bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional phenocopies of deleteriousKEAP1mutations dictate survival outcomes in lung cancer treated with immunotherapy
Authors: Scalera Stefano , Ricciuti Biagio , Marinelli Daniele , Mazzotta Marco , Cipriani Laura , Bon Giulia , Schiavoni Giulia , Terrenato Irene , Federico Alessandro Di , Alessi Joao V. , Fanciulli Maurizio , Ciuffreda Ludovica , Nicola Francesca De , Goeman Frauke , Caravagna Giulio , Santini Daniele , Maria Ruggero De , Cappuzzo Federico , Ciliberto Gennaro , Jamal-Hanjani Mariam , Awad Mark M. , McGranahan Nicholas , Maugeri-Saccà Marcello
Published: October 2023

Mutational models denoting KEAP1-NRF2 pathway activation have emerged as determinants of survival outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Hypothesizing that genetically distinct tumors recapitulate the transcriptional footprint ofKEAP1mutations (KEAPness), we identified a KEAP1-NRF2-related gene set shared by tumors with and without pathway mutations. KEAPness-dominant tumors were associated with poor survival outcomes and immune exclusion in two independent cohorts of immunotherapy-treated NSCLC (SU2C and OAK/POPLAR). Moreover, patients with KEAPness tumors had survival outcomes comparable to theirKEAP1-mutant counterparts. In the TRACERx421, KEAPness exhibited limited transcriptional intratumoral heterogeneity and an immune-excluded microenvironment, as highlighted by orthogonal methods for T cell estimation. This phenotypic state widely occurred across genetically divergent tumors, exhibiting shared and private cancer genes under positive selection when compared toKEAP1-mutant tumors. Collectively, we discovered the pervasive nature of the KEAPness phenotypic driver across evolutionary divergent tumors. This model outperforms mutation-based classifiers in predicting survival outcomes.
Oxytocin-augmented modular-based group intervention for loneliness: A proof-of-concept randomized-controlled trial
Authors: Berger Ruben , Hurlemann Rene , Shamay-Tsoory Simone G. , Kantermann Alisa , Brauser Maura , Gorni Jessica , Luhmann Maike , Schramm Elisabeth , Schultz Johannes , Philipsen Alexandra , Lieberz Jana , Scheele Dirk
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Loneliness poses a significant health problem and existing psychological interventions have shown only limited positive effects on loneliness. Based on preliminary evidence for impaired oxytocin signaling in trait-like loneliness, the current proof-of-concept study used a randomized, double-blind, placebo- controlled design to probe intranasal oxytocin (OT) as an adjunct to a short-term modular-based group intervention for individuals suffering from high trait-like loneliness (HL, UCLA loneliness scale ≥ 55).

Methods

Seventy-eight healthy HL adults (56 women) received five weekly group psychotherapy sessions targeting cognitive biases in loneliness. HL participants received OT or placebo before the intervention sessions. Primary outcomes were trait- like loneliness measured at baseline, after the intervention, and again at two follow-up time points (three weeks and three months), and, assessed at each session, state loneliness (visual analog scale), perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale, PSS-10), quality of life (World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index, WHO-5), and the therapeutic relationship (Group Questionnaire, GQ-D).

Results

The psychological intervention was associated with significantly reduced perceived stress and improved trait-like loneliness across treatment groups, which was still evident at the 3-month follow-up. OT had no significant effect on trait-like loneliness, quality of life, or perceived stress. However, compared to placebo, OT significantly facilitated the decrease in state loneliness within sessions and significantly improved positive bonding between the group members.

Conclusion

Despite significantly improved trait-like loneliness after the intervention, OT did not significantly augment this effect. Further studies are needed to determine optimal intervention designs to translate the observed acute effects of OT into long- term benefits.
Predictive factors of non-pharmacological measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 contagion: Results of a large adult Spanish sample from the PSY-COVID study
Authors: Mateo-Canedo Corel , Sanabria-Mazo Juan P. , Navarro Jose-Blas , Cigarroa Igor , Álvarez María , Armayones Manuel , Martínez-Blanquet Luis J. , Lamana Rafael Zapata , Crespo Neus , Korniyenko Marta , Sanz Antoni
Published: October 2023

Aim:the objective of the study was to identify the factors that predicted the intention to carry out coronavirus infection prevention behaviors in the Spanish population during the first wave of the pandemic, a time when the vaccines were in the development phase and the containment of the pandemic depended on non-pharmacological measures. Method: a cross-sectional study (PSY-COVID) was carried out based on an online form that contained instruments for possible predictor variables of seven prevention behaviors, based on a non-probabilistic sampling of 17725 Spanish adults. Results: self-efficacy and outcome expectations related to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) preventive behaviors, as well as the interaction of perceived severity with both personal vulnerability and actual adherence, appeared as the main predictive variables of the intention to carry out preventive behaviors against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Slight, but significant differences were observed in behavioral intentions among Spanish autonomous communities, probably linked to differences in the impact of the pandemic in each territory. Conclusion: It is necessary to implement consistent communications that allow for the development of appropriate expectations and encourage adherence to preventive behaviors, as well as recognizing regional disparities in preventive behaviors and their causes to promote compliance.
Real-World Data Collection from Expanded Access Case Studies for the Treatment of Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infection with Clofazimine
Authors: Gravelin Misty , Nguyen Theophilus , Davies Madeleine , Richards Blair , Sexton Jonathan Z. , Gregg Kevin , Weatherwax Kevin J.
Published: October 2023

Background

Due to its indolent nature, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are increasing in global prevalence as a cause of pulmonary infections and are difficult to treat with traditional antibiotics. Here, we study the repurposing of clofazimine (CFZ) to treat NTM through expanded access in a single health system. Our main objectives are to describe the feasibility of accessing and analyzing expanded access data and to generate hypotheses regarding CFZ use in NTM treatment.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed on patients within a single health system who had been approved for expanded access of clofazimine or who received it through an outside hospital for NTM treatment. Data were collected on patients’ baseline demographics, details of their NTM infection, concomitant therapies, and results as of 30 June 2021.

Results

A total of 55 patients were identified upon initial review as potentially receiving CFZ for NTM infection. After excluding 19 patients who did not initiate CFZ, data from the remaining 36 patients were collected and summarized. The median age at which patients were diagnosed with NTM was 51.3 years old, with a median BMI of 21.2 kg/m2. Patients were more likely to be female (64%), have a baseline lung disease (72%), and 52% were current or former smokers at the time of their diagnosis. The most common species isolated wasM. aviumcomplex (47%) followed byM. abscessus(36%), with the most common site of infection being the lung (78%). The majority of patients presented with productive cough with excess sputum production followed by pulmonary nodules and bronchiectasis present on radiograph.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the difficulty of collecting retrospective real-world data via electronic healthcare records on symptoms, side effects, and radiography from patients who obtained a drug through expanded access. Based on the findings of this study, we recommend further research into the potential use of CFZ in patients withM. abscessuspulmonary infections.
Consistency of the continuous flow pressure gradient despite aortic arch anomalies co-existing with coarctation
Authors: Ghorbannia Arash , Spearman Andrew D. , Sawalhi Shahd , Woods Ronald K. , Maadooliat Mehdi , LaDisa John F.
Published: October 2023

Aims

Severity assessment for coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is challenging due to concomitant morphological anomalies (complex CoA) and inaccurate Doppler-based indices. Promising diagnostic performance has been reported for the continuous flow pressure gradient (CFPG), but it has not been studied in complex CoA. Our objective was to characterize the effect of complex CoA and associated hemodynamics on CFPG in a clinical cohort.

Methods and Results

Retrospective analysis identified discrete juxtaductal (n=25) and complex CoA (n=43; transverse arch and/or isthmus hypoplasia) patients with arm-leg systolic blood pressure gradients (BPG) within 24 hours of echocardiography for comparison to BPG by conventional Doppler indices (simplified Bernoulli equation and modified forms correcting for proximal kinetic energy and/or recovered pressure). Results were interpreted using the current CoA guideline (BPG ≥20 mmHg) to compare diagnostic performance indicators including receiver operating characteristic curves, sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic accuracy, among others. Echocardiography Z-scored aortic diameters were applied with computational stimulations from a preclinical CoA model to understand aspects of the CFPG driving performance differences.

Diagnostic performance was substantially reduced from discrete to complex CoA for conventional Doppler indices calculated from patient data, and by hypoplasia and/or long segment stenosis in simulations. In contrast, diagnostic indicators for the CFPG only modestly dropped for complex vs discrete CoA. Simulations revealed differences in performance due to inclusion of the Doppler velocity index and diastolic pressure half-time in the CFPG calculation.

Conclusion

CFPG is less affected by aortic arch anomalies co-existing with CoA when compared to conventional Doppler indices.
Clinical value of the fibrosis-4 index in predicting mortality in patients with right ventricular pacing
Authors: Inoue Naoya , Morikawa Shuji , Ogane Takashi , Hiramatsu Takehiro , Murohara Toyoaki
Published: October 2023

Background

The fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index has attracted attention as a predictive factor for cardiovascular events and mortality in patients with heart disease. However, its clinical value in patients with implanted pacemakers remains unclear.

Methods

This study included patients who underwent pacemaker implantation. The FIB-4 index was calculated based on blood tests performed during the procedure. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and secondary outcomes included cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular death. The FIB-4 index was stratified into tertiles. Between-group comparisons were performed using log-rank tests and multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazards. The predictive accuracy and cut-off value of the FIB-4 index were calculated from the receiver operating characteristic curve for all-cause mortality.

Results

This study included 201 participants, of whom 38 (incidence rate: 5.8/100 person-years) experienced death events during the observation period (median: 1097 days). All-cause and non-cardiovascular death differed significantly between groups stratified by the FIB-4 index tertiles (log-rank test:P<0.001 andP<0.001, respectively). Using Cox proportional hazards analysis, the unadjusted hazard ratio was 4.75 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.05–11.0,P<0.001) for Tertile 3 compared to Tertile 1. After adjustment for confounding factors, including age, sex, the presence or absence of left bundle branch block at baseline, QRS duration during pacing, and pacing rate at the last check, the hazard ratio was 3.61 (95% CI: 1.37–9.48,P=0.009). The cut-off of the FIB-4 index was 3.75 (area under the curve: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.62–0.82).

Conclusions

The FIB-4 index was a potential predictive factor for all-cause mortality in patients with implanted pacemakers.
Emergence of liquid following laser melting of gold thin films
Authors: Robinson Ian K. , Griffiths Jack P. , Koch Robert , Assefa Tadesse A. , Suzana Ana F. , Cao Yue , Kim Sungwon , Kim Dongjin , Lee Heemin , Kim Sunam , Lee Jae Hyuk , Park Sang-Youn , Eom Intae , Park JaeHyun , Nam Daewoong , Kim Sangsoo , Chun Sae Hwan , Hyun Hyojung , Kim Kyung-Sook , Lu Ming , Song Changyong , Kim Hyunjung , Billinge Simon J. L. , Bozin Emil S.
Published: October 2023

X-ray structural science is undergoing a revolution driven by the emergence of X-ray Free-electron Laser (XFEL) facilities. The structures of crystalline solids can now be studied on the picosecond time scale relevant to phonons, atomic vibrations which travel at acoustic velocities. In the work presented here, X-ray diffuse scattering is employed to characterize the time dependence of the liquid phase emerging from femtosecond laser-induced melting of polycrystalline gold thin films using an XFEL. In a previous analysis of Bragg peak profiles, we showed the supersonic disappearance of the solid phase and presented a model of pumped hot electrons carrying energy from the gold surface to scatter at internal grain boundaries. This generates melt fronts propagating relatively slowly into the crystal grains. By conversion of diffuse scattering to a partial X-ray pair distribution function, we demonstrate that it has the characteristic shape obtained by Fourier transformation of the measured F(Q). The diffuse signal fraction increases with a characteristic rise-time of 13 ps, roughly independent of the incident pump fluence and consequent final liquid fraction. This suggests the role of further melt-front nucleation processes beyond grain boundaries.
Setbacks, strain and stress: lived experiences of U.S. working mothers during COVID-19
Authors: Rosen Lisa , Scott Shannon , Urban Bek , Poe Darian , Shukla Roshni , Ahmed Shazia
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the lived experiences of working mothers during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and assess their perceptions of the types of training opportunities that would help advance their careers as they navigated pandemic-related challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

In study 1, 53 participants responded to an online survey that included open-ended questions regarding the impact COVID-19 has had on their careers and desires they have for training to ameliorate these concerns. For study 2, 10 participants completed an interview that included open-ended questions regarding workplace changes and professional development/training opportunities since the pandemic.

Findings

Thematic analysis showed mothers facing several setbacks in their careers, including delays, loss of hours and wages, childcare stressors and strained or lost relationships with colleagues and supervisors. A small number of participants also reported some surprisingly positive experiences, such as a push toward career innovation. Participants reported little to no exposure to career development opportunities and expressed a desire for training for leadership and interpersonal connection in the workplace.

Originality/value

Although quantitative data have been helpful in identifying and quantifying growing gender gaps in work during the pandemic, the qualitative analyses the authors used highlight how recent difficulties encountered by working mothers risk a growing gender gap in work and career mobility as women in the leadership pipeline struggle with challenges. Further, the findings suggest ways that women in management can support the working mothers on their staff, including by suggesting ways additional training may address some concerns.
A holistic model of resources to enhance the doctoral student's well-being
Authors: Acharya Vrinda , Rajendran Ambigai
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to perform a scoping review of the recent studies on critical resources required for the doctoral program by mapping the resources at various levels of Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems and their underlying theories. The study proposes a holistic model of supportive resources in the doctoral education.

Design/methodology/approach

The current scoping review is supported by Arksey and O'Malley's five-stage methodological guidance The authors reported sixty-eight articles that were published between 2010 and 2023 and complied with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist.

Findings

The study identified two categories of resources that promote doctoral student well-being: personal resources such as research self-efficacy and intrinsic motivation of the doctoral student. Second, the contextual resources provided by supervisors, department, family, peers, institution and Government policy impact the well-being of doctoral students. The study relied on the self-determination and conservation of resources theory to determine doctoral students' stress-free, high-quality research journey.

Practical implications

The study findings can help higher education institutions, supervisors, peers and academicians plan and implement the finest resources to improve the well-being of doctoral students. The institutions can develop a wide range of strategies, tailored supportive programs, and interventions that can help in improving students' mental and emotional health, based on the developed multifaceted resource framework. Doctoral students can also use the review's findings to help them deal with program obstacles by encouraging themselves internally and participating in mentoring programs.

Originality/value

This review article proposes a comprehensive conceptual framework by considering Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems on multilevel resources that help to understand the inter-relationship between resources required in the doctoral student's program.
Consumer adoption behaviour in ride-sharing economy: an integrated TAM-ECM framework
Authors: Pandita Shailesh , Mishra Hari Govind , Bhat Aasif Ali
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The sharing economy is changing the way people use products and services, and the success of sharing-based apps like bicycle and automobile sharing has drawn a lot of interest across the world. The purpose of this research is to investigate the factors affecting the consumer's adoption of ride-sharing services.

Design/methodology/approach

With this aim, the current study integrates the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Expectancy Confirmation Model (ECM) with a further extension of consumer trust and social norms. Using a survey-based research design, data were collected from 558 respondents using multi-stage convenience sampling on 5 point Likert scale. Confirmatory factor analysis is conducted followed by structural equation modelling using IBM AMOS-22.

Findings

The findings of the study report crucial determinants for the consumer's continuance intention and actual use of these services. Perceived usefulness, consumer satisfaction, trust and subjective norms were found positively associated with the continuous intention to use ride-sharing services, whereas perceived ease of use was found to be insignificant. This study also highlights antecedents for the consumer's trust towards these services and found reputation, propensity to trust as a significant contributor whereas structural assurance was found insignificant to establish the trust among the users.

Originality/value

The research on consumer adoption towards ride-sharing services are meagre and this study adds the value to the field by integrating TAM and ECM model with further extension of consumer trust and social norms and empirically test the proposed model.
How do workplace stressors during COVID-19 affect health frontline employees in Iran: Investigating the role of employee resilience and constituent attachment
Authors: Khorakian Alireza , Maharati Yaghoob , Muterera Jonathan , Jahedian Nasim
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of the present study is to extend the body of research on healthcare management by examining the effect of workplace stressors, including abusive supervision, customer incivility and the perceived threat of COVID-19 (PCT), on turnover intention. The study also contributes to healthcare management research by examining the mediating role of emotional exhaustion, the moderating role of employee resilience and constituent attachment.

Design/methodology/approach

The study developed and tested a model explaining the relationship between abusive supervision, customer incivility, PCT, emotional exhaustion, turnover intention, employee resilience and constituent attachment. Data were collected from a sample of 375 frontline employees who work in private hospitals in Mashhad, the second-most populous city in Iran.

Findings

The findings indicate that abusive supervision and customer incivility, directly and indirectly, affect turnover intention through emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, employee resilience was found to mitigate the relationship between stressors excluding the PCT and emotional exhaustion. Moreover, constituent attachment decreased the likelihood of turnover intention among employees who experienced abusive supervision. The findings suggest that controlling abusive supervision, customer incivility and PCT can lead to less emotionally exhausted employees with lower turnover intention. Furthermore, enhancing employee resilience and constituent attachment can decrease emotional exhaustion and turnover intention.

Originality/value

Despite the large body of research on the relationship between the variables mentioned above, few studies have presented a conceptual model based on the relationship between them. This article presents a conceptual model that has not been previously discussed in any other publication to examine the moderating effect of organizational and individual factors in the relationship between workplace stressors and their consequences, which have not been widely covered in existing literature. Drawing upon conservation of resources theory, job embeddedness theory and attachment theory, the present study aims to fill this gap in the literature.
Strategic sustainability in Indian banking industry: a performance analysis
Authors: Rao P Kritee , Shukla Akanksha
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Sustainable strategic management (SSM) is an integrated concept that entails sustainability in the approaches and processes of strategic management. Banking being a rapidly growing industry in service sector, it is reasonably important to study the SSM and its integrated performance. This paper aims to study the sustainable-strategic (SS) factors of Indian banks that affects their endurance and prioritizes the banks based on their sustainable and strategic performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study appertains a sustainable balanced scorecard (SBSC) framework to determine the SS factors and an integrated multicriteria decision making (MCDM) method to weigh the criteria and prioritize the banks' performance.

Findings

The criterion weightage signifies sustainability, followed by financial and internal business perspective to be a crucial dimension for the performance of banks. The banks, State Bank of India, HDFC Bank Ltd and Canara Bank are ranked top-most on the SS performance.

Research limitations/implications

The insights from the study on SS factors and banks' performance can be further used by policy-makers and researchers to understand the sustainability assessing factors and focus on making policies and further studies to enhance the performance in this regard.

Originality/value

Banking is one of the potentially growing industry in service sector. It being a major part of economy's sustainable growth, it is essential to assess the SS factors that enhance their sustainable performance. There is dearth of study in this purview, for developing countries like India. Thus, this study critically analyses the strategic sustainability of Indian banking industry to ascertain the SS factors and prioritize the performance of banks based on criterion weightage and bank's SS operations.
Overcoming barriers for sustainable fashion: bridging attitude-behaviour gap in retail
Authors: Ronda Lorena
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the attitude-behaviour gap consumers experience when transitioning from buying fast fashion to embracing sustainable fashion consumption. Despite being driven to make sustainable fashion purchases, consumers are confronted with certain retail barriers that impede them from making the shift.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws from the theory of planned behaviour and the behavioural-reasoning theory approaches to theoretically develop and assess five key fashion consumption barriers that moderate the relationship between sustainable fashion consumption motivations and actual behaviour. These are the steep price of sustainable fashion, low visibility, restricted availability, limited cognisance of the deleterious consequences of fast fashion and low trust in sustainability claims. Under heightened levels of moderators, the relationship between motivation and behaviour was predicted to be weaker. The author's data sample of 376 consumers validated the hypotheses.

Findings

This article contributes to the field of sustainable fashion retail consumption in three ways: (1) it reveals that the expensive cost of sustainable fashion is not an obstacle to its adoption, and consumers are willing to pay more but struggle to access the styles they prefer; (2) it unveils that, in contrast to recent scholarship, the lack of knowledge of the adverse environmental effects of fast fashion is still a barrier to transitioning to sustainability and (3) it implies that consumers are less motivated to lower their consumption of clothing when they feel dubious about fashion companies' sustainability claims.

Originality/value

The findings contribute to the existing body of knowledge on green consumption by shedding light on the complex dynamics between moderating factors and the transition from intention to behaviour in sustainable fashion consumption.
The role of firm-level CSR governance characteristics as a driver of comprehensive CSR reporting – the moderating role of profitability
Authors: Ali Waris , Wilson Jeffrey , Elalfy Amr , Ismail Hina
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of firm-level corporate social responsibility (CSR) governance characteristics on the extent, quality and comprehensiveness of CSR reporting of Pakistani listed enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used content analysis of corporate annual reports and stand-alone CSR reports available on corporate websites in 2021 to identify CSR-related governance features and to calculate CSR reporting scores. Multivariate regression is used to test relationships. In addition, the analysis tested the moderating role of profitability in these relationships.

Findings

Firm-level CSR governance characteristics contribute to the extent, quality and comprehensiveness of CSR reporting in a developing country. Further, results confirm that profitability moderates the relationship between CSR governance and the extent and comprehensiveness of CSR reporting.

Research limitations/implications

This study employed cross-sectional data and focused on a single developing country. Future studies might include a cross-national sample and longitudinal data to demonstrate the broader relevance of these findings. The outcomes of this study are restricted to CSR disclosures based on CSR reports and annual reports. Future research may examine additional corporate communication channels, such as websites and social media platforms.

Practical implications

This research validates the important role of CSR governance mechanisms as a driver of comprehensive CSR reporting. Business leaders and policymakers can facilitate improved corporate reporting by requiring companies to implement CSR-related governance mechanisms.

Originality/value

This is the first study to test the influence of firm-level CSR governance mechanisms in promoting the quantity, quality and comprehensiveness of CSR reporting in a developing country.
Evidence of successful interprofessional education programs—models, barriers, facilitators and success: a systematic review of European studies
Authors: Bowman Corinne , Paal Piret , Brandstötter Cornelia , Cordina Maria
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Interprofessional education (IPE) has been highly promoted as a means of enhancing interprofessional practice and thereby having a positive impact on healthcare systems and patient outcomes. Various documents mention that sufficient evidence has been accumulated to demonstrate the effectiveness of IPE, yet it is not completely clear what type of evidence is being alluded to. The objective of this review was to gather evidence about IPE programs that resulted in effective long-term outcomes in healthcare. Secondary outcomes included identification of the types of models that met the success criteria, barriers and facilitators of such successful programs if any.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL and Scopus. The review considered studies that targeted undergraduate and postgraduate students among more than one health profession and included those in the English language published between 2010 and end of 2020.

Findings

Five studies have been identified and described in this review. These papers evaluated different IPE programs and models.

Research limitations/implications

1. This systematic review investigated the evidence of the existence of IPE programs and the findings show there is no robust specific evidence of long-term impact on healthcare and on patients' outcomes. 2. The conclusion from this review is that it is still unclear what format constitutes a successful and efficient program. 3. Appropriate longitudinal studies need to be designed to identify the impact of IPE on long-term health outcomes.

Originality/value

Overall, the studies show that although there is an emphasis on practice-based learning, there is no robust specific evidence of long-term impact on healthcare and on patients' outcomes. Appropriate longitudinal studies need to be designed to identify the impact of IPE on long-term health outcomes.
Leader mindfulness and employee safety behaviors in the workplace: a moderated mediation study
Authors: Liu Yunshuo , Liu Shuzhen , Liu Ruijian , Liu Yuanyuan
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of leader mindfulness on employee safety behaviors by focusing on the mediating role of employee resilience and the moderating role of perceived environmental uncertainty.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors surveyed 248 employees in the high speed railway company of China in three waves with a two-week interval. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses. The mediating effects and the moderated mediation effects are further tested with bias-corrected bootstrapping method.

Findings

Leader mindfulness positively affects employee safety compliance and safety participation, and these relationships were mediated by employee resilience. Perceived environmental uncertainty moderated the effects of leader mindfulness on employee resilience and the indirect effects of leader mindfulness on safety behaviors via employee resilience.

Originality/value

The findings elucidate the significance of leader mindfulness in promoting employee safety behaviors in the workplace.
A mixture non-parametric regression prediction model with its application in the fault prediction of rocket engine thrust
Authors: Xiang Hao
Published: October 2023

Purpose

It is of a great significance for the health monitoring of a liquid rocket engine to build an accurate and reliable fault prediction model. The thrust of a liquid rocket engine is an important indicator for its health monitoring. By predicting the changing value of the thrust, it can be judged whether the engine will fail at a certain time. However, the thrust is affected by various factors, and it is difficult to establish an accurate mathematical model. Thus, this study uses a mixture non-parametric regression prediction model to establish the model of the thrust for the health monitoring of a liquid rocket engine.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzes the characteristics of the least squares support vector regression (LS-SVR) machine . LS-SVR is suitable to model on the small samples and high dimensional data, but the performance of LS-SVR is greatly affected by its key parameters. Thus, this study implements the advanced intelligent algorithm, the real double-chain coding target gradient quantum genetic algorithm (DCQGA), to optimize these parameters, and the regression prediction model LSSVRDCQGA is proposed. Then the proposed model is used to model the thrust of a liquid rocket engine.

Findings

The simulation results show that: the average relative error (ARE) on the test samples is 0.37% when using LS-SVR, but it is 0.3186% when using LSSVRDCQGA on the same samples.

Practical implications

The proposed model of LSSVRDCQGA in this study is effective to the fault prediction on the small sample and multidimensional data, and has a certain promotion.

Originality/value

The original contribution of this study is to establish a mixture non-parametric regression prediction model of LSSVRDCQGA and properly resolve the problem of the health monitoring of a liquid rocket engine along with modeling the thrust of the engine by using LSSVRDCQGA.
The prompt engineering librarian
Authors: Lund Brady
Published: October 2023

Purpose

In terms of training the public in prompt engineering skills, no single discipline or profession currently takes the lead, presenting an opportunity for professions like librarianship to step into this role. Librarians are already well-equipped to educate the public in a wide range of literacy skills and tasks, so prompt engineering may be a natural progression. The purpose of this paper is to examine the potential role of prompt engineering for library professionals.

Design/methodology/approach

Prompt engineering is the process of optimizing the text that is provided to an artificial intelligence (A)I model to ensure proper interpretation and the generation of relevant, detailed results. The field of prompt engineering is relatively young, evolving alongside the growth of large language models like ChatGPT and BARD. This conceptual paper will explore prompt engineering as a possible domain of expertise for librarians.

Findings

This paper delves into the world of prompt engineering, its alignment with the existing roles and expertise of librarians, and the potential emergence of a new role known as the “prompt engineering librarian,” akin to the well-established “information literacy librarian” role that has gained prominence in recent decades.

Originality/value

The significance of this work lies in exploring the synergy between prompt engineering and the traditional roles of librarians, highlighting the potential for a new and valuable profession in the form of prompt engineering librarians. This innovative concept could bridge the gap in AI literacy and facilitate more effective interactions with AI systems, contributing to the broader goal of AI accessibility and understanding.
Does social media drive remittances in Africa?
Authors: Ongo Nkoa Bruno Emmanuel , Song Jacques Simon , Ondoua Beyene Blaise , Ngnouwal Eloundou Georges
Published: October 2023

Social media in Africa has grown considerably over the past two decades and has fueled an extremely abundant literature. In this article, we examine their effects on remittances observed from a sample of 50 African countries. To achieve this, we specify and estimate a panel data model using the system generalized method of moments over the period 2009–2019. Our results show that social media, approximated by the Facebook penetration rate, increases remittances in Africa. Controlled by four complementary measures of social media (Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Twitter), our results remain stable and robust. We suggest a qualitative improvement in connectivity and the establishment of a traceability system to better control the volume and their orientation in the financing of productive economic activities.
Small mammal community composition impacts bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) population dynamics and associated seroprevalence of Puumala orthohantavirus
Authors: BUJNOCH Felicitas Maria , REIL Daniela , DREWES Stephan , ROSENFELD Ulrike M. , ULRICH Rainer G. , JACOB Jens , IMHOLT Christian
Published: October 2023

Rodents are important reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens that cause diseases in humans. Biodiversity is hypothesized to be closely related to pathogen prevalence through multiple direct and indirect pathways. For example, the presence of non‐host species can reduce contact rates of the main reservoir host and thus reduce the risk of transmission (“dilution effect”). In addition, an overlap in ecological niches between two species could lead to increased interspecific competition, potentially limiting host densities and reducing density‐dependent pathogen transmission processes. In this study, we investigated the relative impact of population‐level regulation of direct and indirect drivers of the prevalence of Puumala orthohantavirus (PUUV) in bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) during years with high abundance. We compiled data on small mammal community composition from four regions in Germany between 2010 and 2013. Structural equation modeling revealed a strong seasonality in PUUV control mechanisms in bank voles. The abundance of shrews tended to have a negative relationship with host abundance, and host abundance positively influenced PUUV seroprevalence, while at the same time increasing the abundance of competing non‐hosts like the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) and the yellow‐necked field mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) were associated with reduced PUUV seroprevalence in the host. These results indicate that for PUUV in bank voles, dilution is associated with increased interspecific competition. Anthropogenic pressures leading to the decline of Apodemus spp. in a specific habitat could lead to the amplification of mechanisms promoting PUUV transmission within the host populations.
Emerging perspectives in the gut–muscle axis: The gut microbiota and its metabolites as important modulators of meat quality
Authors: Wen Chaoliang , Wang Qunpu , Gu Shuang , Jin Jiaming , Yang Ning
Published: October 2023

Animal breeding has made great genetic progress in increasing carcass weight and meat yield in recent decades. However, these improvements have come at the expense of meat quality. As the demand for meat quantity continues to rise, the meat industry faces the great challenge of maintaining and even increasing product quality. Recent research, including traditional statistical analyses and gut microbiota regulation research, has demonstrated that the gut microbiome exerts a considerable effect on meat quality, which has become increasingly intriguing in farm animals. Microbial metabolites play crucial roles as substrates or signalling factors to distant organs, influencing meat quality either beneficially or detrimentally. Interventions targeting the gut microbiota exhibit excellent potential as natural ways to foster the conversion of myofibres and promote intramuscular fat deposition. Here, we highlight the emerging roles of the gut microbiota in various dimensions of meat quality. We focus particularly on the effects of the gut microbiota and gut‐derived molecules on muscle fibre metabolism and intramuscular fat deposition and attempt to summarize the potential underlying mechanisms.
Effect of radiopacifier and liquid in the physicochemical and biological properties of calcium silicate clinker Angelus: A laboratory investigation
Authors: Tanomaru‐Filho Mário , de Oliveira Bruna Vasconcellos , Tavares Karina Ines Medina Carita , Rodrigues Elisandra Márcia , Torres Fernanda Ferrari Esteves , Guerreiro‐Tanomaru Juliane Maria
Published: October 2023

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of radiopacifier calcium tungstate and manipulation with distilled water (DW) or liquid with additives (LA) on calcium silicate clinker Angelus (CL) properties, compared with MTA (Angelus, Brazil) and MTA Repair HP (MTAHP, Angelus, Brazil). The physicochemical properties, cellular viability and bioactivity were evaluated. ANOVA/Tukey and Bonferroni tests were performed (α = 0.05). There was no difference in material setting time (p > 0.05). MTA and MTAHP were similar (p > 0.05) and had greater radiopacity than CL + DW and CL + LA (p < 0.05). All experimental materials showed mass increase, alkalinisation capacity, besides biocompatibility and bioactivity at 3 and 7 days. The different liquids had no influence in the biological properties and bioactivity of the calcium silicate clinker Angelus. Calcium tungstate provided radiopacity, without changing the setting time, maintaining the mass increase and alkalinisation ability of the calcium silicate materials.
Incomplete recovery of tree community composition and rare species after 120 years of tropical forest succession in Panama
Authors: Elsy Alexander D. , Pfeifer Marion , Jones Isabel L. , DeWalt Saara J. , Lopez Omar R. , Dent Daisy H.
Published: October 2023

Determining how fully tropical forests regenerating on abandoned land recover characteristics of old‐growth forests is increasingly important for understanding their role in conserving rare species and maintaining ecosystem services. Despite this, our understanding of forest structure and community composition recovery throughout succession is incomplete, as many tropical chronosequences do not extend beyond the first 50 years of succession. Here, we examined trajectories of forest recovery across eight 1‐hectare plots in middle and later stages of forest succession (40–120 years) and five 1‐hectare old‐growth plots, in the Barro Colorado Nature Monument (BCNM), Panama. We first verified that forest age had a greater effect than edaphic or topographic variation on forest structure, diversity and composition and then corroborated results from smaller plots censused 20 years previously. Tree species diversity (but not species richness) and forest structure had fully recovered to old‐growth levels by 40 and 90 years, respectively. However, rare species were missing, and old‐growth specialists were in low abundance, in the mid‐ and late secondary forest plots, leading to incomplete recovery of species composition even by 120 years into succession. We also found evidence that dominance early in succession by a long‐lived pioneer led to altered forest structure and delayed recovery of species diversity and composition well past a century after land abandonment. Our results illustrate the critical importance of old‐growth and old secondary forests for biodiversity conservation, given that recovery of community composition may take several centuries, particularly when a long‐lived pioneer dominates in early succession.

Abstract in Spanish is available with online material.
Bank ownership and firm performance
Authors: Chakraborty Pavel
Published: October 2023

Does a bank's ownership matter for the performance of a firm to which it is connected, especially in the event of a crisis? I study this question through the effect of the 2008–9 crisis on Indian manufacturing firms to provide evidence on a new channel that can matter significantly for a firm's performance—bank ownership. I find that firms connected to private (domestic and foreign) banks earned around 10% and 25% less from sales and exports, respectively, during the crisis, as compared to firms having banking relationships with public‐sector banks. This happened as private banks were affected differentially in terms of credit supply from the Central Bank and withdrawal of deposits. Firms connected to private banks also laid off more workers, and imported fewer capital goods. Finally, these effects are significant across the size distribution of the firms (except the smallest firms), for firms producing intermediates, and about 40% less for firms that belong to a business group.
Ruxolitinib in patients with polycythemia vera resistant and/or intolerant to hydroxyurea: European observational study
Authors: Theocharides Alexandre , Gisslinger Heinz , De Stefano Valerio , Accurso Vincenzo , Iurlo Alessandra , Devos Timothy , Egyed Miklos , Lippert Eric , Delgado Regina Garcia , Cantoni Nathan , Dahm Anders E. A. , Sotiropoulos Damianos , Houtsma Erik , Smyth Aoife , Iqbal Amir , Di Matteo Paola , Zuurman Mike , te Boekhorst Peter A. W.
Published: October 2023

Background

Hydroxyurea (HU) is a commonly used first‐line treatment in patients with polycythemia vera (PV). However, approximately 15%–24% of PV patients report intolerance and resistance to HU.

Methods

This phase IV, European, real‐world, observational study assessed the efficacy and safety of ruxolitinib in PV patients who were resistant and/or intolerant to HU, with a 24‐month follow‐up. The primary objective was to describe the profile and disease burden of PV patients.

Results

In the 350 enrolled patients, 70% were >60 years old. Most patients (59.4%) had received ≥1 phlebotomy in the 12 months prior to the first dose of ruxolitinib. Overall, 68.2% of patients achieved hematocrit control with 92.3% patients having hematocrit <45% and 35.4% achieved hematologic remission at month 24. 85.1% of patients had no phlebotomies during the study. Treatment‐related adverse events were reported in 54.3% of patients and the most common event was anemia (22.6%). Of the 10 reported deaths, two were suspected to be study drug‐related.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that ruxolitinib treatment in PV maintains durable hematocrit control with a decrease in the number of phlebotomies in the majority of patients and was generally well tolerated.
Potential mechanisms of soil nitrogen content heterogeneity associated with biocrust development in drylands
Authors: Wu Li , Rossi Federico , Lan Shubin
Published: October 2023

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are complex communities of micro‐ and macro‐organisms dwelling at the soil surface in dryland regions worldwide, which contribute to important ecological functions in these areas. Biocrusts may reach different developmental stages, associated to autogenic succession of specific phototrophic organisms. However, notwithstanding the large amount of existing literature, little is known regarding the relationship between biocrust stages of development and soil nutrient dynamics. In this opinion paper, we specifically focused on soil nitrogen, and compared the total nitrogen content and potential nitrogenase activity of different developmental types of biocrust (‐covered) soils. Based on published reports, we looked at a possible relationship between nitrogen content at the soil surface and biocrust development, discussing the potential mechanisms leading to the observed soil nitrogen content heterogeneity. The results showed that a higher nitrogen content remained associated to the presence of moss‐dominated biocrusts, and this biocrust morphotype was characterized by a lower potential nitrogenase activity compared to the cyanobacteria‐ and/or lichen‐dominated biocrusts. We hypothesized that these seemingly contradictory findings might be attributed to three potential mechanisms: nitrogen inheritance, nutrient retention and nutrient transfer, which we hereby examined one by one. Altogether, our opinion supports the theory of biocrust succession from incipient cyanobacteria‐dominated stages to more ‘mature’ stages dominated by mosses. We stress how the heterogeneous distribution of soil nitrogen, which is closely related with biocrust development and community types, eventually affects regional and even global nitrogen dynamic and storage.