bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychosocial effects of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis on Patients in Northwestern Ethiopia: A qualitative study
Authors: Fikre Helina , Mohammed Yesuf Yassin , Atinafu Saba , Mullaw Tadele , Dessie Deladergachew , Mulugeta Zemenay , Tadesse Azeb , van Griensven Johan , van Henten Saskia
Published: October 2023

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (CL) is a serious skin disease prevalent in many countries around the world, and in Ethiopia, it presents with stigmatizing lesions sometimes compared to leprosy. However, little attention has been given to the psychosocial impact of CL on affected individuals.

To address this gap, we conducted a qualitative study using in-depth interviews with 13 CL patients (three patients with diffuse CL, three with localized CL, and seven with mucocutaneous leishmaniasisis).

Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data collected from the in-depth interviews. Our analysis revealed two themes: psychological burden, and social burden. As to psychosocial burden, patients reported experiencing anger, sadness, shame, fear, and hopelessness, along with feelings of inferiority.. Related to the social burden of CL, self-stigmatization, stigma, disrupted life, disability, community reaction, and lack of social support were identified as subthemes.

These findings highlight the overlooked psychosocial problems faced by Ethiopian CL patients and underscore the need for patient-oriented treatment packages. Policymakers and researchers should focus on creating community awareness on CL along with integrating psychological interventions.
JasMAP: A Joint Ancestry and SNP Association Method for a Multi-way Admixed Population
Authors: Mugo Jacquiline Wangui , Chimusa Emile Rugamika , Mulder Nicola
Published: October 2023

The large volume of research findings submitted to the GWAS catalog in the last decade is a clear indication of the exponential progress of these studies and association approaches. This success has, however, been dimmed by recurring concerns about disparity and the lack of population diversity. As a result, researchers are now responding, and GWAS extension to diverse populations is under way. Initial GWAS methods were calibrated using European populations with long-range regions of linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotypes. This implies that, as GWAS extends to diverse populations, the development of inclusive methods targeted at these populations is imperative. Particularly in multi-way admixed populations, methods that include both genotypes and ancestry associations have been shown to improve power while controlling for the additional LD structure introduced by admixture processes. However, these methods continue to be tailored to only 2-way admixed populations. Though this is a justifiable start, the breeding structures of today suggest that the world population is more likely to increase in the number of multi-admixed individuals, and tools targeted at 2-way admixed individuals will continue to exclude a larger part of diverse populations. In this study, we propose a joint ancestry and SNP association method, JasMAP, that is tailored to multi-way admixed populations. We explore the LMM approach that has become standard in GWAS of structured populations in a Bayesian context, model local ancestry variation as prior knowledge, and update the genotype association to obtain a joint posterior probability of association (PPA). The newly developed method has been assessed using various simulated datasets from our multi-scenario simulation framework, FractalSIM (Mugo et al., 2017), and we output not only the joint statistics but also the genotype-only and the ancestry-only association statistics for the user. JasMAP has also been applied to perform a GWAS analysis of a 5-way admixed South African Coloured (SAC) population with a tuberculosis (TB) phenotype. We obtained 1 significant risk SNP using the ancestry-only association but no SNPs were found to be significant using the standard genotype-only association. 13 risk SNPs, however, were detected as significant with a PPA > 0.5 using the joint association approach. 12 of these SNPs had a marginal significance threshold in genotype-only and ancestry-only association. By functional annotation and gene mapping, the 13 SNPs were found near 8 genes, 5 of which were either found in pathways, have functionality, or were linked to social behaviour associated with an increased risk of TB. Specifically, one of the significant SNPs,rs17050321 on chromosome 4, was found close to theSLC7A11gene that has previously been linked to TB in a GWAS study of a Chinese population.
Identification of intestinal mediators ofCaenorhabditis elegansDBL-1/BMP immune signaling shaping gut microbiome composition
Authors: Trang Kenneth , Pees Barbara , Karimzadegan Siavash , Bodkhe Rahul , Hammond Sabrina , Shapira Michael
Published: October 2023

The composition of the gut microbiome is determined by a complex interplay of diet, host genetics, microbe-microbe competition, abiotic factors, and stochasticity. Previous studies have demonstrated the importance of host genetics in community assembly of theCaenorhabditis elegansgut microbiome and identified a pivotal role for DBL-1/BMP immune signaling in determining the abundance of gutEnterobacteriaceae, in particular of the genusEnterobacter. However, the effects of DBL-1 signaling on gut bacteria were found to depend on its activation in extra-intestinal tissues, suggesting that yet unidentified intestinal factors must mediate these effects. In the present study, we used RNA-seq gene expression analysis of wildtype,dbl-1andsma-3mutants, anddbl-1over-expressors to identify genes regulated by DBL-1/BMP signaling that take part in interactions with gut commensals. Following confirmation of several putative targets by qRT-PCR, we carried out colonization experiments with respective mutants raised on monocultures as well as on defined bacterial communities. These experiments identified five intestinal DBL-1/BMP targets, predicted to be secreted, that showed increasedEnterobacteriaceaeabundance compared to wildtype. The extent of increases was for the most part lower than those seen in DBL-1 pathway mutants, suggesting that identified mediators are components of a DBL-1-regulated antibacterial cocktail, which may additively contribute to shaping of gut microbiome composition.

IMPORTANCE

Compared to the roles of diet, environmental availability, or lifestyle in determining gut microbiome composition, that of genetic factors is the least understood and often underestimated. The identification of intestinal mediators acting downstream of DBL-1/BMP signaling to control enteric bacteria, describes a cocktail of effectors with distinct molecular functions, thus offering a glimpse into the genetic logic of microbiome control as well as a list of targets for future exploration of this logic.
How a disordered linker in the Polycomb protein Polyhomeotic tunes phase separation and oligomerization
Authors: Gemeinhardt Tim M , Regy Roshan M , Phan Tien M , Pal Nanu , Sharma Jyoti , Senkovich Olga , Mendiola Andrea J , Ledterman Heather J , Henrickson Amy , Lopes Daniel , Kapoor Utkarsh , Bihani Ashish , Sihou Djamouna , Kim Young C , Jeruzalmi David , Demeler Borries , Kim Chongwoo A , Mittal Jeetain , Francis Nicole J
Published: October 2023

Biomolecular condensates are increasingly appreciated for their function in organizing and regulating biochemical processes in cells, including chromatin function. Condensate formation and properties are encoded in protein sequence but the mechanisms linking sequence to macroscale properties are incompletely understood. Cross species comparisons can reveal mechanisms either because they identify conserved functions or because they point to important differences. Here we use in vitro reconstitution and molecular dynamics simulations to compare Drosophila and human sequences that regulate condensate formation driven by the sterile alpha motif (SAM) oligomerization domain in the Polyhomeotic (Ph) subunit of the chromatin regulatory complex PRC1. We discover evolutionarily diverged contacts between the conserved SAM and the disordered linker that connects it to the rest of Ph. Linker-SAM interactions increase oligomerization and regulate formation and properties of reconstituted condensates. Oligomerization affects condensate dynamics but, in most cases, has little effect on their formation. Linker-SAM interactions also affect condensate formation in Drosophila and human cells, and growth in Drosophila imaginal discs. Our data show how evolutionary sequence changes in linkers connecting conserved structured domains can alter condensate properties.
Higher education student engagement with online learning: the role of perceived value and academic entitlement
Authors: Al Issa Hussein-Elhakim , Omar Mohammed Mispah Said , Çelebi Ayşem
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to investigate the impact of perceived value and academic entitlement on the online engagement of university students. The mediating effect of technostress inhibitor and teacher behavior between perceived value, entitlement and student engagement was also examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a quantitative research methodology, with data collected through a survey of 304 undergraduate students from a public university in Bahrain.

Findings

The findings showed that perceived value and academic entitlement were significant predictors of online student engagement. At the same time, only technostress inhibitor was found to mediate those associations. An unexpected result was entitlement's positive and significant impact on student engagement.

Practical implications

University decision-makers are strongly advised to enhance perceived value and support mechanisms for engagement, address technology-related concerns and improve teacher capacity and students' online learning experience.

Originality/value

The study makes a distinct contribution by investigating how perceived value, academic entitlement, technostress inhibitors and teacher behavior influence student engagement in the online higher education context.
How R&D expenditure affects renewable energy development: the role of trade liberalization and CO2 emissions in G-7 countries
Authors: Karimi Alavijeh Nooshin , Zangoei Samane
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Expansion of the consumption of renewable energy is a significant issue for reducing global warming, to cope with climate change and achieve sustainable development. This study aims to examine how research and development expenditure (R&D) affects renewable energy development in developed G-7 countries over the period from 2000 to 2019. Variables of trade liberalization and CO2 emissions are considered control variables.

Design/methodology/approach

This study has adopted a panel quantile regression. The impact of the variables on renewable development has been examined in quantiles of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 and 0.9. Also, a robust examination is accomplished by applying generalized quantile regression (GQR).

Findings

The empirical findings reveal a positive and significant relationship between R&D and the consumption of renewable energy in 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75 quantiles. Also, the findings describe that the expansion of trade liberalization and CO2 emissions can significantly increase the development of renewable energy in G-7 countries. Furthermore, GQR verifies the main outcomes.

Practical implications

These results have very momentous policy consequences for the governments of G-7 countries. Therefore, investment and support for the R&D section to promote the development of renewable energy are recommended.

Originality/value

This paper, in comparison to other research, used panel quantile regression to investigate the impact of factors affecting renewable energy consumption. Also, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, no study has perused the effect of R&D along with trade liberalization and carbon emissions on renewable energy consumption in G-7 countries. Also, in this paper, as a robustness check for panel quantile regression, the GQR has been used.
Innovation performance and its determinants: what does it take to succeed?
Authors: Costa Cavalcante Pedro Luiz
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to depart from the national innovation system (NIS) arguments that countries' institutional arrangements and performance result from various complementary factors that generate innovative activities and products within economies.

Design/methodology/approach

To further explore these dimensions, the main objective of this paper is to address the determinants of global heterogeneity in the innovation outcomes of the nations. Thus, the research employs descriptive data analysis and multivariate regression models, using data from the Global Innovation Index (GII) to analyze innovation systems cross-regionally concerning institutional arrangements and performance. Since 2013, the GII, has annually measured and ranked the innovation inputs and outputs of more than a hundred countries based on a comprehensive and sophisticated approach and a multidimensional perspective.

Findings

The author found the empirical results remarkably interesting in many respects. The different indexes of innovation inputs affect the country's performance level, but not all show a statistically significant impact on innovation outputs. Institutions and infrastructure indexes do not affect the innovative performance of the economies. The main determinants of innovation performance worldwide are business sophistication, human capital & research (HC&R) and market sophistication. In short, the research presents an original contribution, mainly because it explores different views on NIS disparities worldwide, using complementary methodological strategies and based on comprehensive data on innovative inputs and outputs in the countries.

Originality/value

The findings add new evidence-based knowledge on the determinants of innovation performance in different realities, such as political, economic and administrative. These realities formulate innovation policies and implement them worldwide.
Toward an epistemology for anarchist accounting and stakeholder relationship capability: evidence from Iran
Authors: Valiyan Hasan , Abdoli Mohammadreza
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of anarchist accounting (AA) on stakeholder relationship capability (SRC) in the context of Iranian capital market companies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a descriptive survey-correlation data collection method. As this study is on (AA) and (SRC) in Iran, the population of the study is made up of all financial managers and heads of the accounting department of capital market companies in Iran. Among 185 companies (Tehran Stock Exchange [TSE]), 100 companies were selected as samples which are all in the TSE. As suggested by Niles (2006), a minimum sample size of 10% of the population is generally acceptable. A questionnaire survey was adopted in obtaining primary data for this study. Thus, based on Cochran sampling techniques, 395 questionnaires were returned and became the basis of analysis. Also, partial least square was used to test the research hypothesis.

Findings

The statistical findings indicate the fit of the structural desirability of the factor load and according to the standardized coefficient (path coefficient), the dimensions of AA have a negative and significant effect on SRC, because the path coefficient is positive.

Originality/value

Theoretically, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first research that tries to examine the stakeholder relationship capability through the link between social/political approaches with accounting procedures, an issue that has not been considered in any prior study. Also, conducting the present study in the conditions of social distrust in the Iranian capital market can be important, because the expansion of anarchist accounting helps to create a level of symmetry and equality in information disclosure and it can create value for shareholders.
The impact of entrepreneurs' perceptions and social media usage on their intention to formalise their MSMEs in Egypt
Authors: Miniesy Rania , Fakhreldin Hadia
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The formalisation – switch from the informal to the formal sector – of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) has serious ramifications on the Egyptian economy. This study investigates the effect of the factors perceived by Egyptian informal entrepreneurs to encourage/deter formalisation on those entrepreneurs' intentions of formalising their MSMEs. Social media (SM) usage is a novel factor whose impact on the intention of formalisation is also examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual framework of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) is used, and a logistic regression model is utilised. Relevant data were collected from self-assessment questionnaires of a sample of Egyptian informal female and young male entrepreneurs, who constitute the majority of informal entrepreneurs in Egypt.

Findings

Results reveal that for female entrepreneurs, only the support of the government and other institutions positively affects their intention of formalisation, whilst direct costs and lack of family support affect their intention negatively. For young male entrepreneurs, the number of employees and prospects of contract enforcement positively affect their intention of formalisation, whilst being involved in a trading activity affects it negatively. For both groups, higher levels of education and SM usage adversely affect their intention of formalisation. These varying results have a crucial policy implication: the one-size-fits-all public policies intended to stimulate formalisation might not work, and thus, more tailored policies are required.

Originality/value

Worldwide, research on the impact of SM on the formalisation of MSMEs is scant, if existent. In Egypt, research on MSMEs is limited, those focusing on the impact of SM on Egyptian MSMEs are even scarcer and those targeting SM's effect on their formalisation are absent.
Hotel housekeepers in family hotel business: a perspective article
Authors: Otegui Carles Almudena
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to delve into the scientific literature on hotel housekeepers in family hotel businesses to suggest new research directions in this field.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a concise literature review to discuss the past and future of research on family hotel business.

Findings

Research on family hotel businesses and the relationships and working conditions of their employees is limited. Most studies are focused on family businesses in general, without specific emphasis on a particular sector, or a specific job within each sector, or the type of company within a sector.

Originality/value

This paper synthesizes existing research on family businesses, particularly family hotel businesses, to delve into work conditions in both fields. It seeks to establish connections with the job conditions of hotel housekeepers as a means of addressing some of the challenges they face in their working environment.
Maximum power tracking strategy of a wind energy conversion system based on resonant with active disturbance rejection control
Authors: Xiong Lei , Shi Hongjun , Zhu Qixin
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to construct a novel maximum power tracking control system for the direct drive permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) of the wind energy conversion system (WECS) to solve the following problems: how to effectively eliminate the system’s model parameter disturbances and speed up the dynamic performance of the system; and how to eliminate harmonics in WECS under different wind speeds.

Design/methodology/approach

To obtain the maximum output power of PMSG at WECS under different wind speeds, the following issues should be considered: (1) how to effectively eliminate the system’s model parameter disturbances and speed up the dynamic performance of the system; and (2) how to suppress system harmonics. For Problem 1, adding d–q compensation factors to active disturbance rejection control (ADRC) for the current loop realizes the d–q axis decoupling control, which speeds up the dynamic performance of the system. For Problem 2, the resonant controller is introduced into the ADRC for the current loop to suppress harmonic current in WECS under different wind speeds.

Findings

The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed control method is simpler and more reliable than conventional controllers for maximum power tracking.

Originality/value

Compared with traditional controllers, the proposed controller can speed up the dynamic performance of the system and suppress the current harmonic effectively, thus better achieving maximum power tracking.
Reconsidering expertise for public policymaking: The challenges of contestability
Authors: Head Brian W.
Published: October 2023

It is commonly claimed there is a crisis of expertise in liberal democracies and that experts who provide evidence‐based policy ideas have become widely distrusted. This paper reconsiders the nature of this perceived crisis in policy advisory systems. The literature has identified four reasons for this trend—politicisation, diversification, diminished policy capacity, and populism. Building on these claims, this paper suggests that the contestability of policy advice has been the key underlying shift in policy advisory processes. Contestability can be positively useful for testing the robustness of policy proposals. However, if the policy debate has no evidentiary standards, the contest becomes a clash of opinions and slogans. Hence, several approaches have been proposed to strengthen the role of professional expertise and improve the quality and legitimacy of evidence‐informed policymaking. One approach is the rebuilding of bureaucratic capacity to provide evidence‐informed policy advice. However, a technocratic–elitist style that invokes scientific authority would be difficult to sustain politically in relation to complex issues affecting citizen well‐being. A second approach is to improve stakeholder engagement and to enhance respect for the expertise embodied in ‘lived experience’. Thus, rebuilding trust and legitimacy may require broadening the range of relevant expertise through multi‐stakeholder approaches.

Points for practitioners

Types of expert policy advice have evolved and diversified, with many sources and channels both inside and outside government

Contestability of policy advice has become more widespread

Public service policy capacity has arguably been weakened through outsourcing, use of consultants, interest group lobbying, and the growing influence of ministerial advisors

Evidence‐informed advisory systems have been challenged by fast decision‐making, wicked problems, media misinformation, and populist slogans

Rebuilding capacity and trust in high‐quality policy systems requires new thinking, including more inclusive processes and a wider view of relevant expertise.
More Social, More Socially Responsible? The Impact of CEO Social Media Use on Corporate Social Performance
Authors: Zhou Jing , Ye Silin , Liu Xiaming
Published: October 2023

Nowadays, more and more firm chief executive officers (CEOs) are using social media to join online conversations and interact with stakeholders. As this social media presence shows their social participation tendencies, such CEOs have been described as ‘social CEOs’. Building on an upper‐echelon perspective of corporate social responsibility (CSR), this study examines whether social CEOs and the implications of their social media engagement have an impact on corporate social performance by developing a needs–affordances–consequences approach. Our approach explores the motives and ability of social CEOs, suggesting the positive influence of CEO sociability on CSR and also the moderating effect of CEOs’ social evaluation. Using data on Chinese publicly listed firms from 2009 to 2020, we find that firms with social CEOs have a higher level of social performance than firms without, and higher CEO status or better CEO reputation can further amplify the positive impact of CEO sociability on corporate social performance. This work makes important contributions to research on the determinants of CSR, as well as the social media and leadership literature.
CRISPR‐based diagnostics detects invasive insect pests
Authors: Shashank Pathour R. , Parker Brandon M. , Rananaware Santosh R. , Plotkin David , Couch Christian , Yang Lilia G. , Nguyen Long T. , Prasannakumar N. R. , Braswell W. Evan , Jain Piyush K. , Kawahara Akito Y.
Published: October 2023

Rapid identification of organisms is essential for many biological and medical disciplines, from understanding basic ecosystem processes, disease diagnosis, to the detection of invasive pests. CRISPR‐based diagnostics offers a novel and rapid alternative to other identification methods and can revolutionize our ability to detect organisms with high accuracy. Here we describe a CRISPR‐based diagnostic developed with the universal cytochrome‐oxidase 1 gene (CO1). The CO1 gene is the most sequenced gene among Animalia, and therefore our approach can be adopted to detect nearly any animal. We tested the approach on three difficult‐to‐identify moth species (Keiferia lycopersicella, Phthorimaea absoluta and Scrobipalpa atriplicella) that are major invasive pests globally. We designed an assay that combines recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) with CRISPR for signal generation. Our approach has a much higher sensitivity than real‐time PCR assays and achieved 100% accuracy for identification of all three species, with a detection limit of up to 120 fM for P. absoluta and 400 fM for the other two species. Our approach does not require a sophisticated laboratory, reduces the risk of cross‐contamination, and can be completed in less than 1 h. This work serves as a proof of concept that has the potential to revolutionize animal detection and monitoring.
Controlling for the effects of environmental availability when testing how the environment determines community compositional uniqueness
Authors: Tsang Toby P. N. , Bonebrake Timothy C. , Ponisio Lauren C. , Cadotte Marc W.
Published: October 2023

Identifying the drivers that promote unique species compositions (i.e. ecological uniqueness) is crucial to understanding the mechanisms underpinning diversity patterns and for effective conservation planning. Environmental conditions are often sampled differentially in datasets, which can lead to rarer environments having unique species compositions, provided that environmental differences increase compositional differences. This effect, however, will be undesirable when a study aims to test the direct impact of environments rather than their availability.

We developed an approach to reduce the effects of environmental availability in ecological uniqueness analyses through calculating expected pairwise compositional dissimilarities for each unique environmental condition. We further used simulations to assess the performance of our methods by randomly generating communities from two hypothetical environments with non‐overlapping species pools. Additionally, we used a dataset of 50 tree communities to demonstrate how environmental availability could impact relationships between environmental conditions and ecological uniqueness in empirical studies.

Our simulations revealed that uniqueness metrics based on observed values are sensitive to environmental availability, while our approach correctly concluded that there were no differences among environments under the unbalanced design. Our analysis of tree communities produced divergent conclusions between the two approaches, as increasing slope reduced ecological uniqueness after controlling for their low availability in the dataset only. This suggests that low environmental availability inflated the ecological uniqueness of sites with high slope, which opposed its direct negative effects on ecological uniqueness, leading to a weak relationship based on observed values.

To achieve a more mechanistic understanding of ecological uniqueness patterns, the effects of environmental availability must be considered. We recommend that studies use both uncorrected and corrected analyses to identify not only the direct effects of environmental conditions but also the degree to which their availability influences the observed relationships between ecological uniqueness and environment conditions. Our approach should be most necessary and applicable in unbalanced designs, which is a common characteristic in empirical studies.
Real‐time artificial intelligence predicts adverse outcomes in acute pancreatitis in the emergency department: Comparison with clinical decision rule
Authors: Chang Ching‐Hung , Chen Chia‐Jung , Ma Yu‐Shan , Shen Yu‐Ting , Sung Mei‐I , Hsu Chien‐Chin , Lin Hung‐Jung , Chen Zhih‐Cherng , Huang Chien‐Cheng , Liu Chung‐Feng
Published: October 2023

Objective

Artificial intelligence (AI) prediction is increasingly used for decision making in health care, but its application for adverse outcomes in emergency department (ED) patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) is not well understood. This study aimed to clarify this aspect.

Methods

Data from 8274 ED patients with AP in three hospitals from 2009 to 2018 were analyzed. Demographic data, comorbidities, laboratory results, and adverse outcomes were included. Six algorithms were evaluated, and the one with the highest area under the curve (AUC) was implemented into the hospital information system (HIS) for real‐time prediction. Predictive accuracy was compared between the AI model and Bedside Index for Severity in Acute Pancreatitis (BISAP).

Results

The mean ± SD age was 56.1 ± 16.7 years, with 67.7% being male. The AI model was successfully implemented in the HIS, with Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) showing the highest AUC for sepsis (AUC 0.961) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission (AUC 0.973), and eXtreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) showing the highest AUC for mortality (AUC 0.975). Compared to BISAP, the AI model had superior AUC for sepsis (BISAP 0.785), ICU admission (BISAP 0.778), and mortality (BISAP 0.817).

Conclusions

The first real‐time AI prediction model implemented in the HIS for predicting adverse outcomes in ED patients with AP shows favorable initial results. However, further external validation is needed to ensure its reliability and accuracy.
Multiple courses of steroid pulse therapy are required in treating acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis patients with a large anhidrotic area: A retrospective study of 28 cases
Authors: Imafuku Keisuke , Yanagi Teruki , Yoshimoto Norihiro , Miyazawa Hajime , Iwata Hiroaki , Ujiie Hideyuki
Published: October 2023

Patients with acquired idiopathic generalized anhidrosis (AIGA) demonstrate a sudden loss of sweating function without neurological or endocrine abnormalities. The main treatment is steroid pulse therapy. However, the number of courses required for improvement has been unclear. This study aims to clarify the factors associated with AIGA disease severity and with AIGA patients' responses to steroid pulse therapy. We retrospectively analysed the clinical information of 28 patients with AIGA in our department from the last 10 years. Univariate analysis revealed that patients with a large anhidrotic area need multiple courses of steroid pulse therapy.
Editorial: PPIs and gastric cancer–Are we dealing with a carcinogen?
Authors: Malfertheiner Peter , Schulz Christian , Howden Colin W.
Published: October 2023

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Gong et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17676 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17741
Editorial:HBsAgseroclearance after pegylated interferon treatment—The beginning of the end. Authors' reply
Authors: Gao Na , Guan Guiwen , Zhao Qiyi , Gao Zhiliang
Published: October 2023

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Gao et al papers. To view these articles, visithttps://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17670andhttps://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17690
Editorial: The role of point‐of‐care echocardiography for assessing cirrhotic cardiomyopathy and predicting clinical outcomes in acute‐on‐chronic liver failure with severe sepsis
Authors: Kimmann Markus , Trebicka Jonel
Published: October 2023

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Kajal et al paper. To view this article, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17695
A Farewell to Arms: Brazilian Politics and Blame Avoidance during the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Authors: Fernandes Ivan Filipe , de Almeida Lopes Fernandes Gustavo Andrey , Camacho Alves Salvador Pedro Ivo , de Almeida Lopes Fernandes Guilherme Antonio
Published: October 2023

Brazil was one of the countries most affected by COVID‐19. Many deaths could have been avoided by implementing severe non‐pharmaceutical interventions. Despite support for stay‐at‐home requirements and masking mandates from subnational authorities, the president actively pushed back against it. What are the consequences of the political pressures against measures to mitigate virus dissemination and the utmost prioritisation of short‐term economic consequences? The article demonstrates that the strategies of shifting blame for the subnational authorities on health issues, focusing on the minimisation of economic downturn, worsened COVID‐19 results, measured by cases and deaths, in jurisdictions that voted heavily for Bolsonaro.
Targeting the SPHK1/S1P/S1PR2 axis ameliorates GH‐secreted pituitary adenoma progression
Authors: Sun Heng , Hu Biao , Wu Chunli , Jiang Tiejian
Published: October 2023

Background

Growth hormone‐secreted pituitary adenoma (GHPA) is a prominent subtype of pituitary adenoma (PA) associated with progressive somatic disfigurement, various complications, and elevated mortality rates. Existing treatment options have limited efficacy, highlighting the urgent need for novel pharmacological interventions. Previous studies have revealed that sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1)/sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P)/S1P receptors (S1PRs) signalling have critical roles in the tumour microenvironment, but their role in GHPA remains unclear.

Methods

We performed integrative analyses including bioinformatics analyses, functional studies, and clinical validation to investigate the pathological roles of SPHK1/S1P and evaluated the effectiveness of the S1P receptor 2 (S1PR2) inhibitor JTE‐013 in GHPA treatment.

Results

SPHK1/S1P signalling is abnormally expressed in patients with GHPA. Knockdown of SPHK1 suppresses S1P‐mediated cell proliferation in GH3 Cells. Mechanistically, S1P inhibits apoptosis and autophagy while promoting the secretion of Growth Hormone (GH) by binding to the S1P receptor subtype 2 (S1PR2) in GH3 cells. Moreover, the function of S1PR2 in GH3 cells is mediated by the downstream Akt‐Creb pathway. We then identify the S1PR2 as a novel target for therapeutic intervention in GHPA. Systemic administration of the potent and selective S1PR2 antagonist, JTE‐013, significantly reduces both tumour size and GH secretion. Importantly, we identify preoperative serum S1P levels as a biomarker predicting poor prognosis in GHPA patients at follow‐up.

Conclusion

Our study shows that blocking SPHK1/S1P/S1PR2 axis can ameliorate the progression of GHPA, providing evidence of a promising therapeutic target for GHPA.
Why do older scholars slow down?
Authors: Hamermesh Daniel S. , Kosnik Lea‐Rachel
Published: October 2023

Using data describing all “Top 5” economics journal publications from 1969 to 2018, we examine what determines which authors produce less as they age and which retire earlier. Sub‐field has no impact on the rate of production, but interacts with it to alter retirement probabilities. A positive, tentative, and contemporary writing style increases persistence in publishing. Authors whose previous work was more heavily cited produce slightly more. Those better‐cited with more top‐flight publications retire later than others. Declining publication with age arises mostly from habit—there is a very significant increasing positive autocorrelation of publication across the decades of a career.
Host‐foraging stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans, are preferentially attracted to objects with both visual and thermal host‐like characteristics
Authors: Hung Emmanuel , Lee Nelson , Meyer Eve , Brar Tandeep , Ng Geoffrey , Gries Gerhard
Published: October 2023

Many haematophagous insects use the heat emitted by warm‐blooded animals as a cue for locating suitable hosts. Blood‐feeding stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), are known to respond to visual and olfactory host cues. However, the effects of thermal host cues on the foraging behaviour of these flies remain largely unknown. Here we tested the hypothesis that host‐foraging stable flies preferentially land on objects with host‐like temperature, and on objects with both visual and thermal host‐like cues. In laboratory bioassays, stable flies were offered a choice between paired temperature‐controlled copper discs. Flies preferentially landed on the disc with a host‐like temperature (40 °C), discriminating against discs that were cooler (26 or 35 °C) or warmer (50 or 60 °C) than vertebrate hosts. Flies that were well fed and thus not in foraging mode, or host‐foraging flies that were offered infrared radiation but not the conductive and convective heat of different temperature discs, failed to discriminate between the stimuli. In greenhouse experiments, when flies were offered a choice between paired barrels as surrogate hosts, flies preferentially landed on barrels that were both thermally and visually appealing (38–39 °C, black), discriminating against barrels that were cold (10 °C), white, or both cold and white. Thermal cues augmented the overall landing responses of flies but their initial (mid‐range) attraction to barrels was mediated by visual cues. Overall, the data suggest that thermal host cues affect the host‐foraging behaviour of stable flies primarily at close range, prompting landing on a host.
The social status of entrepreneurs: An analysis of informal and formal institutional determinants
Authors: Fuentelsaz Lucio , Maicas Juan P. , Montero Javier
Published: October 2023

The social status of entrepreneurs, which measures the degree to which a country admires entrepreneurs and values their social contribution to society, varies significantly across countries. In some economies, such as the United States, entrepreneurs are seen as cultural heroes, whereas in others, particularly in many European countries, their status is less favorable. In this paper, we provide theoretical elaboration and empirical evidence to support the idea that informal institutions, such as uncertainty avoidance and collectivism, play a crucial role in determining social status. Additionally, formal institutions, like market freedom and government size, establish certain boundaries for these relationships. We analyze a sample of 105 countries that participated in the GEM project between 2003 and 2020. Our results indicate that entrepreneurs enjoy a higher social status in societies characterized by low uncertainty avoidance and a more collectivist orientation. Furthermore, these relationships are contingent upon the formal rules and regulations of the country.
Intraperitoneal administration of mouse kisspeptin‐10 to mice during estrus stage induces pseudopregnancy
Authors: Mashiko Daisuke , Tokoro Mikiko , Yao Tatsuma , Yamagata Kazuo
Published: October 2023

A simple method for producing pseudopregnant mice supports pup production. In this study, pregnant ICR were obtained mice without mating with vasectomized mice via administration of mouse Kisspeptin‐10 (mKp‐10) and transferring blastocysts to the uterus. Blastocyst transfer after mKp‐10 administration to mice with gapping and reddish pink vagina resulted in 65.2% (15/23) pregnancies, and 39.1% (34/87) of the transferred blastocysts showed full‐term growth. Vaginal smears were observed for accurate estrus cycle determination, and subsequent administration of mKp10 to mice during the estrus stage and blastocyst transfer resulted in 95.2% (20/21) pregnancies and 50.7% (104/205) birth rates. Regarding 2‐cell transfer after administration of mKp‐10, 100% (8/8) of the mice became pregnant, and 45.0% (36/80) of the embryos were born. Administration of mKp‐10 to mice during the estrus stage is a convenient way to generate pseudopregnant mice.
Associations between GoSmart Channel, health literacy and health behaviours in adolescents: A population‐based study
Authors: Huang Junjie , Chan Sze Chai , Keung Vera M. W. , Cheung Calvin K. M. , Lo Amelia S. C. , Lau Vincent T. C. , Mui Lancelot W. H. , Lee Albert , Wong Martin C. S.
Published: October 2023

Background

Health literacy is essential in the promotion of healthy lifestyle habits and chronic disease prevention.

Objective

To assess the health literacy level among Hong Kong adolescents; to evaluate the association between access of an online health information platform (GoSmart Channel) and health literacy level; and to examine the association between health literacy level and various unhealthy behaviours.

Design

This study recruited students from 10 local secondary schools in Hong Kong to assess the health literacy level among adolescents.

Settings and Participants

Participants were required to complete a self‐administered questionnaire on health behaviours and health literacy using the Health Literacy Measure for Adolescents (HELMA).

Main Outcome Measure

Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multivariate regression modelling.

Results

A total of 777 responses were collected. Overall, most (74.4%) of the adolescents in Hong Kong have limited health literacy (HELMA score <66). The majority (63.7%) of adolescents relied on their parents for health information, while 11.4% of the respondents sought information from the GoSmart Channel. The intervention of GoSmart Channel was significantly associated with better health literacy in almost all aspects among adolescents. Desired levels of health literacy were significantly associated with better perceived health (adjusted odds ratio: 2.04, p = .001) and negatively associated with a range of unhealthy and risky behaviours including unhealthy dietary habits, poor hygienic measures and physical inactivity.

Discussion and Conclusion

This study highlights the importance of improving health literacy among Hong Kong adolescents and the potential of technology‐based interventions. The findings suggest the need for continued efforts to promote health literacy and healthy behaviours among adolescents, especially given the limited health literacy levels observed in the study.

Patient or Public Contribution

Members of the GoSmart.Net Built‐on Project patient and public involvement and engagement group advised about survey development.
Solitary Neurilemmoma of the Face
Authors: Thappa Devinder Mohan , Garg Bhagat Ram , Venkateswaran Sri , Ratnakar Chaganti
Published: October 2023

A fourteen‐year‐old male with solitary neurilemmoma over his left cheek is described. Clinically, it was mistaken for molluscum contagiosum. The case is reported for its rarity and unique features.
Acute Form of Pyoderma Gangrenosum Induced by Traumatic Injury
Authors: Kitagawa Nobuko , Ikeda Mitsunori , Kodama Hajime
Published: October 2023

A 45‐year‐old man with the acute form of pyoderma gangrenosum is reported. He developed characteristic ulcers that rapidly followed violaceous erythema at sites of traumatic injury. The skin lesions repeatedly appeared six times within 7 years. Each time, the skin lesions were localized to sites of trauma, and no systemic symptoms nor abnormal laboratory findings were associated. Histological findings were acute superficial inflammation with neutrophilic infiltration into the dermis. Sweet's syndrome‐like skin lesions were once associated, indicating that pyoderma gangrenosum and Sweet's syndrome have a close relationship. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, potassium iodide, and minocycline were not effective. He was successfully treated with oral administration of corticosteroid. The pathergy of this patient must have been caused not only by the trauma itself but by additional factors such as epidermal components or contaminating micro‐organisms, since traumatic injury did not always cause the skin lesions.
Use of nuclease enzyme in the purification of VAQTA, a hepatitis A vaccine
Authors: AJ Hagen , RA Aboud , PA DePhillips , CN Oliver , CJ Orella , RD Sitrin
Published: October 2023

The development of the purification process for VAQTA, which results in a highly purified inactivated hepatitis A vaccine, was driven by modifications in the cell‐culture and harvest methods which permit hepatitis A virus propagation to support large‐scale manufacture. The starting material for the purification was initially a concentrated cell pellet scraped from roller bottles. However, when the cell‐culture method was scaled up to use high‐surface‐area Nunc cell factories or Costar cubes, the early steps in the process had to be modified to handle large volumes of dilute lysate. Membrane concentration was used at first, and a highly purified vaccine was prepared, but virus‐poly(nucleic acid) complexes were formed, which reduced the yields in later processing steps. The introduction of a nuclease digestion immediately after harvest followed by capture chromatography on an anion‐exchange column eliminated the formation of these complexes and resulted in more consistent performance and higher yields of downstream operations.
Hydrogenase encapsulation into red blood cells and regeneration of electron acceptor
Authors: Axley M. , LK Dad , AL Harabin
Published: October 2023

Biochemical decompression has been proposed as a method for reducing the amount of time required for deep‐sea divers to return to the surface. Divers breathing H2/O2 mixtures would be presented with hydrogenase enzyme, and decompression would be accelerated by means of the enzymic removal of excess H2 from the tissues. We have studied FAD as a hydrogenase electron acceptor that is capable of transferring electrons derived from H2 oxidation directly to O2. Kinetic activity constants for the soluble hydrogenase from the bacterium Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 were determined with FAD, FMN and riboflavin as electron acceptors, and these values were compared with those obtained with the physiological electron acceptor NAD+. The Michaelis constants (K(m)) were similar for FAD, FMN and NAD. However, the maximal catalytic‐centre activity (Kcat) was much lower for the flavins, and the catalytic efficiency (Kcat/K(m)) with FAD was 1/20th the value for NAD+. After enzyme‐catalysed FAD reduction to FADH2, the FAD could be regenerated by addition of O2 and reduced again by the enzyme in the presence of H2. Thus FAD served as a regenerable electron shuttle between H2 and O2. H2O2, a by‐product of FADH2 oxidation by O2, inhibited the enzyme. Much greater inhibition was observed with the reduced form of the enzyme. Active hydrogenase was efficiently encapsulated into human and pig red blood cells. Hydrogen consumption was seen with lysed carrier cells, but was demonstrated with unlysed carrier cells only when FAD was co‐encapsulated along with enzyme. These results demonstrate that red blood cells encapsulating hydrogenase and FAD act as a system for continuous H2 consumption in a mammalian tissue without addition of exogenous factors, and such cells may provide a biotherapeutic method for reducing the risk and treatment of decompression sickness.