bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SPONTANEOUS REATTACHMENT OF RHEGMATOGENOUS RETINAL DETACHMENT
Authors: Son Ki Young , Hwang Sungsoon , Kang Se Woong , Kim Sang Jin , Choi Jae Hwan , Choi Kyung Jun , Park Hansol
Published: January 2023

Purpose:

To describe the clinical characteristics and posterior vitreous findings of spontaneous reattachment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (SRRRD).

Methods:

Eighty-six eyes from 80 patients who were diagnosed with SRRRD (SRRRD group) and 92 eyes from 92 patients who had undergone successful scleral buckling for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment ( group for comparison) were included. Ultrawide field fundus imaging and spectral domain optical coherence tomography were performed to evaluate fundus characteristics and vitreoretinal interface.

Results:

A significant difference was found in the proportion of complete posterior vitreous attachment between the SRRRD and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment groups (44.2% vs. 19.6%, P < 0.001). The incidence of atypical epiretinal tissue (AET) in the SRRRD group was 14% (12 of 86 eyes), whereas none of the eyes in the rhegmatogenous retinal detachment group exhibited AET. In SRRRD eyes with AET, the visual acuity was lower (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, 0.51 ± 0.57 vs. 0.14 ± 0.15, P < 0.001), the mean age was higher (years, 61.7 vs. 39.4, P < 0.001), and the SRRRD lesion extent was wider (clock hours, 5.67 vs. 3.70, P = 0.004) than in SRRRD eyes without AET.

Conclusion:

Compared with the rhegmatogenous retinal detachment group, the SRRRD group had a higher incidence of posterior vitreous attachment. Furthermore, AET was a significant comorbidity in the eyes with SRRRD, particularly in the elderly and the area of presumed reattachment over two quadrants and was related to worse functional outcomes.
CHORIOCAPILLARIS STRUCTURE IN THE FELLOW EYES OF PATIENTS WITH NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
Authors: Kamei Takuro , Ooto Sotaro , Uji Akihito , Ichioka Ai , Tsujikawa Akitaka
Published: January 2023

Purpose:

Histological choriocapillaris abnormalities have been reported in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Averaging multiple en face optical coherence tomography angiography improves the quality of imaging of the choriocapillaris. This study used multiple en face swept source optical coherence tomography angiography image averaging to examine the structural changes in the choriocapillaris in the fellow eyes of patients with neovascular AMD.

Methods:

All patients underwent macular optical coherence tomography angiography imaging. One eye per subject was repeatedly imaged, and nine raster scan sets were obtained. Registered en face images were averaged, and area of flow voids and number of flow voids were measured using ImageJ software.

Results:

Forty-eight patients with neovascular AMD were recruited for analysis. Twenty-seven patients had polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, and 22 eyes had soft drusen. Twenty-six eyes of 26 healthy individuals were included as age-matched normal controls. The choriocapillaris had a meshwork appearance in all eyes. The mean flow void area of the choriocapillaris was larger in patients with AMD than normal controls (1.14 ± 0.16 mm2 vs. 1.01 ± 0.12 mm2, P = 0.002). The mean size of each flow void was greater in patients with AMD than normal controls (729 ± 210 µm2 vs. 583 ± 120 µm2, P = 0.003). The mean flow void area of the choriocapillaris was larger in eyes with soft drusen than without soft drusen (1.2 ± 0.2 mm2 vs. 1.1 ± 0.1 mm2, P = 0.024).

Conclusion:

Multiple en face image averaging revealed precise choriocapillaris structures in the fellow eyes of patients with neovascular AMD.
27-GAUGE PARS PLANA/PLICATA VITRECTOMY FOR PEDIATRIC VITREORETINAL SURGERY
Authors: Ung Cindy , Yonekawa Yoshihiro , Chung Mina M. , Berrocal Audina M. , Kusaka Shunji , Oshima Yusuke , Chan R. V. Paul , Inoue Makoto , Read Sarah P. , Kuriyan Ajay E. , Todorich Bozho , Thanos Aristomenis , Thomas Benjamin J. , Wolfe Jeremy D. , Hassan Tarek S. , Capone Antonio
Published: January 2023

Purpose:

To report on the feasibility of 27-gauge (G) vitrectomy for pediatric patients.

Methods:

This study is an international, multicenter, retrospective, interventional case series. Participants were patients 17 years or younger who underwent 27-G vitrectomy for various indications.

Results:

The records of 56 eyes from 47 patients were reviewed. Mean age was 5.7 ± 5.2 years. Diagnoses included retinopathy of prematurity (Stages 3 with vitreous hemorrhage, 4A, 4B, and 5), Terson's syndrome, traumatic macular hole, posterior capsular opacification, endophthalmitis, and others. Instruments used were the 27-G infusion, 27-G vitreous cutter, 27-G light pipe, and 27-G internal limiting membrane forceps. Instrument bending was noted in one (1.8%) case. There were no cases with intraoperative complications, infusion issues, or postoperative endophthalmitis. There were 67/145 (46%) sclerotomies that required suturing, of which most (51/145) were sutured out of precaution. There were four cases (7.1%) that required conversion to a larger gauge and three cases (5.3%) that developed postoperative hypotony. Mean visual acuity improved from logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution 1.32 (20/420) to 0.72 (20/105), after a mean follow-up of 125.1 days (P = 0.01). Anatomic success was achieved in 96.4% of eyes after a single surgery.

Conclusion:

Twenty-seven-gauge vitrectomy was safe and feasible in selected pediatric vitreoretinopathies. Further studies are warranted to examine indications and outcomes.
FIVE-YEAR INCIDENCE OF FELLOW EYE NEOVASCULAR INVOLVEMENT IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION AND POLYPOIDAL CHOROIDAL VASCULOPATHY IN AN ASIAN POPULATION
Authors: Teo Kelvin Yi Chong , Vyas Chinmayi , Sun Christopher , Cheong Kai Xiong , Chakravarthy Usha
Published: January 2023

Purpose:

To assess 5-year cumulative incidence and risk factors of fellow eye involvement in Asian neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

Methods:

In a prospective cohort study of Asian nAMD and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, the fellow eyes were evaluated for exudation. The 5-year incidence of exudation was compared between nAMD and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy.

Results:

A total of 488 patients were studied. The 5-year incidence of exudation in fellow eyes was 16.2% (95% confidence interval: 12.0–20.2). Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy compared with nAMD in the first eye was associated with lower fellow eye progression (9.8% [95% confidence interval: 5.1–14.3]) vs. 22.9% [95% confidence interval: 15.8–29.3], P < 0.01). Drusen (hazards ratio 2.11 [95% confidence interval: 1.10–4.06]), shallow irregular retinal pigment epithelium elevation (2.86 [1.58–5.18]), and pigment epithelial detachment (3.01 [1.27–7.17]) were associated with greater progression. A combination of soft drusens and subretinal drusenoid deposits, and specific pigment epithelial detachment subtypes (multilobular, and sharp peaked) were associated with progression. Pigment epithelial detachment, shallow irregular retinal pigment epithelium elevation, and new subretinal hyperreflective material occurred at 10.4 ± 4.2 months, 11.1 ± 6.0 months, and 6.9 ± 4.3 months, respectively, before exudation.

Conclusion:

The 5-year incidence of fellow eye involvement in Asian nAMD is lower than among Caucasians because of a higher polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy prevalence. Drusens, shallow irregular retinal pigment epithelium elevation, and pigment epithelial detachment are risk factors for fellow eye progression.
Modeling and Prediction of the Immediate and Short-Term Effect of Myopic Orthokeratology
Authors: Sánchez-García Alicia , Molina-Martín Ainhoa , Ariza-Gracia Miguel Ángel , Piñero David P.
Published: January 2023

Purpose:

To characterize the clinical changes occurring in the initial phase of the orthokeratology (OK) treatment for myopia correction, developing a model of prediction of the refractive changes in such phase.

Methods:

Prospective study enrolling 64 eyes of 32 patients (range, 20–40 years) undergoing myopic OK treatment with the reverse geometry contact lens CRT (Paragon Vision Science). Changes in uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), refraction, corneal topography, ocular aberrations, and corneal epithelial thickness were evaluated during the first hour of OK lens wear and after 1 week of OK treatment. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to obtain a model to predict the short-term refractive effect of OK.

Results:

The UCVA improved at each visit, reaching normal visual acuity values after a week (P<0.001) of OK treatment, which was consistent with the significant spherical equivalent (SE) reduction and central flattening (P<0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that one night change in refraction (ΔR×1N) could be predicted according to the following expression (P<0.001, R2=0.686): ΔR×1N=1.042+0.028×Age+1.014×BCET (baseline central epithelium thickness)−0.752×BKm (baseline mean keratometry)−1.405×BSE (baseline SE)+1.032×ΔR×1 h (change in SE after 1 hr of OK lens use). Similarly, a statistically relevant linear relationship was obtained for predicting the refractive change after 1 week (ΔR×1W) of OK use (P<0.001, R2=0.928): ΔR×1W=3.470−1.046×BSE−1.552×BBCVA (baseline BCVA)−0.391×BKm+0.450×ΔR×1 h.

Conclusions:

The immediate and short-term refractive effects of myopic OK with the reverse geometry contact lens CRT can be predicted with enough accuracy from baseline and first trial visits data.
Virtual Discharge
Authors: Perpetua Zachary , Seitz Shannon , Schunk Jessica , Rogers Debra , Gala Jeffrey , Sherwood Paula , Mikulis Alexandra , Santucci Nicole , Ankney Diane , Bryan-Morris Lisa , DePasquale Karen
Published: January 2023

Background:

Opportunities for care improvement exist within virtual care, which continues to emerge as an increasingly viable heath care option.

Problem:

Competing care priorities presented a challenge to nurse leaders, resulting in a modern solution to optimize resources using virtual care.

Methods:

A new model of care delivery, the virtual discharge (VDC) protocol, was established as a partnership between bedside nurses and a virtual nurse team.

Interventions:

Using existing telehealth technology, virtual nurses delivered remote discharge education to patients on a 30-bed orthopedic unit.

Results:

During the pilot, 269 VDC sessions totaled more than 101 hours of discharge education. Patient satisfaction communication scores improved significantly, and patients maintained a low 7-day readmission rate.

Conclusion:

This care model using emerging technology to deliver effective discharge education was highly satisfactory for patients and bedside nurses. Nurse leaders should seek opportunities to maximize the benefits of virtual technology in health care.
A Cross-sectional Study Evaluating the Association Between the Nursing Practice Environment and Missed Nursing Care in Medical and Surgical Wards in Jordan
Authors: Albsoul Rania Ali , Alshyyab Muhammad Ahmed , Hughes James A. , Jones Lee , FitzGerald Gerard
Published: January 2023

Background:

Missed nursing care can jeopardize the safety of patients. The practice environment contains various elements that may impact nursing staff's capability to provide appropriate care.

Purpose:

To examine the association between the practice environment and missed nursing care in Jordanian hospitals.

Methods:

A cross-sectional design, including the MISSCARE survey and the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index, was used for this study.

Results:

Data were gathered from 672 nurses working in 10 hospitals between March and July 2021. Findings revealed significant negative correlations between nurses' participation in hospital affairs (r = −0.077, P = .046), nursing foundations for quality of care (r = −0.139, P < .001), and missed nursing care.

Conclusion:

Information from this study can help nursing leaders modify practice environment elements that impact missed nursing care occurrences, which will help improve the quality of care provided to patients.
Revascularization of the Nipple-Areola Complex following Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy
Authors: Rancati Alberto O. , Nahabedian Maurice Y. , Angrigiani Claudio , Irigo Marcelo , Dorr Julio , Acquaviva Juan , Rancati Agustin
Published: January 2023

Background:

Preoperative vascular mapping has been demonstrated to be an excellent adjunct to perforator flap surgery by reducing operative times and enhancing surgical precision. This study evaluated the benefit of preoperative vascular mapping using magnetic resonance imaging and Doppler ultrasonography to identify the different perforators to the breast and compared it to postoperative mapping. The authors’ intent was to determine whether preoperative knowledge of the various vascular sources to the nipple-areola complex affected the outcome and vitality of the nipple-areola complex.

Methods:

A prospective study was performed on 15 patients undergoing 25 nipple-sparing mastectomies for breast cancer or genetic predisposition. Ten patients underwent bilateral mastectomy, and five underwent unilateral mastectomy. Mean age was 52 years (range, 30 to 76 years). The mean patient body mass index was 22.4 kg/m2 (range, 20 to 35 kg/m2). Inclusion criteria consisted of breast cancer or genetic predisposition and grade 1 or 2 breast ptosis. Exclusion criteria included prior breast surgery, grade 3 ptosis, and gigantomastia. All patients underwent immediate direct-to-implant reconstruction.

Results:

Preoperative vascular mapping by magnetic resonance imaging and external Doppler ultrasonography was performed in all 15 patients. In all 25 breasts, the fifth anterior intercostal artery perforator was identified preoperatively and preserved intraoperatively. Postoperative imaging demonstrated patency of the fifth anterior intercostal artery perforator vessels in all patients. Nipple-areola viability was demonstrated in all breasts.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrates that preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and Doppler ultrasonography for mapping breast perforator vessels is a useful strategy and should be considered for select patients undergoing nipple-sparing mastectomy. Identification of dominant perforators to the breast allowed mastectomy planning with preservation of the important perforator to the mastectomy skin flaps and nipple-areola complex.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, IV.
Breast Surgery with Smooth Anatomical Implants with Fixation System: A Review of the World’s Largest Series of Cases
Authors: Mayo Federico
Published: January 2023

Background:

Anatomical implants continue to be a particularly useful tool in breast surgery, offering an excellent result for certain indications. However, to ensure fixation and prevent rotation, traditional alternatives have medium to high surface roughness and have been controversial in recent years.

Methods:

A retrospective assessment of 122 prosthetic augmentation and reconstruction patients over a period of 5 years was conducted. Patients were treated with tabbed anatomical implants with a smooth surface and followed up for a period of 12 months. Demographics, complications, and patient satisfaction were captured. A subgroup of 101 patients were assessed with chest radiographs at 1-year follow-up. Technical recommendations are discussed.

Results:

Primary breast augmentation, revision augmentation, augmentation-mastopexy, and breast reconstruction were the main indications for surgery. All implants were inserted through an inframammary incision and placed in the subpectoral space using dual-plane techniques, except in one mastectomy case. Rotation of the implants was radiographically observed in only two cases of revision augmentation. None of the 122 patients developed capsular contracture, seroma, rupture, infection, hematoma, or malposition following breast surgery.

Conclusions:

Smooth anatomical implants with a fixation system offer reliable and satisfactory results for patients with various diagnoses and indications. The tab system and the fixation technique are essential to provide long-term stability, which was verified by radiographs because of the radiopaque lines present in the device for that purpose.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, IV.
Anatomical Guidelines for Thigh Lipoplasty Based on Cadaveric Dissection of the Superficial Fascial System in the Thigh
Authors: Si Loubin , Li Zhijin , Li Hairui , Fu Lin , Zhang Mingzi , Qiu Zikai , Wang Xiaojun , Wang Yang
Published: January 2023

Background:

Although widely accepted as an optimal procedure in thigh contouring, liposuction can result in complications, such as skin irregularity or aspiration inadequacy. A main cause might be insufficient knowledge of the superficial fascial system (SFS). The authors aimed to explore the characteristics of the SFS in the thigh and propose anatomical guidelines and new zoning for liposuction-assisted thigh contouring.

Methods:

A total of 20 fresh female thighs were dissected from the skin to deep fascia to observe and compare changes in the SFS from the medial to the lateral side and from the proximal to the distal end.

Results:

The thigh was divided into four units, namely, the medial (three subunits: upper, middle, and lower), anterior, posterior (three subunits: upper medial, upper lateral, and middle lower parts), and lateral thigh. The authors found that the form of the SFS has regional variations. Therefore, based on these varied features, four anatomical scenarios (degrees I to IV) and one functional section (hip-contour support) were devised from the eight subunits. Five different liposuction methods were formulated to manage these subunits: all-layer mass liposuction, normal aspiration, border feather-out, restricted lipoplasty, and anchor.

Conclusions:

The SFS of the thigh showed a regional variation pattern, based on which the authors proposed a series of new anatomy-based liposuction approaches. A well-sculpted thigh with its different sections presented in harmony can be safely obtained using these approaches.
Cyclical Stretching Induces Excess Intracellular Ca2+ Influx in Human Keloid-Derived Fibroblasts In Vitro
Authors: Mineda Kazuhide , Sato Katsuya , Nakahara Tasuku , Minami Kazuyuki , Yamashita Yutaro , Ishida Soshi , Abe Yoshiro , Hashimoto Ichiro
Published: January 2023

Background:

The incidence of keloids is higher in the case of darker skin. It is more common in the parts exposed to stretching (thorax, abdomen, and joints). Cyclical stretching reportedly induced each Ca2+spike through differential mechanosensitive channels in human synovial and dermal fibroblasts. Therefore, the authors hypothesized that cyclical stretching also induces a specific Ca2+spike in keloid-derived fibroblasts.

Methods:

This in vitro study compared the intracellular calcium dynamics induced by cyclical stretching between control (human dermal fibroblasts) and keloid (human keloid-derived fibroblasts) groups. Each group was exposed to two-dimensional stretch using an originally developed stretch microdevice. Intracellular Ca2+was observed for 5 minutes, including 30 seconds of baseline, under a fluorescent confocal laser microscope. The intracellular Ca2+concentration was evaluated every 0.5 second using the fluorescence intensity ratio. A positive cellular response was defined as a rise of the ratio by greater than or equal to 20%. The normal response cutoff value was determined by receiver operating characteristic analysis.

Results:

The keloid groups were significantly more responsive than the control groups (15.7% versus 8.2%;P= 0.029). In the cellular response-positive cells, the keloid groups reached significantly higher intracellular Ca2+concentration peaks than the control groups (2.20 versus 1.26;P= 0.0022). The cutoff value was 1.77, and 10.4% of the keloid-derived fibroblasts exhibited a hyper-Ca2+spike above the normal range.

Conclusions:

Keloid-derived fibroblasts with a hyper-Ca2+spike might constitute a keloid-specific subpopulation. Hereafter, the authors will study whether the normalization of excessive intracellular Ca2+concentration leads to keloid treatment in vivo.

Clinical Relevance Statement:

This study result provided a clue to the onset mechanism of keloids, which the authors hope will lead to the development of new therapy in the future.
The Implications of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act and the No Surprises Act for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
Authors: Seitz Allison J. , Nicksic Peter J. , Rao Venkat K.
Published: January 2023

The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) was enacted by Congress in 1986 to protect uninsured patients against economic discrimination. Although this law has been established for several decades, recent passage of the No Surprises Act may invoke new implications for the health care system under EMTALA. Therefore, it is worthwhile to review EMTALA’s applications to the practice of plastic surgery and review EMTALA in the context of the recently passed No Surprises Act. First, providers are mandated by EMTALA to administer a medical screening examination to any patient presenting for emergent care. Second, providers must administer medical stabilization if the medical screening examination reveals an emergent condition. If the hospital lacks specialized capabilities to provide stabilizing care, they are required to transfer the patient to a facility that can provide care. Although EMTALA’s provisions protect patients and provide them with leverage to obtain emergency care, the act has been associated with out-of-network, or “surprise,” medical bills for the insured population and, ultimately, may be detrimental to plastic surgeons in emergency settings. The concerns related to EMTALA within plastic surgery involve the overburdening of surgeons at tertiary care centers because of uncompensated care and high rates of interfacility transfers. In addition, the recent passage of the No Surprises Act to end out-of-network emergency bills may further impact care provided by plastic surgeons in emergency settings under EMTALA’s mandate. Potential methods to address these concerns include increasing on-call reimbursement rates and implementation of emergency department telemedicine services.
Impact of Variations in the Nursing Care Supply-Demand Ratio on Postoperative Outcomes and Costs
Authors: Agri Fabio , Grass Fabian , Kasmi Sophie , Demartines Nicolas , Schäfer Markus , Sauvain Marc-Olivier
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Improving surgical outcomes is a priority during the last decades because of the rising economic health care burden. The adoption of enhanced recovery programs has been proven to be part of the solution. In this context, the impact of variations in the nursing care supply-demand ratio on postoperative complications and its economic consequences is still not well elucidated. Because patients require different amounts of care, the present study focused on the more accurate relationship between demand and supply of nursing care rather than the nurse-to-patient ratio.

Methods

Through a 3-year period, 838 patients undergoing elective and emergent colorectal and pancreatic surgery within the institutional enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol were retrospectively investigated. Nursing demand and supply estimations were calculated using a validated program called the Projet de Recherche en Nursing (PRN), which assigns points to each patient according to the nursing care they need (estimated PRN) and the actual care they received (real PRN), respectively. The real/estimated PRN ratio was used to create 2 patient groups: one with a PRN ratio higher than the mean (PRN+) and a second with a PRN ratio below the mean (PRN−). These 2 groups were compared regarding their postoperative complication rates and cost-revenue characteristics.

Results

The mean PRN ratio was 0.81. A total of 710 patients (84.7%) had a PRN+ ratio, and 128 (15.3%) had a PRN− ratio. Multivariable analysis focusing on overall complications, severe complications, and prolonged length of stay revealed no significant impact of the PRN ratio for all outcomes (P > 0.2). The group PRN− had a mean margin per patient of U.S. dollars 1426 (95% confidence interval, 3 to 2903) compared with a margin of U.S. dollars 676 (95% confidence interval, −2213 to 3550) in the PRN+ group (P = 0.633).

Conclusions

A PRN ratio of 0.8 may be sufficient for patients treated following enhanced recovery after surgery guidelines, pending the adoption of an accurate nursing planning system. This may contribute to better allocation of nursing resources and optimization of expenses on the long run.
Experimental addition of marine-derived nutrients affects wildflower traits in a coastal meta-ecosystem
Authors: Dennert Allison M. , Elle E. , Reynolds John D.
Published: January 2023

Organismal movement can bring individuals, resources and novel interactions across ecosystem boundaries and into recipient habitats, thereby forming meta-ecosystems. For example, Pacific salmon ecosystems receive large marine-derived nitrogen subsidies during annual spawning events, which can have a wide range of effects on aquatic and terrestrial plant species and communities. In this study, we evaluate the effects of cross-ecosystem nutrient subsidies on terrestrial plant growth and reproduction. We conducted a large-scale field experiment with four treatments: (i) addition of a pink salmon (
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
) carcass, (ii) addition of the drift seaweed rockweed (
Fucus distichus
), (iii) addition of both salmon + rockweed, and (iv) a control. We examined treatment effects on leaf nitrogen and fitness-associated floral traits in four common estuarine wildflower species. We found elevated leaf ∂
15
N in all plant species and all sampling years in treatments with salmon carcass additions but did not observe any differences in leaf per cent nitrogen. We also observed larger leaf area in two species, a context-dependent increase in floral display area in two species, and a limited increase in plant seed set in response to both salmon carcass treatments. In sum, our study suggests that marine nutrients can affect terrestrial plant growth and reproduction.
Genetic evidence for widespread population size expansion in North American boreal birds prior to the Last Glacial Maximum
Authors: Kimmitt Abigail A. , Pegan Teresa M. , Jones Andrew W. , Wacker Kristen S. , Brennan Courtney L. , Hudon Jocelyn , Kirchman Jeremy J. , Ruegg Kristen , Benz Brett W. , Herman Rachael , Winger Benjamin M.
Published: January 2023

Pleistocene climate cycles are well documented to have shaped contemporary species distributions and genetic diversity. Northward range expansions in response to deglaciation following the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; approximately 21 000 years ago) are surmised to have led to population size expansions in terrestrial taxa and changes in seasonal migratory behaviour. Recent findings, however, suggest that some northern temperate populations may have been more stable than expected through the LGM. We modelled the demographic history of 19 co-distributed boreal-breeding North American bird species from full mitochondrial gene sets and species-specific molecular rates. We used these demographic reconstructions to test how species with different migratory strategies were affected by glacial cycles. Our results suggest that effective population sizes increased in response to Pleistocene deglaciation earlier than the LGM, whereas genetic diversity was maintained throughout the LGM despite shifts in geographical range. We conclude that glacial cycles prior to the LGM have most strongly shaped contemporary genetic diversity in these species. We did not find a relationship between historic population dynamics and migratory strategy, contributing to growing evidence that major switches in migratory strategy during the LGM are unnecessary to explain contemporary migratory patterns.
Type 1 Fuzzy Logic Classification of Pain Severity (Pain Assessment)
Authors: Bundalian Linnaeus T. , M. Pariño Rhendell John , Caldo Rionel B.
Published: January 2023

Fuzzy logic has given man a vast range of opportunities in different field of practice. Fuzzy logic applications are often used in automated systems, robotics and even in medicine. Medical applications of fuzzy logic has greatly improved some gray areas in medical practices especially when considering factors that has no direct unit of measurement to define its degree or magnitude and this includes pain assessment. Assessing pain has become a challenge for medical practitioners since the degree of its severity varies among people. There are number of tools to assess the severity of pain, but none of these have described a constant scale for each corresponding degree of severity. This paper applies the concepts of fuzzy logic in assessing the severity of pain. The goal of the study is to come up with a type 1 fuzzy logic classification of pain assessment in Excel VB macro program platform.
Mechanistic insights into the interactions between cancer drivers and the tumour immune microenvironment
Authors: Misetic Hrvoje , Keddar Mohamed Reda , Jeannon Jean-Pierre , Ciccarelli Francesca D.
Published: January 2023

The crosstalk between cancer and the tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) has attracted significant interest because of its impact on cancer evolution and response to treatment. Despite this, cancer-specific tumour-TIME interactions and their mechanisms of action are still poorly understood. Here we identified the interactions between cancer-specific genetic drivers and anti- or pro-tumour TIME features in individual samples of 32 cancer types. The resulting 477 TIME drivers are multifunctional genes whose alterations are selected early in cancer evolution and recur across and within cancer types. Moreover, the anti-tumour TIME driver burden is predictive of overall response to immunotherapy. Focusing on head and neck squamous cancer (HNSC), we rebuilt the functional networks linking specific TIME driver alterations to the TIME state. We showed that TIME driver alterations predict the immune profiles of HNSC molecular subtypes, and that deregulation of keratinization, apoptosis and interferon signalling underpin specific driver-TIME interactions. Overall, our study provides a comprehensive resource of TIME drivers giving mechanistic insights into their immune-regulatory role.
The Impact of Multiple Sequence Alignment Error on Phylogenetic Estimation under Variable-Across-Phylogeny Substitution Models
Authors: Doko Rei , Liu Kevin J.
Published: January 2023

In many different species, it has been observed that nucleotide compositions are not identical on the genic and even genomic scale. This observation contradicts a commonly held assumption in most maximum likelihood based phylogenetic estimation methods - that the process governing DNA evolution is identical across lineages. We show that when DNA evolution is nonhomogeneous, topological estimation and continuous parameter estimation are impacted both by alignment quality and model misspecification due to the homogeneity-across-lineages assumption.
Circadian rhythm disruption is associated with skeletal muscle dysfunction within the blind Mexican Cavefish
Authors: Olsen Luke , Krishnan Jaya , Banks Charles , Hassan Huzaifa , Rohner Nicolas
Published: January 2023

Circadian control of physiology and metabolism is pervasive throughout nature, with circadian disruption contributing to premature aging, neurodegenerative disease, and type 2 diabetes (Musiek et al. 2016; Panda, 2016). It has become increasingly clear that peripheral tissues, such as skeletal muscle, possess cell-autonomous clocks crucial for metabolic homeostasis (Gabriel et al. 2021). In fact, disruption of the skeletal muscle circadian rhythm results in insulin resistance, sarcomere disorganization, and muscle weakness in both vertebrates and non-vertebrates – indicating that maintenance of a functional muscle circadian rhythm provides an adaptive advantage. We and others have found that cavefish possess a disrupted central circadian rhythm and, interestingly, a skeletal muscle phenotype strikingly similar to circadian knock-out mutants; namely, muscle loss, muscle weakness, and insulin resistance (Olsen et al. 2022; Riddle et al. 2018; Mack et al. 2021). However, whether the cavefish muscle phenotype results from muscle-specific circadian disruption remains untested. To this point, we investigated genome-wide, circadian-regulated gene expression within the skeletal muscle of theAstyanax mexicanus– comprised of the river-dwelling surface fish and troglobitic cavefish – providing novel insights into the evolutionary consequence of circadian disruption on skeletal muscle physiology.
The role of accounting regulation on good news recognition and conditional conservatism: evidence from China’s 2006 accounting regulation
Authors: Barhamzaid Zuhair
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of accounting regulation (AR) on good news (GNs) recognition and conditional conservatism (CC), using the Chinese experiment in the 2006 AR.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study applies the Basu (1997) model to a sample of 26,755 firm-year observations from 1997 to 2017.

Findings

The study finds that GNs recognition is significantly reduced and becomes significantly less than bad news recognition under China’s 2006 AR, suggesting that CC is enhanced under China’s 2006 AR.

Research limitations/implications

This paper excludes the financial sector from the sample. Thus, generalizing results on the financial sector is not appropriate. In addition, the available literature on this topic is limited as it deals with convergence with IFRS, not the full adoption of IFRS.

Practical implications

The study findings are expected to benefit policymakers and accounting standard setters in controlling GNs recognition and CC as well.

Originality/value

Whereas prior studies on this topic report their results on CC only, without considering the role of AR on GNs recognition, this paper highlights the role of AR on both GNs recognition and CC as well.
Explicating the contextuality of corporate governance through ownership structure and family management: evidence from an emerging economy
Authors: Hasan Arshad , Riaz Zahid , Nakpodia Franklin
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the impact of family management and ownership structure, including foreign ownership and business group ownership, on corporate performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an agency perspective and a quantitative research methodology, this study examines listed firms in Pakistan from 2009 to 2018.

Findings

The results suggest that family management and concentrated leadership constrain, whereas family leadership, foreign ownership and group ownership strengthen monitoring effectiveness and corporate performance. These findings imply that the shareholder governance logic offers optimal solutions in an emerging economy, as relational governance may activate agency problems.

Originality/value

The findings are consistent with the relevance of relational governance mechanisms in the form of family leadership. However, the results suggest that emerging economies require a hybrid governance model to address their unique agency problems, thereby underlining context relevance in corporate governance scholarship. Furthermore, this research adopts a thick view of institutions to clarify institutional embeddedness and corporate governance contextuality in an emerging economy.
The impact of job insecurity on job burnout among hospitality employees during COVID-19 pandemic: the moderating role of supervisor and co-worker support
Authors: Chong Chin Ann , Ng Lee Peng , Chen I-Chi
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study evaluates the moderating role of work-based social supports (i.e. supervisor support and co-worker support) in the relationship between job insecurity and job burnout among hospitality employees in Malaysia. Besides, the direct effect between job insecurity and job burnout is examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The cross-sectional data of this study were based on a total of 220 self-administered questionnaires that have been completed by hospitality employees from three different states in Malaysia. Respondents were recruited based on a snowball sampling approach. The data were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was from October 2020 to January 2021.

Findings

Partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was performed via SmartPLS software. The finding confirmed that job insecurity significantly intensifies employees' job burnout. Supervisor support and co-worker support were found to moderate the link between job insecurity and burnout. As anticipated, the relationship between job insecurity and job burnout increased when supervisor support is low. But high co-worker support was found to strengthen the impact of job insecurity on job burnout instead of the reverse.

Originality/value

This study supplements the existing literature by clarifying which sources of work-based social support (i.e. co-worker support or supervisor) is more salient in alleviating the adverse impact of job insecurity on job burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic among hospitality employees in Malaysia.
Critical reflection on VUCA in tourism and hospitality marketing activities
Authors: Lubowiecki-Vikuk Adrian , Budzanowska-Drzewiecka Małgorzata , Borzyszkowski Jacek , Taheri Babak
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an interpretative synthesis and critical reflection on the concept of “volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity” (VUCA) and its implementation in tourism and hospitality marketing activities and explain why it is useful and necessary.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on a critical reflection research methodology which allows for a synthesis of data from the traditional narrative review and on the authors’ experiences and observations.

Findings

The volatile environments in which entities from the tourism and hospitality industry (T&HI) operate necessitate a redefinition of the rules for designing marketing activities. The VUCA concept may serve as the basis for these changes. Its implementation requires specific managerial skills enabling T&HI entities to use an agile marketing strategy. The latter should be based on a flexible and customer-centric approach.

Practical implications

This paper provides a VUCA framework for adapting marketing mix instruments to the rapidly changing hospitality and tourism industry. This paper also offers several useful guides for practitioners on different aspects of VUCA within the industry.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is one of the first attempts to reflect critically on the possibilities of using the VUCA concept in marketing by the T&HI and contributes to the discussion about the conditions for its implementation. This paper offers suggestions about the dynamic competencies of tourism and hospitality managers (enterprise and leader oriented), which are essential when designing marketing mix instruments in line with the VUCA concept, and indicates directions for future research.
Talent orchestration and boomerang talent: seasonally employed chefs’ evaluation of talent management practices
Authors: Magrizos Solon , Roumpi Dorothea , Rizomyliotis Ioannis
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The aim of this study is to shed light on the talent management practices in the unique context of seasonal work in professional kitchens. Acknowledging that in the context of seasonal work in the hospitality industry it is rather difficult to rely on mainstream strategic talent management practices (e.g. training and development), the authors draw on resource orchestration, an extension of the resource-based view and propose a conceptual model of talent management tactics that could potentially increase seasonal employees’ likelihood of returning to the same employer.

Design/methodology/approach

Given the uniqueness of the context of this study and the dearth of prior relevant research, this study uses a grounded theory approach. Specifically, this study analyses and draws conclusions from 25 interviews with employees in commercial kitchens.

Findings

This study develops a “talent orchestration model”, which places emphasis on management of talented employees across three dimensions: structuring, leveraging and developing talent.

Research limitations/implications

Extant literature in human capital management focusses mostly on the development of human capital, but the results place more emphasis on using or leveraging human capital.

Originality/value

This study moves beyond the well-researched context of hotels and focusses on talent management behind closed doors as in the case of kitchen chefs and, drawing on resource orchestration, this study further examines talent management practices with shorter time frame targeted on seasonal employees.
A sustainable solution for lean barriers through a fuzzy DEMATEL methodology with a case study from the Indian manufacturing industry
Authors: Mohapatra Biswajit , Tripathy Sushanta , Singhal Deepak
Published: January 2023

Purpose

As the COVID-19 epidemic ravages the world in the fourth industrial revolution era, the manufacturing sector faces its worst situation in a century. Lean philosophy, renowned as a “warrior philosophy,” can be an able rescuer to these industries. This study aims to identify the hurdles to lean strategy implementation and conduct an analysis to provide cognizance to policymakers, practitioners and decision-makers.

Design/methodology/approach

This study aims to identify the obstacles that obstruct lean implementation into seven primary barriers/components, with the fuzzy DEMATEL approach being used to evaluate the critical factors as well as the cause and effect factors among them. Expert opinions are sought to obtain the relevant data for evaluation purposes.

Findings

The results reveal that a firm should focus on firm cultural conflict scenario, resources–responses incapability, improve on suppliers’ attitude and execute a proper planning and logistics equation to alleviate the hindrances of implementing lean. As these causal factors influence the effect factors, namely, top management vision, management–employee relationship and human resource building, focusing on them automatically improves the effect factors; thus, the surge to overcome resistance to lean implementation is alleviated.

Practical implications

This research aids in identifying and analyzing lean implementation issues in the manufacturing and industrial sectors. The observations, results and insights drawn can act as a guiding force to rupture the resistance envelope covering the domain of lean implementation and possibly reinstating industries to survive and excel in the business post-COVID era.

Originality/value

This research introduces barriers to lean implementation in a unique way, as it articulates all sections of an industry and group the barriers based on the classification. It further prioritizes the barriers for their importance in the Indian industrial scenario. This would help the industry professionals and managers access the barriers and generate insight on how and where to start implementing lean.
Entrepreneurial intentions of progressive farmers: the influence of innovativeness, risk-taking and proactiveness
Authors: Lone Aashiq Hussain , Baba Irfana Rashid
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Progress in agriculture significantly relies on the adoption of innovative farm practices by farmers. Being proactive and risk-taking catalyses this innovativeness. Progressive farmers in general are proving to be effective in developing their farms along entrepreneurial lines. The paper aims to examine the relationship between the entrepreneurial traits of risk-taking, proactiveness, innovativeness and entrepreneurial intention (EI) of progressive farmers in Kashmir.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research approach was used to evaluate how innovativeness, risk-taking and proactiveness affect EI. The data was collected from registered progressive farmers using a structured questionnaire via both online and offline means. 203 useable responses were received. The data was then analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The results reveal that progressive farmers' EI is influenced by innovativeness, risk-taking and proactiveness. As hypothesized, a significant and positive relationship was found between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) traits of risk-taking, proactiveness and innovativeness and EI.

Research limitations/implications

The study adds to the existing body of knowledge on agri-entrepreneurship by conceptualizing EO traits influencing EI of progressive farmers and offering insightful advice to policymakers on how to improve progressive farmers' entrepreneurial abilities and in turn convert their EI into agro venture establishment in Kashmir.

Originality/value

This study makes advancements in the field of farming-related EO by examining the EI of progressive farmers. This study covers a knowledge gap as there aren't many empirical studies on agricultural entrepreneurship that concentrate on the EO of progressive farmers and how it influences the EI in general in India and the Kashmir valley in particular.
Humor usage by sellers: effects of aggressive and constructive humor types on perceptions of Machiavellianism and relational outcomes
Authors: Bompar Laurent , Lunardo Renaud , Saintives Camille , Brion Reynald
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the distinct effects of aggressive and constructive humor on perceptions of Machiavellianism, relationship quality and willingness-to-switch (WTS).

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis includes a first replication study with 138 business-to-business buyers and a second study with 175 business-to-business buyers that aims to test the theoretical model. The Process macro is used to test the study’s hypotheses.

Findings

Results indicate that aggressive and constructive humor types have distinct effects on relationship quality and subsequent buyers’ WTS. Specifically, and contrary to constructive humor, aggressive humor from sellers increases buyers’ perceptions of Machiavellianism, which reveals detrimental to relationship quality and subsequently increases buyers’ WTS.

Research limitations/implications

Although the results about the effects of humor on relationship quality were obtained from actual buyers and consistent across the two studies, they were obtained from two cross-sectional designs, which limits the causality of the effects being observed.

Practical implications

Sellers may benefit from getting deep understanding of how usage humor may impact their relationship with buyers. In particular, this research makes clear for sellers that as long as the type of humor that they use when dealing with a buyer is constructive, no negative outcome might emerge. However, if the humor is aggressive, then the stereotype of Machiavellianism might emerge, leading to lower relationship quality and an increase in WTS from the buyer.

Originality/value

While research on humor as a communication technique for sellers has increased lately, to the best of the authors’ knowledge this research is the first to examine the effects of the distinct types of aggressive and constructive humor and to provide empirical evidence for the different effects of these two types of humor. This research also contributes to the literature on stereotypes associated with sellers, by presenting insights into how the negative stereotype of Machiavellianism is prompted by the use of aggressive humor.