bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Targeted protein degradation in lysosome utilizing naturally produced bifunctional antibodies with high levels of mannose 6-phosphate glycans
Authors: Hedman Andrew C. , Liu Shou , Srnak Jennifer A. , Marcinczyk Riley N. , Do Stephanie , Lyons Linda M. , Kornfeld Stuart , Do Hung , Liu Lin
Published: September 2024

Novel antibodies have been created for targeted degradation of extracellular and membrane proteins in the lysosome. The mechanism of degradation of target proteins for these antibodies has involved either chemical conjugation of synthetic mannose 6-phosphate (M6P) or engineered bispecific antibodies. Currently, recombinant antibodies cannot be produced with naturally phosphorylated N-glycans. Here, we report the development of a novel platform technology for producing bifunctional therapeutic antibodies with high levels of M6P-bearing glycans directly from producing cells. The antibodies designated asphosphorylatedN-glycosylated peptidechimericantibodies (PNCA) maintain their affinity for antigens with concurrent high affinity binding to cell surface cation-independent mannose-6-phosphate receptors that facilitate internalization and delivery of antibody/antigen complexes to lysosomes for efficient degradation of both target extracellular soluble and membrane proteins. This PNCA approach provides a simple, scalable, and viable approach for producing naturally phosphorylated bifunctional antibodies from production cell lines for targeted protein degradation in lysosomes.
LPA3: Pharmacodynamic differences between lysophosphatidic acid and oleoyl-methoxy glycerophosphothionate. Biased agonism, two sites
Authors: Solís K. Helivier , Romero-Ávila M. Teresa , Rincón-Heredia Ruth , Martínez-Morales Juan Carlos , García-Sáinz J. Adolfo
Published: September 2024

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and oleoyl-methoxy glycerophosphothionate (OMPT) increased LPA3phosphorylation; OMPT being considerably more potent than LPA. OMPT was also more potent than LPA to activate ERK 1/2. In contrast, to increase intracellular calcium OMPT was less effective than LPA.

LPA-induced LPA3-β-arrestin 2 interaction was fast and robust, whereas that induced by OMPT was only detected at 60 min of incubation. LPA- and OMPT-induced receptor internalization was fast but that of OMPT was more marked. LPA-induced internalization was blocked by Pitstop 2, whereas OMPT-induced receptor internalization was partially inhibited by Pitstop 2 and Filipin and entirely by the combination of both. The data again indicate differences in the actions of these agonists.

When LPA-stimulated cells were rechallenged with 1 µM LPA, hardly any response was detected, i.e., a “refractory” state was induced. However, if OMPT was used as the second stimulus, a conspicuous and robust response was observed. These data again suggest the possibility that two binding sites for these agonists might exist in the LPA3receptor, one showing a very high affinity for OMPT and another, likely shared by LPA and OMPT (structural analogs) with lower affinity.

One sentence summary

OMPT, oleoyl-methoxy glycerophosphothionate, a biased agonits interacting with an additional binding site in LPA3receptors.
Microcrystal electron diffraction structure of Toll-like receptor 2 TIR-domain-nucleated MyD88 TIR-domain higher-order assembly
Authors: Li Y. , Pacoste L. C. , Gu W. , Thygesen S. J. , Stacey K. J. , Ve T. , Kobe B. , Xu H. , Nanson J. D.
Published: September 2024

Eukaryotic TIR (Toll/interleukin-1 receptor protein) domains signal via TIR–TIR interactions, either by self-association or by interaction with other TIR domains. In mammals, TIR domains are found in Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and cytoplasmic adaptor proteins involved in pro-inflammatory signaling. Previous work revealed that the MAL TIR domain (MALTIR) nucleates the assembly of MyD88TIR into crystalline arrays in vitro. A microcrystal electron diffraction (MicroED) structure of the MyD88TIR assembly has previously been solved, revealing a two-stranded higher-order assembly of TIR domains. In this work, it is demonstrated that the TIR domain of TLR2, which is reported to signal as a heterodimer with either TLR1 or TLR6, induces the formation of crystalline higher-order assemblies of MyD88TIR
in vitro, whereas TLR1TIR and TLR6TIR do not. Using an improved data-collection protocol, the MicroED structure of TLR2TIR-induced MyD88TIR microcrystals was determined at a higher resolution (2.85 Å) and with higher completeness (89%) compared with the previous structure of the MALTIR-induced MyD88TIR assembly. Both assemblies exhibit conformational differences in several areas that are important for signaling (for example the BB loop and CD loop) compared with their monomeric structures. These data suggest that TLR2TIR and MALTIR interact with MyD88 in an analogous manner during signaling, nucleating MyD88TIR assemblies unidirectionally.
Sustainable practices in last-mile logistics of small Brazilian e-retailers: an analysis using an MCDM approach
Authors: Bonilla Maria Alejandra M. , Da Silva Bruna Simões , Schmitt Max Bogo , Bouzon Marina
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The objective is to contribute to the development of strategies through the identification of sustainability practices. Thus, the research has a twofold objective: to unveil sustainability practices integrated into last-mile logistics activities by e-commerce retailers, analyze the interrelations among these practices and categorize them based on their significance for small Brazilian e-commerce retailers.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature mapping was conducted to identify sustainability practices in last-mile activities adopted by e-retailers, leading to the proposal of a meta-model. A total of 67 articles are part of the final sample. Subsequently, the study applied the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) multicriteria decision-making technique to structure the research problem through cause-and-effect analysis among practices, aiming to prioritize critical practices.

Findings

The results indicate a strong dependence on economic practices to enable sustainability in last-mile logistics. In the economic dimension of sustainability, operating costs and quality of services are effect variables and achieved the highest relation concerning the other practices.

Research limitations/implications

The article provides theoretical contributions by addressing two complementary areas of knowledge: Stakeholder Theory and Sustainability, also aligning with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines. In practical terms, it stands out for offering valuable insights into the implementation of sustainable strategies by identifying economic, environmental and social practices in last-mile logistics, particularly within the context of small businesses in the e-retail segment.

Practical implications

The results help e-retailers re-evaluate last-mile logistics processes from a sustainability perspective. This study aims to fill the knowledge gap in the current literature on adopting sustainable practices in small e-commerce retail firms.

Social implications

Considering that one of the pillars of sustainability is a commitment to social development, this study contributes to understanding the view of small e-retailers on the independent goods delivery workers responsible for the delivery of goods.

Originality/value

The originality of this research lies in identifying economic, social and environmental sustainability practices adopted by e-retailers in last-mile logistics processes. Additionally, the study focuses on the small-scale e-commerce retail segment, an area that has been little explored in the Brazilian context. Lastly, the proposed meta-model contributes to addressing practices from the perspective of Stakeholder Theory and the Sustainability approach.
Breaking barriers: the role of digital platforms in enhancing the resilience of food entrepreneurs
Authors: Khatami Fahimeh , Sanguineti Francesca , Khatami Rayeheh
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of digital platforms on the resilience of food entrepreneurs in non-Western countries before and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a qualitative approach using cross-case analysis based on interviews with 17 restaurants in Iran’s touristic Torqabeh region. The data were collected before (2018) and after (2023) the COVID-19 outbreak.

Findings

The findings indicate that social and economic factors, particularly procurement and technological aspects of the food value chain, exhibited high resilience, enabling food entrepreneurs to revitalize their functions post-pandemic. The results reveal that digital platforms and online food shopping within food entrepreneurship contributed to this resilience by enhancing food distribution and potentially broadening equitable food access.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitations of this research are linked to the research method, which focuses on qualitative coding, and its geographic focus on Iran, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other contexts. The key implications include providing additional insights into the resilience of food entrepreneurship, illustrating the varied effects of social, economic and legal factors on revitalizing food entrepreneurship and emphasizing the crucial role of digital platforms in advancing food entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

The study advances the understanding of resilience in food entrepreneurship, contributing to both theoretical and practical strategies in emerging market contexts and offering insights for future research.
The moderating role of managerial discretion: the impact of dynamic managerial capabilities on established firms’ response strategies to disruptive innovation
Authors: Bassam Madi-Odeh Rana , Yousef Obeidat Bader
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Using the upper echelons theory, this study aims to investigate the moderating effect of managerial discretion (MD) on the impact of dynamic managerial capabilities (DMCs) on established firms’ (EFs) response strategies to disruptive innovation (RStDI).

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire to collect data from senior management of sample firms, targeting the population of professional service firms (PSFs) operating in the Emirate of Dubai. After receiving 491 responses, data was analyzed using IBM packages (SPSS and Amos) through a covariance-based structural equation modeling technique.

Findings

As proposed, the underpinnings of DMCs (managerial human capital, managerial social capital and managerial cognitive perceptions) were associated with EFs’ strategies for responding to DIs. Surprisingly, despite theoretical predictions, MD did not moderate the relationship. These findings provided support to the main propositions of the upper echelons theory, however, not for its contextual moderator (MD).

Research limitations/implications

The cross-sectional approach to testing the research model limits the identified significant effects that should be further investigated. The research sample was restricted to PSFs operating in Dubai, UAE, thus limiting the generalizability of the findings to the examined context.

Practical implications

The findings of this investigation are valuable to managers and hiring teams. They provide empirically supported insights on the critical role of managerial dynamic capabilities underpinnings (human capital, social capital and cognitive perceptions) in facilitating organizational RStDI. The findings also provide significant insights to policymakers, notably on the importance of innovative and well-crafted policies and regulative frameworks that enhance MD.

Originality/value

This study provides one of the first empirical quantitative analysis to assess MD and test its effects as a moderator, thus contributing significantly to the existing theoretical arguments on MD. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to quantify the relationship between DMCs and organizational RStDI.
The type of supplier involvement in new product development in the automotive industry: metaheuristic-based K-means clustering and analytic hierarchical process methods
Authors: Taghipour Anari Esmat , Zegordi Seyed Hessameddin , Albadvi Amir
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to determine the type of supplier involvement in terms of time and extent of supplier involvement in automobile product development based on the characteristics of parts in the Iranian automotive industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper proposes the clustering and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) methods. Combining the K-means clustering method and metaheuristic algorithms, the genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm are applied to achieve better clustering results.

Findings

The results show that lack of internal knowledge, high technology change and complexity of parts increase the need to outsource the design process. In addition to these reasons, high development costs and high interface complexity justify suppliers’ early involvement.

Originality/value

Most research only presents a conceptual framework for understanding the various levels of supplier involvement in new product development (NPD). However, in the automotive industry, numerous parts have differing degrees of importance and priority, and experts may have varying opinions based on different criteria. Therefore, the existing conceptual model for analyzing the types of involvement of each supplier is not practical. We have formulated a problem-solving approach that utilizes the clustering and AHP methods to analyze data obtained from qualitative research and determine the type of supplier involvement.
Scaling circular business models: strategic paths of second-hand fashion retail
Authors: Hultberg Emelie
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the process of scaling second-hand fashion and how different strategic paths develop over time. This is theoretically grounded in two distinct scaling logics synthesised from the literature: a process that includes strategies for organisational growth (breadth-scaling) and a process that influences change in formal and informal institutions (depth-scaling).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a process-based study based on the growth of a second-hand fashion retail organisation over 20 years. Qualitative materials such as interviews, observations and documents were collected and analysed.

Findings

The findings illustrate how a circular business model (CBM) can make use of a mix of strategies aiming for both organisational growth and impacting practices and habits within the fashion industry. Strategies building on breadth-scaling logic are found to be a prerequisite for engaging with depth-scaling strategies since they contribute to necessary resources and confidence, while depth-scaling secures future scaling opportunities by changing the conditions for scale.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the relatively scant literature on the process of scaling CBMs by exploring how different strategic paths unfold over time. The process-based approach, in combination with the two scaling logics, gives new insights into how CBMs go from niche to mainstream and thus influence the transition to a circular economy (CE).
“You should have addressed it directly”: the ideals and ideologies of managing interaction problems in healthcare work
Authors: Weiste Elina , Stevanovic Melisa , Koskela Inka , Paavolainen Maria , Korkiakangas Eveliina , Koivisto Tiina , Levonius Vilja , Laitinen Jaana
Published: September 2024

Purpose

An “open communication culture” in the workplace is considered a key contributor to high-quality interaction and providing means to address problems at work. We study how the ideals of “open communication” operate in healthcare.

Design/methodology/approach

We use discourse analysis to investigate the audio-recorded data from 14 workshop team discussions in older people services.

Findings

We found four imperatives concerning the interactional conduct of their colleagues in problematic situations that nursing professionals prefer: (1) Engage in direct communication and avoid making assumptions, (2) Address problems immediately, (3) Deal directly with the person involved in the matter and (4) Summon the courage to speak up. Through these imperatives, the nursing professionals invoke and draw upon the “open communication” discourse. Although these ideals were acknowledged as difficult to realize in practice and as leading to experiences of frustration, the need to comply with them was constructed as beyond doubt.

Practical implications

Workplace communication should be enhanced at a communal level, allowing those with less power to express their perspectives on shaping shared ideals of workplace interaction.

Originality/value

The expectation that an individual will simply “speak up” when they experience mistreatment by a colleague might be too much if the individual is already in a precarious position.
Implementation of a magnet hospital model: attracting and retaining healthcare staff in a Swedish hospital
Authors: Nilsson Peter , Gustavsson Maria
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Staff shortages in the healthcare sector increase the competition for qualified staff. A magnet hospital is intended to attract, and retain healthcare professionals. This article aims to investigate the challenges related to implementation of a magnet hospital model, and given these challenges, to analyse the interplay between different organisational levels in a Swedish hospital.

Design/methodology/approach

The data collection followed the implementation of a magnet hospital model and consisted of 14 meeting observations, 31 interviews and 13 document analyses.

Findings

The model implementation was driven by a top-down approach, with accompanying bottom-up activities, involving healthcare professionals, to ensure adaption to the hospital’s conditions at different organisational levels. The findings revealed that the model was more appealing to top management, seeking a standardised solution to attract and retain nurses. Clinic managers preferred tailor-made solutions for managing their employee resourcing challenges. Difficulties in translating and contextualising the model to the hospital’s conditions created challenges at every organisational level. Some were contained within a level while others spread to the organisational level below and turned into something else.

Originality/value

Apart from unique empirical material depicting the implementation of a magnet hospital model as an effort to attract and retain healthcare professionals, the value of this study lies in the attention given to the challenges that arise when responsibility for implementing a management model is shifted from top management to change agents tasked with facilitating and executing the organisational change.
Hotel ratings: the impact of trip type (business vs leisure)
Authors: Schiessl Djonata , Manosso Franciele Cristina , Alves Felipe , Prado Paulo Henrique Muller Henrique
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to present a research framework examining how hotel ratings can be affected by travel purposes (business vs leisure). It explores theoretical foundations, introduces hypotheses and outlines the methodology used in six studies to investigate connections between trip types, work-related factors, hotel ratings and other variables. The goal is to enhance understanding of factors influencing consumer hotel evaluations, with implications for hospitality industry service design and marketing strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a multi-method approach to investigate the impact of trip type (business vs leisure) on hotel ratings. The theoretical framework is rooted in perceptual frameworks that shape the evaluation of travel experiences. The research proposes and tests several hypotheses through six studies, using diverse data sources and methods for enhanced reliability.

Findings

This study shows that business travelers consistently give lower hotel ratings than leisure travelers, with work-related concerns playing a crucial role. Consumers’ perceived lack of hospitality during a business trip diminishes work-related concerns and hotel ratings. Similarly, low empathy from hotel workers leads to reduced work concerns and lower ratings. The research provides actionable insights for hotel management to enhance services for business and leisure travelers, emphasizing the importance of addressing work-related considerations to improve overall satisfaction.

Originality/value

This study uniquely explores the contrasting influences of business and leisure travel on hotel evaluations, focusing on how work-related concerns mediate these relationships. By employing a comprehensive approach that includes secondary data, experiments, and sentiment analysis, it uncovers how business travelers' stressors lead to lower hotel ratings compared to leisure travelers who prioritize relaxation. The research introduces novel insights into how factors like extended stays and staff empathy can mitigate these negative effects, offering actionable recommendations for hotel management. This work enriches the hospitality literature by providing a deeper understanding of how trip types impact guest satisfaction and proposes targeted strategies to enhance service quality for different traveler segments.
Comparative analysis of one‐step and two‐step full thickness skin grafting and secondary intention healing for skin defects after surgical management of plantar malignant melanoma
Authors: Kato Hiroshi , Kano Shinji , Yoshimitsu Maki , Nakagawa Yua , Yasui Yukiko , Nakamura Motoki , Morita Akimichi
Published: September 2024

Plantar malignant melanoma is largely managed surgically, particularly in its early stages. However, the plantar region has a lower survival rate of skin grafts than other regions. Furthermore, complete wound healing occurs over a long period of time, postoperatively. Thus, in this study, we retrospectively analyzed the use of skin grafts to reconstruct skin defects, as postoperative complications of plantar malignant melanoma. Forty‐nine patients, (23 males, 26 females; mean age 70.4‐years) underwent excisional surgery for plantar malignant melanoma at our hospital, between March 2018 and December 2022. The time from initial surgery to wound healing was analyzed, using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, to identify related factors. We excluded cases with lesions in non‐weight‐bearing areas and cases with segmental layer grafts, based on multivariate analysis, to eliminate bias when comparing a one‐step resection and reconstruction technique to resection followed by waiting for granulation to occur before reconstruction. Patients were categorized into three cohorts. The first and second cohorts had undergone one‐step and two‐step skin grafting, respectively. Patients in the third cohort underwent secondary intention healing without skin grafting. The results revealed that the factors associated with wound‐healing time included a defect size of >1800 mm2, in addition to two‐step and split‐thickness skin grafting. Therefore, Kaplan–Meier curves were constructed across the three cohorts, based on the data of 37 patients. Nine cases of non‐weight‐bearing areas and three cases of split‐thickness skin grafts were excluded from the original total of 49 patients. The median times from the initial surgery to wound healing were 14.6, 12.0, and 21.9 weeks for the one‐ and two‐step skin grafting and secondary intention healing cohorts, respectively. A statistically significant difference in the treatment time between the skin grafting and secondary intention healing cohorts was observed (p < 0.001) Moreover, a statistically significant difference in the treatment time between the one‐ and two‐step skin grafting cohorts was noted (p = 0.046). Thus, two‐step skin grafting after surgical treatment for plantar malignant melanoma may shorten the overall treatment duration by allowing granulation to occur.
Phenological constancy and management interventions predict population trends in at‐risk butterflies in the United States
Authors: Edwards Collin B. , Schultz Cheryl B. , Campbell Steven P. , Fallon Candace , Henry Erica H. , King Kelsey C. , Linders Mary , Longcore Travis , Marschalek Daniel A. , Sinclair David , Swengel Ann , Swengel Scott , Taron Doug J. , Wepprich Tyson , Crone Elizabeth E.
Published: September 2024

Changes in phenology are a common response to climate change, but their impact on population dynamics is often ambiguous and at‐risk species are omitted from most analyses.

We assessed the relationship between change in abundance and change in phenology for 114 butterfly populations of 31 at‐risk species from five families in 10 US states. We used data from Pollard‐walk and similar monitoring programmes for which count data were collected on multiple occasions per year. We also collected information from managers on site‐level management interventions.

To estimate abundance, we first fit separate smoothing splines for each species at each site. Yearly abundance was estimated as the area under the activity curve for that year, and from this, we estimated abundance trends over the period for which we had population data. Phenological shifts were measured as the changes in median activity date, beginning of flight season, duration of flight season and phenological constancy (negative of the magnitude of trends in median activity date). We also evaluated the association of ecological traits (voltinism, diet breadth, position within geographic range, ecoregion, overwintering stage and seasonality) and management (proportion of years with interventions) with trends in abundance and in phenology.

Across all populations, the estimated trend in abundance was −0.085, equivalent to an 8.1% decline/year. Positive trends in abundance were associated with smaller shifts in the median flight date (higher constancy). We also found strong associations between trends in abundance and management interventions, with increased management associated with increasing abundance trends. In general, ecological traits were not strongly associated with trends in phenology or trends in abundance.

Synthesis and applications: Populations with less phenological constancy are more likely to be rapidly declining and populations with more frequent management interventions are increasing. These results suggest that one key outcome of management interventions may be to mitigate some of the impacts of climate change, which in turn may contribute to higher population growth. These results also imply that managers may need to alter the timing of appropriate management to synchronize with activities of at‐risk species as species shift their phenology.
Combining local ecological knowledge with camera traps to assess the link between African mammal life‐history traits and their occurrence in anthropogenic landscapes
Authors: Bernard Alice , Guerbois Chloé , Moolman Lizette , de Morney Melanie A. , Venter Jan A. , Fritz Hervé
Published: September 2024

Understanding what influences species and trait composition is critical for predicting changes in communities driven by landscape transformation.

We explored how life‐history traits are associated with the persistence of mammal species in human‐dominated habitats within the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve, South Africa. We combined data from a camera trap study and a local ecological knowledge‐based survey in an integrated occupancy model to analyse species occurrence along a gradient of anthropogenic landscape transformation.

Results confirmed that mammal occurrence in human‐modified habitats was related to specific life‐history traits. Species with more specialist diets, as well as larger body mass species were more likely to stay in protected areas. Species with slow reproductive strategies occupied more natural areas.

Combining different monitoring methods enabled us to increase spatial coverage and mammal sighting numbers. This approach fostered research participation by various stakeholders, an important step for co‐designing wildlife‐friendly anthropogenic spaces.

Synthesis and applications. Integrating data from a standard ecological protocol and structured participatory citizen knowledge allowed us to identify the species functional traits associated with mammal species occurrence in anthropogenic landscapes at a local scale. These results advocate for wisely combining methods and will guide conservation‐orientated land‐use planning towards the protection of natural habitats in the Garden Route Biosphere Reserve. This methodological approach will enable managers and conservationists to use data obtained from diverse protocols and should catalyse the involvement of citizens in biodiversity monitoring and conservation.
Beyond risk management: Crop insurance premium subsidies reduce cropland abandonment in China
Authors: Ma Biao , Peng Chao , Yu Le
Published: September 2024

Although crop insurance is widely acknowledged as an effective risk management strategy for safeguarding food security, the causality between crop insurance premium subsidies and cropland abandonment remains inadequately investigated. This study employs a staggered difference‐in‐differences model to investigate the impact of the Crop Insurance Premium Subsidies Program (CISP) on cropland abandonment using representative household‐level panel data from China spanning from 2004 to 2012. Our analysis reveals that crop insurance premium subsidies significantly mitigate cropland abandonment. This relationship is primarily due to the stabilisation of household income growth, which incentivises farmers to augment agricultural inputs and enhance development resilience. Furthermore, our heterogeneous analysis indicates that the effect of the CISP is more pronounced in households located in non‐grain‐producing regions or areas with lower economic development. These findings underscore the previously overlooked role of crop insurance premium subsidies in preventing cropland abandonment and offer new insights into measures aimed at ensuring food security.
Anti‐Müllerian hormone type II receptor protein expression in non‐small cell lung cancer and the effect of AMH/AMHR2 signaling on cancer cell proliferation
Authors: Koinuma Yoshika , Mitsuishi Yoichiro , Winardi Wira , Hidayat Moulid , Wirawan Aditya , Hayakawa Daisuke , Kanamori Koichiro , Matsumoto Naohisa , Hayashi Takuo , Shimada Naoko , Tajima Ken , Takamochi Kazuya , Takahashi Fumiyuki , Suzuki Kenji , Takahashi Kazuhisa
Published: September 2024

Background

Non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer‐related deaths worldwide despite advances in cancer therapeutics. In several gynecological cancers, anti‐Müllerian hormone receptor type 2 (AMHR2) mediates AMH‐induced growth inhibition and is expressed at high levels. Furthermore, 5%–8% of NSCLCs exhibit high AMHR2 expression, suggesting that AMH may inhibit the progression of some lung cancers. However, the clinical relevance of AMHR2 expression and its role in lung cancer is not fully clarified.

Methods

Immunostaining was performed on 79 surgical specimens of NSCLC. The Cancer Genome Atlas RNA‐seq data for lung adenocarcinoma were analyzed, and gene ontology and gene set enrichment analyses were performed. In cellular experiments, AMHR2‐overexpressing NSCLC cell lines were established, and the role of the AMH‐AMHR2 pathway in cell proliferation with recombinant human AMH protein treatment was examined.

Results

A total of 13 cases (16.5%) were positive for immunostaining in lung adenocarcinoma tissues; no positive signals were detected in lung squamous carcinoma tissues. Gene expression variation analysis using The Cancer Genome Atlas data showed that the expression of genes related to the cell cycle was downregulated in the AMHR2‐high group. Cellular experiments showed that activation of the AMH‐AMHR2 pathway suppressed cell proliferation.

Conclusion

In lung adenocarcinoma tissues with high expression of AMHR2, activation of the AMH‐AMHR2 pathway may suppress cell proliferation.
Effects of interventions to combat tobacco addiction: Cochrane update of 2021 to 2023 reviews
Authors: Livingstone‐Banks Jonathan , Lindson Nicola , Hartmann‐Boyce Jamie
Published: September 2024

Aims

To summarise systematic reviews on tobacco addiction published by the Cochrane Tobacco Addiction Group (CTAG) from 2021 to 2023.

Methods

We identified all new and updated Cochrane Reviews published by CTAG between 2021 and 2023. We present key results from these reviews and discuss promising avenues for future research.

Results

CTAG published five new reviews and one overview of reviews, and updated eight reviews. Review evidence showed that all main pharmacotherapies (varenicline, cytisine, bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy [NRT], especially when patches are combined with fast acting forms like gum) are effective for smoking cessation, as are nicotine e‐cigarettes. Evidence suggested similar magnitude of effects of varenicline, cytisine, and nicotine e‐cigarettes; these emerged as the most effective treatments. Evidence also supported behavioural counselling and financial incentives for smoking cessation. Secondary analyses of the Cochrane review of e‐cigarettes for smoking cessation showed over half of participants assigned to e‐cigarette conditions were still using them at six months or longer, that biomarkers of potential harm significantly reduced in people switching from smoking to vaping or to dual use, and that there was insufficient evidence to draw associations between e‐liquid flavours and smoking cessation. Findings on mindfulness‐based interventions, interventions delivered by dental and primary care professionals, interventions to prevent weight gain after smoking cessation, and interventions for waterpipe cessation were less certain. Reviews of observational evidence showed that smoking cessation reduced cardiovascular events and mortality in people living with cardiovascular disease, and improved mental health.

Conclusions

Nicotine replacement therapy (especially patches combined with fast acting forms), varenicline, cytisine, bupropion, nicotine e‐cigarettes, behavioural counselling, and financial incentives are all effective ways to help people quit smoking. Quitting smoking improves mental health and reduces cardiovascular events and mortality in people living with cardiovascular disease.
Ecological constraints and trait conservatism drive functional and phylogenetic structure of amphibian larvae communities in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
Authors: Leão‐Pires Thiago A. , Luiz Amom M. , Sawaya Ricardo J.
Published: September 2024

Ecologists strive to untangle the complex interplay of current and historical factors, along with evolutionary history of species, to understand communities’ structure. However, this can be achieved by integrating different approaches to expanding our knowledge about the underlying processes connecting assemble rules of ecological communities. In order to better understand how ecological and/or evolutionary factors may affect the structure of communities, we assessed the phylogenetic and functional structure of 33 tadpole communities in the Atlantic Forest Southeastern Brazil and tested whether phylogenetic conservatism drives tadpole traits. We identified 19 communities which were significantly phylogenetic clustered and 10 which were significantly functional clustered. Trait diversity was skewed towards the root, indicating phylogenetic trait conservatism as an important driver of the structure of tadpole communities. The best explanatory model of the phylogenetic diversity included, in order of importance, presence of potential fish predators, water conductivity, external diversity of vegetation structure, canopy cover, internal diversity of vegetation structure and dissolved oxygen. Most variables were negatively correlated with phylogenetic diversity, but the presence of potential fish predators was positively correlated. For functional structure, external diversity of vegetation structure, canopy cover, area, dissolved oxygen and presence of potential fish predators were selected as the best explanatory model (presented in order of importance). Furthermore, of the 10 functionally structured communities, eight were also phylogenetically structured. In this sense, environmental variables could be filtering tadpole lineages interacting with phylogenetically conserved species traits, thus driving anura tadpole species’ occurrence on communities. Our study provides evidence that anuran communities structure results from interacting ecological and evolutionary processes.
The importance of competition theme in reducing taxonomic bias in the Threatened Species Bake Off
Authors: Middleton Eliza J. T. , Au Elroy , Hayes Anna‐Lisa , Forster Caitlyn Y.
Published: September 2024

In 2023, Forster et al. published an article on the effectiveness of social media in conservation messaging for the Threatened Species Commissioner's Threatened Species Bake Off. The research of species represented in cakes revealed persistent biases favouring charismatic mammals and birds over less charismatic taxa like plants. The authors recommended future iterations of the Bake Off focus on less popular threatened species to address these biases, whilst highlighting the utility of the data available on social media platforms. In this follow‐up article, we examine the impact of the theme choice by the Office of the Threatened Species Commissioner which was directly influenced by the previous publication's findings. The 2023 theme, ‘Loving the unlovely and getting to know the unknown’, aimed to increase participation by focusing on plants and the under‐represented. Results indicated a notable increase in representation of these groups compared with previous years, suggesting theme selection significantly influences public engagement. The study emphasizes the potential of social media platforms in raising awareness and fostering pro‐conservation behaviours, highlighting their role in shaping public perceptions and supporting policy changes for species conservation, and lists recommendations for future iterations of such campaigns.
Incidence and relative risk of delirium after major surgery for patients with pre‐operative depression: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Diep Calvin , Patel Krisha , Petricca Jessica , Daza Julian F. , Lee Sandra , Xue Yuanxin , Kremic Luka , Xiao Maggie Z. X. , Pivetta Bianca , Vigod Simone N. , Wijeysundera Duminda N. , Ladha Karim S.
Published: September 2024

Background

Delirium is a common and potentially serious complication after major surgery. A previous history of depression is a known risk factor for experiencing delirium in patients admitted to the hospital, but the generalised risk has not been estimated in surgical patients.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of studies reporting the incidence or relative risk (or relative odds) of delirium in the immediate postoperative period for adults with pre‐operative depression. We included studies that defined depression as either a formal pre‐existing diagnosis or having clinically important depressive symptoms measured using a patient‐reported instrument before surgery. Multilevel random effects meta‐analyses were used to estimate the pooled incidences and pooled relative risks. We also conducted subgroup analyses by various study‐level characteristics to identify important moderators of pooled estimates.

Results

Forty‐two studies (n = 4,664,051) from five continents were included. The pooled incidence of postoperative delirium for patients with pre‐operative depression was 29% (95%CI 17–43%, I2 = 99.0%), compared with 15% (95%CI 6–28%, I2 = 99.8%) in patients without pre‐operative depression and 21% (95% CI 11–33%, I2 = 99.8%) in the cohorts overall. For patients with pre‐operative depression, the risk of delirium was 1.91 times greater (95%CI 1.68–2.17, I2 = 42.0%) compared with patients without pre‐operative depression.

Conclusions

Patients with a previous diagnosis of depression or clinically important depressive symptoms before surgery have substantially greater risk of experiencing delirium after surgery. Clinicians and patients should be informed of these increased risks. Robust screening and other risk mitigation strategies for postoperative delirium are warranted, especially for patients with pre‐operative depression.
Efficacy and safety of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in anejaculation: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wang Ming , Liu Qiushi , Gao Hui , Peng Dangwei , Wang Weinan , Ma Juncheng , Chen Zihang , Zhang Wangheng , Jannini Tommaso B. , Jannini Emmanuele A. , Jiang Hui , Zhang Xiansheng
Published: September 2024

Background

Anejaculation represents significant psychological distress and sexual and reproductive challenges among male individuals and couples. Effective fertility management options are available to address the reproductive challenges associated with anejaculation. However, there is a lack of methods to reverse the condition itself.

Objectives

This study aims to assess the effectiveness and safety of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in patients suffering from anejaculation.

Methods

A total of 94 patients with anejaculation individuals were randomly assigned to receive high‐frequency (HF) stimulation on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), low‐frequency (LF) stimulation on the right DLPFC, and sham stimulation for 4 weeks, with daily sessions of stimulation occurring on five consecutive weekdays each week.

Results

After 4 weeks of rTMS treatment, the patients in both the HF and LF groups exhibited a similar reduction in their male sexual health questionnaire for ejaculatory dysfunction bother/satisfaction score, Hamilton Anxiety Scale score, Hamilton Depression Scale score, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory score, which were statistically significant compared with sham treatment. Additionally, there were no significant differences observed in erectile function and cognitive function across the three groups. However, there were notable disparities in the cure rates between HF‐ and LF‐group patients (16.1% vs. 54.8%, p = 0.001). Additionally, it is worth noting that only two HF group patients and one LF group patient experienced spontaneously resolving minor adverse effects during the treatment process. At the 8‐week follow‐up, among patients who initially responded to the treatment, only one from the HF group experienced a relapse.

Discussion and conclusion

The findings of this study demonstrate that rTMS represents a secure and efficacious remedy for anejaculation patients.
Making the case for ‘care‐full’, ‘slower’ research: Reflections on researching ethically and relationally using mobile phone methods with food‐insecure households during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Briggs Alison
Published: September 2024

This paper reflects on the research process and ethics of doing research with low‐income households in Stoke‐on‐Trent, UK, during the coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork with five mothers experiencing food insecurity, I argue that it is imperative that researchers employ ‘care‐full’, slow, flexible methodologies situated within everyday lives to ensure that research with vulnerable and precarious groups of people is not exploitative, especially during times of crisis. The emergency public health measures introduced to contain COVID‐19 in March 2020 acted like a brake on my research activities, slowing things down, limiting the methods available to me, and ultimately, provoking a reimagining of my original research design. I make two contributions. First, building on feminist geographical scholarship on care and reflexivity, and calls for ‘slow’ research that prioritises the shifting needs of researchers and participants, I suggest adopting a relational approach to take account of participant subjectivities in order to minimise disruption in their everyday lives. Second, through discussing the ways in which I employed the mobile phone to continue gathering data with participant mothers during COVID‐19, I build on nascent geographical and methodological conversations about the role of technologies in the design and implementation of care‐full research. In highlighting the limitations of the mobile phone as a research device in this context, I extend current limited understandings of utilising mobile phones to gather data in the course of conducting research with marginalised people.
Only a matter of time? Using logfile data to evaluate temporal motivation theory in university students' examination preparation
Authors: Janson Marc Philipp , Wenker Theresa , Bäulke Lisa
Published: September 2024

Background

While previous research has emphasized the importance of personal beliefs (expectancy‐value theories) for achievement‐motivated behaviour, it lacks the integration of temporal factors that are also discussed as important drivers of achievement‐motivated behaviour. Temporal Motivation Theory (TMT) combines both approaches in a formalized manner.

Aims

Although TMT is supported by empirical studies with self‐reported academic procrastination, it has not been tested on actual achievement‐motivated behaviour.

Materials & Methods

We evaluated the predictive power of the TMT on N = 2351 learning days of 127 psychology students' self‐regulated examination preparation for statistics over the course of one semester using logfile data of an e‐learning system.

Results

The proposed TMT score, incorporating expectancy and value beliefs, sensivitiy to delay, and actual time till examination predicted students' achievement‐motivated behaviour significantly.

Discussion

Further analyses revealed that not the trait compositions of the TMT, but the temporal proximity of the statistics examination was the main driver of this association.

Conclusion

The results have important implications for understanding the factors that shape students' motivation to learn and subsequent academic success in actual learning situations. Thus, research should continue to take situational aspects, especially the temporal proximity of goals more into account.
Association of biomarkers of endothelial function, coagulation activation and kidney injury with persistent albuminuria in sickle cell anaemia
Authors: Elsherif Laila , Tang Yihan , Patillo Kammie L. , Wichlan David , Ogu Ugochi O. , Landes Kristina , McCune Paula , Scott Lara C. , Gulledge Whitney , Woodland Woodi H. , Nelson Marquita , Loehr Laura R. , Cronin Robert M. , Desai Payal C. , Zhou Laura Y. , Pollock David M. , Zou Fei , Cai Jianwen , Derebail Vimal K. , Ataga Kenneth I.
Published: September 2024

Persistent albuminuria (PA) is common in sickle cell anaemia (SCA). With the association of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with increased mortality, biomarkers that predict its development or progression are needed. We evaluated the association of select biomarkers with PA in adults with SCA using Kruskal–Wallis rank‐sum test and logistic regression models, with adjustment for multiple testing. Of 280 subjects, 100 (35.7%) had PA. Median plasma levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1) (1176.3 vs. 953.4 ng/mL, false discovery rate [FDR] q‐value <0.003), thrombin–antithrombin complex (5.5 vs. 4.7 ng/mL, FDR q‐value = 0.04), and urinary angiotensinogen (AGT) (12.2 vs. 5.3 ng/mg, FDR q‐value <0.003), urinary nephrin (30.6 vs. 27.2 ng/mg, FDR q‐value = 0.04), and urinary kidney injury molecule‐1 (KIM‐1) (0.8 vs. 0.5 ng/mg, FDR q‐value <0.003), normalized to urine creatinine, were significantly higher in subjects with PA. In multivariable analysis, only urinary AGT (odds ratio = 1.058, FDR q‐value <0.0001) remained a significant predictor of PA. In addition, soluble VCAM‐1 (FDR q‐value <0.0001), D‐dimer (FDR q‐value <0.0001), urinary AGT (FDR q‐value <0.0001), KIM‐1 (FDR q‐value <0.0001), and nephrin (FDR q‐value <0.0001) were significantly associated with urine albumin–creatinine ratio in multivariable analyses. Longitudinal studies to evaluate the predictive capacity of biomarkers for the development and progression of CKD in SCA are warranted.