how they related to the monarchy. Understanding this period as a history of breath reconceptualizes the citizen‐body as volumetric, recasting politics as an intermaterial practice. Breath, its vibrations, and its constraints, as it moves across the topologies of the respiratory system, generate densely material, richly symbolic political relations that bind citizens to one another, to the polity, and to the world. Small particles, dust, viruses, speech restrictions, and tear gas constrained the breath of Thai citizens while shaping the conditions in which dissenting vibrations could shake the country's cosmologies. Attention to the citizen‐body as volumetric thus recasts the lungs as relational chambers of political capacity, resituating political analysis within the material world and suggesting that all politics are, in some sense, environmental.
Optimization design of semi‐open impeller based on thrombogenicity in a blood pump
Authors: Liu Xuemin , Shao Jiejie , Wang Peng , Zhao Honghua , Liu Luning , Han Qing
Published: June 2024

Background

Blood clots are composed of aggregated fibrin and platelets, and thrombosis is the body's natural response to repairing injured blood vessels or stopping bleeding. However, when this process is activated abnormally, such as in a mechanical blood pump, it can lead to excessive thrombus formation. Therefore, how to avoid or reduce the probability of thrombus formation is an important indicator of the stable operation of a blood pump.

Methods

In this paper, Lagrangian particle tracking trajectories are simulated to study platelet transport in a blood pump. The design of the thrombus blood pump was optimized using an orthogonal design method based on three factors: inlet angle, outlet angle, and blade number. The effect of blood pump pressure, rotational speed, impeller outlet angle, inlet angle, and number of blades on thrombus formation was analysed using Fluent software. The thrombogenic potential was derived by analyzing the trajectory and flow parameters of platelet particles in the blood pump, as well as the statistical parameters of residence time and stress accumulation thrombus in the platelet pump.

Results

When the impeller inlet angle is 30°, the outlet angle is 20°, and the number of blades is 6, the probability of thrombus formation is minimized in the orthogonal design method, aligning with the requirements for blood pump performance.

Conclusions

These design parameters serve as a numerical guideline for optimizing the geometry of the semi‐open impeller in blood pumps and provide a theoretical foundation for subsequent in vitro experiments.
Multigenerational exposure to temperature influences mitochondrial oxygen fluxes in the Medaka fish (Oryzias latipes)
Authors: Morla Julie , Salin Karine , Lassus Rémy , Favre‐Marinet Julie , Sentis Arnaud , Daufresne Martin
Published: June 2024

Aim

Thermal sensitivity of cellular metabolism is crucial for animal physiology and survival under climate change. Despite recent efforts, effects of multigenerational exposure to temperature on the metabolic functioning remain poorly understood. We aimed at determining whether multigenerational exposure to temperature modulate the mitochondrial respiratory response of Medaka fish.

Methods

We conducted a multigenerational exposure with Medaka fish reared multiple generations at 20 and 30°C (COLD and WARM fish, respectively). We then measured the oxygen consumption of tail muscle at two assay temperatures (20 and 30°C). Mitochondrial function was determined as the respiration supporting ATP synthesis (OXPHOS) and the respiration required to offset proton leak (LEAK(Omy)) in a full factorial design (COLD‐20°C; COLD‐30°C; WARM‐20°C; WARM‐30°C).

Results

We found that higher OXPHOS and LEAK fluxes at 30°C compared to 20°C assay temperature. At each assay temperature, WARM fish had lower tissue oxygen fluxes than COLD fish. Interestingly, we did not find significant differences in respiratory flux when mitochondria were assessed at the rearing temperature of the fish (i.e., COLD‐20°C vs. WARM −30°C).

Conclusion

The lower OXPHOS and LEAK capacities in warm fish are likely the result of the multigenerational exposure to warm temperature. This is consistent with a modulatory response of mitochondrial capacity to compensate for potential detrimental effects of warming on metabolism. Finally, the absence of significant differences in respiratory fluxes between COLD‐20°C and WARM‐30°C fish likely reflects an optimal respiration flux when organisms adapt to their thermal conditions.
Editorial: Genetics for non‐invasive risk stratification—Finding the needle in the haystack? Authors' reply
Authors: Bridi Lana , Ajmera Veeral
Published: June 2024

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Bridi et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.18099 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.18123
Boom and bust: Variegated livelihood pathways among rural households in the banana boom in northern Laos
Authors: Mienmany Soytavanh , Kanowski Peter , Friis Cecilie , Robins Lisa , Smith Hilary
Published: June 2024

Crop booms are a significant driver of change for both rural landscapes and smallholder livelihoods. Cavendish bananas have boomed in northern Laos and replaced maize, the previous boom crop, through land leasing contracts between farmers and Chinese companies. This study of two villages in Oudomxay Province explores rural households' participation in this banana boom and the conjunctures that shape variegated livelihood pathways and outcomes. Household participation in the banana boom depended on their assets (land and labour), livelihood context and social pressure. Household income in both villages generally improved, but differentially. The better‐off, and those with a wider array of livelihood options, used income from bananas to move to primarily non‐agricultural livelihoods, while many poorer households became dependent on wage labour in banana production, at the expense of their health. Women reported to be content to escape agricultural labour through land leasing; but many who contributed labour to banana production felt trapped in ongoing heavy labour, with attendant adverse impacts. These outcomes reflect how the conjunctures of different household, community and external elements, and crop boom‐bust cycles, lead to differentiated (‘variegated’) household livelihood trajectories and outcomes for households and for men and women, and suggest points of policy intervention.
Denatured collagen in keratin layers and smooth muscles of teats with low or high teat apex scores in Holstein dairy cows
Authors: Shiroma Ritsuki , Niyonzima Yvan Bienvenu , Kadokawa Hiroya
Published: June 2024

We hypothesized that teats with a teat apex score (TAS) of 4 on a 4‐point scale would exhibit elevated levels of denatured collagen compared with teats with lower TAS. We procured keratin layer and smooth muscle samples from Holsteins with TAS ranging from 1 to 4, as well as from crossbred heifers (Japanese Black male and Holstein female) with TAS of 1. Teats with a TAS of 4 demonstrated increased total collagen content, higher amounts of type I collagen (the harder, thicker variant), and reduced amounts of type III collagen (the softer, thinner variant) compared with teats with lower TAS. Teats with TAS of 3 and 4 exhibited evidence of damaged collagen in smooth muscle layers compared with teats with TAS of 1. Additionally, we identified 47‐kDa heat shock protein‐positive fibroblasts in the smooth muscles of teats with TAS of 3 and 4. Therefore, the smooth muscle of teats with a TAS of 4 exhibited increased amounts of denatured collagen in comparison to teats with lower TAS.
Malaysia's strategic approach: Unpacking the “action‐reaction spiral” logic in the South China Sea
Authors: Syailendra Emirza
Published: June 2024

The phrase “action‐reaction” has been frequently reiterated in public speeches by Malaysian leaders, formal documents, and behind‐the‐scenes discussions. This article contends that this expression operates as a manifestation of Malaysian policymakers' comprehension of the security dilemma and their strategic assessment of their position within a security ecosystem. As part of the interconnected web of relationships among regional actors, any disturbance has the potential to draw Malaysia, as a small state, into an extended cycle of crises. This article draws on Malaysia's conduct in the South China Sea (1970–2023). To mitigate risks, in alignment with various scholarly perspectives, Malaysia adopts a hedging strategy involving tradeoffs and contingency plans. Beyond hedging, a more proactive perspective is also emphasized: when Malaysia identifies affordances or opportunities to act within the security ecosystem, it endeavors to leverage them for its benefit.
SETBP1 haploinsufficiency and related disorders clinical and neurobehavioral phenotype study
Authors: Oyler Haley O. , Hudac Caitlin M. , Chung Wendy K. , Green Synder LeeAnne , Robertson Stephanie , Srivastava Siddharth , Geye Trina
Published: June 2024

To comprehensively investigate the neurodevelopmental profile and clinical characteristics associated with SETBP1 haploinsufficiency disorder (SETBP1‐HD) and SETBP1‐related disorders (SETBP1‐RD). We reported genetic results on 34 individuals, with behavior and clinical data from 22 with SETBP1‐HD and 5 with SETBP1‐RD, by assessing results from medical history interviews and standardized adaptive, clinical, and social measures provided from Simons Searchlight. All individuals with SETBP1‐HD and SETBP1‐RD exhibited neurological impairments including intellectual disability/developmental delay (IDD), attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, and/or seizures, as well as speech and language delays. While restricted interests and repetitive behaviors present challenges, a relative strength was observed in social motivation within both cohorts. Individuals with SETBP1‐RD reported a risk for heart issues and compared to SETBP1‐HD greater risks for orthopedic and somatic issues with greater difficulty in bowel control. Higher rates for neonatal feeding difficulties and febrile seizures were reported for individuals with SETBP1‐HD. Additional prominent characteristics included sleep, vision, and gastrointestinal issues, hypotonia, and high pain tolerance. This characterization of phenotypic overlap (IDD, speech challenges, autistic, and attention deficit traits) and differentiation (somatic and heart issue risks for SETBP1‐RD) between the distinct neurodevelopmental disorders SETBP1‐HD and SETBP1‐RD is critical for medical management and diagnosis.
Toward a core outcome set for faecal incontinence—A systematic review of outcomes reported in the literature
Authors: Assmann Sadé L. , Mulders Evy , Kimman Merel L. , Keszthelyi Daniel , Breukink Stephanie O.
Published: June 2024

Aim

Faecal incontinence (FI) is a prevalent issue which can have a detrimental impact on the patient's quality of life. Current international guidelines lack strong treatment recommendations due to few studies in the field, in combination with the heterogeneity in outcome reporting. To address this, a core outcome set (COS) is proposed to standardize outcome reporting in FI studies, facilitating meta‐analyses and enhancing therapeutic recommendations. Through several steps outlined by COMET ‘what’ to measure will be determined prior to determining ‘how’ to measure these outcomes. This systematic review aims to identify ‘what’ outcomes have been used in FI intervention studies so far in adult patients as a starting phase for the development of a future COS for FI.

Method

Medline, Embase and the Cochrane library were searched to identify all outcomes reported in comparative effectiveness trials assessing one or more treatment option in adult patients suffering from FI. The outcomes were categorized according to the Core Outcome Measurement in Effectiveness Trials (COMET) taxonomy to standardize outcome terminology, assess completeness, and inform subsequent steps in COS development.

Results

A total of 109 studies were included, which revealed 51 unique outcomes classified into 38 domains within four core areas. On average four outcomes were reported per study (range 1–11). The most commonly reported outcomes were “severity of FI” (83%), “quality of life” (64%), “number of FI episodes” (40%), “anorectal motor function” (39%), and “frequency of bowel movements” (16%).

Conclusion

This systematic review offers an overview of outcomes reported in FI studies, highlighting the heterogeneity between studies. This heterogeneity emphasizes the need for standardizing outcome reporting which can be established through the creation of a COS.
MCL restrained ROS/AKT/ASAH1 pathway to therapy tamoxifen resistance breast cancer by stabilizing NRF2
Authors: Han Xiao , Zhang Yupeng , Li Yin , Lin Zhoujun , Fu Zhenkun , Wang Changjun , Zhang Shengjie , Shao Di , Li Chenggang
Published: June 2024

Tamoxifen resistance is a common and difficult problem in the clinical treatment of breast cancer (BC). As a novel antitumor agent, Micheliolide (MCL) has shown a better therapeutic effect on tumours; however, little is known about MCL and its role in BC therapy. With tamoxifen stimulation, drug‐resistant BC cells MCF7TAMR and T47DTAMR obtained a high oxidative status and Amidohydrolase 1 (ASAH1) was abnormally activated. The inhibition of ASAH1 rescued the sensitivity of resistant cells to tamoxifen. We found that MCL inhibited the expression of ASAH1 and cell proliferation, especially in MCF7TAMR and T47DTAMR cells. The high oxidative stress status of resistant cells stimulated the expression of ASAH1 by positively regulating AKT, which was restrained by MCL. MCL activated NRF2 by directly binding to KEAP1 and promoting the antioxidant level of tamoxifen‐resistant (TAMR) cells. In addition, ACT001, the prodrug of MCL, significantly inhibited the tumour growth of TAMR cells in preclinical xenograft tumour models. In conclusion, ASAH1 mediates tamoxifen resistance in ER‐positive BC cells. MCL could activate the cellular antioxidant system via NRF2/KEAP1 and inhibit ASAH1 expression through the ROS/AKT signalling pathway, thus suppressing cell proliferation. MCL could be used as a potential treatment for TAMR‐BC.
Dependency in the Digital Age? The Experience of Mercado Libre in Latin America
Authors: Franco Sebastián Fernández , Graña Juan M. , Rikap Cecilia
Published: June 2024

This article uses Mercado Libre, the leading digital platform company in Latin America, as an illustrative case to analyse the effect of regional platforms on development, by considering their interplay with both global leaders and local actors. Building on dependency theory, the article identifies the company's structural dependence on algorithms and computing power provided by the largest information technology (Big Tech) companies in the United States. Nonetheless, it also finds that Mercado Libre is at the frontier in applied data analysis solutions tailored for its businesses. Together with a privileged access to personalized and cross‐fertilized market and financial datasets, the company's internal and purchassed technologies are the source of asymmetric relationships with its platforms’ users. The article conceptualizes Mercado Libre's place in digital capitalism as extractivist with local actors and, just like local elites when dependency theory was first formulated, it is complicit with global powers. But, unlike those elite firms, it is not technologically laggard, and its value capture is underpinned by its technological advantage. Thus, this article conceptualizes (digital) dependency as multiple layers of economic power in which leading firms from the peripheries occupy intermediate and interconnecting positions. It shows that, while these regional leaders operate at the technological frontier, economic power relations based on technological asymmetries remain crucial for studying underdevelopment.
Differences in imeglimin response in subgroups of patients with type 2 diabetes stratified by data‐driven cluster analysis: A post‐hoc analysis of imeglimin clinical trial data
Authors: Hagi Katsuhiko , Kochi Kenji , Watada Hirotaka , Kaku Kohei , Ueki Kohjiro
Published: June 2024

Aim

To explore differences in imeglimin response among type 2 diabetes (T2D) patient clusters using data‐driven cluster analysis.

Methods

Data‐driven cluster analysis (non‐hierarchical k‐means clustering) was performed on randomized, double‐blind, imeglimin monotherapy and adjunctive (to insulin) therapy trials based on four baseline variables: (1) disease duration; (2) body mass index (BMI); (3) HbA1c; and (4a) homeostatic model assessment of β‐cell function (HOMA‐β) (monotherapy trials) or (4b) insulin total daily dose (adjunctive trial).

Results

Four clusters were identified with distinct clinical characteristics in both monotherapy (1‐4) and adjunctive therapy (I‐IV) trials; clusters 1 and I had lower values across all four indices versus the overall population, clusters 2 and II had a longer diabetes duration, cluster 3 had higher baseline BMI and HOMA‐β, and cluster III had higher baseline BMI and insulin total daily dose, while clusters 4 and IV had higher baseline HbA1c. Between‐group differences in HbA1c change (95% confidence interval) and effect size (ES) at week 24 varied considerably by cluster (cluster 1: −0.82 [−1.00, −0.63], ES = 1.47; cluster 2: −0.64 [−0.89, −0.39], ES = 1.18; cluster 3: −0.86 [−1.38, −0.33], ES = 0.84; cluster 4: −1.27 [−1.73, −0.82], ES = 1.44). For imeglimin adjunctive therapy, HbA1c improvements were significant versus placebo at week 16, excluding cluster III (cluster I: −0.63 [−0.95, −0.31], ES = 0.88; cluster II: −0.66 [−1.02, −0.30], ES = 1.13; cluster III: −0.31 [−0.73, 0.11], ES = 0.46; cluster IV: −0.82 [−1.29, −0.35], ES = 0.99).

Conclusions

Differences in imeglimin response were observed among T2D patient clusters. Patient stratification may help with selection of those most probable to respond to imeglimin.
Comparative efficacy and safety of weekly tirzepatide versus weekly insulin in type 2 diabetes: A network meta‐analysis of randomized clinical trials
Authors: Ayesh Hazem , Suhail Sajida , Ayesh Suhail , Niswender Kevin
Published: June 2024

Aim

To compare the efficacy and safety profiles of recent innovations in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which include once‐weekly formulations such as tirzepatide, a dual glucagon‐like peptide‐1 and glucose‐dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor agonist, and once‐weekly insulin options such as icodec and basal insulin Fc.

Methods

A systematic search of the PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases was conducted. The network meta‐analysis protocol was registered at OSF registries (https://osf.io/gd67x). The primary outcome of interest was change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), with change in fasting plasma glucose (FPG), body weight, incidence of hypoglycaemia, and treatment discontinuation as secondary outcomes.

Results

Tirzepatide exhibited superior efficacy in reducing HbA1c levels compared with insulin therapies, with the 15‐mg dose showing the most significant reduction (mean difference [MD] −1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] −1.49; −1.0). In terms of FPG reduction, tirzepatide 15 mg ranked highest (MD −0.70, 95% CI −1.05; −0.34), followed by tirzepatide 10 mg and 5 mg. Additionally, tirzepatide led to substantial weight loss, with the 15‐mg dose exhibiting the most pronounced effect (MD −12.13, 95% CI −13.98; −10.27). However, a higher incidence of adverse events (AEs) and treatment discontinuation were associated with tirzepatide, particularly at higher doses.

Conclusion

Tirzepatide, particularly at higher doses, demonstrates superior efficacy in lowering HbA1c and reducing hypoglycaemia risk compared with weekly insulin. However, its use is also associated with a higher incidence of AEs and treatment discontinuation.