bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing the impacts of absorptive capacity on interorganizational collaboration in BIM-enabled construction projects – an SLT perspective
Authors: Zhang Lei , Yuan Jingfeng , Ning Yan , Xia Nini , Zhang Guodong
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This study employs situated learning theory to elucidate the mechanisms of interorganizational collaboration by analyzing the relationships among absorptive capacity, institutional compensation, task cognitive integration and interorganizational collaboration in BIM-enabled construction projects.

Design/methodology/approach

An online questionnaire survey was conducted with managers and professionals involved in building information modeling (BIM-) enabled construction projects, and 220 valid responses were received. Data were analyzed by means of the linear regression models and bootstrap method.

Findings

The results show that (1) absorptive capacity, institutional compensation and task cognitive integration have a positive impact on interorganizational collaboration; (2) institutional compensation partially mediates the effect of absorptive capacity on interorganizational collaboration; (3) task cognitive integration fully mediates the effect of absorptive capacity on interorganizational collaboration; (4) institutional compensation and task cognitive integration serially and fully mediate the relationship between absorptive capacity and interorganizational collaboration and (5) the serial mediating model has a greater indirect effect than the other two models considered in this study.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the body of knowledge by demonstrating the way to break through the three types of organizational boundaries (i.e. syntactic, semantic and pragmatic organizational boundaries) and provide an internal collaborative mechanism from the perspective of situated learning theory. This study presents the critical effects of absorptive capacity, institutional compensation and task cognitive integration on interorganizational collaboration, selects the enhanced mediating model for explaining the effects of absorptive capacity on interorganizational collaboration and enables managers to update the traditional collaborative model in BIM-enabled construction projects.
When value- and experience-related trade promotions influence retailers’ sales: the moderating role of retail format strategy and channel structure
Authors: Claro Danny , Vieira Valter Afonso , Agnihotri Raj , Serer Rafael
Published: September 2021

Purpose

As manufacturers and retailers aim to increase return on marketing investments, value-vsexperience-related trade promotions gain attention. These two trade promotions become complicated in the presence of different retail format strategies (generalistvsspecialist) and channel structures (direct to retailervsdistributors). Building on trade promotion literature, this study aims to show the main effect of value-related and experience-related trade promotions on retailers’ sales and the moderating role of different retail strategies and channel structures.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use unique panel data from 8 personal care brands with 1,920 observations to test the hypotheses. The authors investigate how consumer goods manufacturer sells products using different channels structures and retail strategies. Estimated panel regressions provide the empirical evidence and robustness analyzes provide extra confidence to the findings.

Findings

Results reveal higher retail sales when the manufacturer invests in value-related trade promotions rather than experience-related trade promotions. The results also demonstrate how the manufacturer successfully invests in trade promotion by adequately accounting for channel structure and retail strategy. While temporary price reduction’s positive effect on retail sales is enhanced in generalist retailers (e.g. supermarket stores), shelf display’s positive impact is enhanced in specialist retailers (drug stores).

Research limitations/implications

The authors used unique panel data accounting for 15 months, limiting the findings. The results supported the investment allocation decisions in each period. However, future research may evaluate the effectiveness over a longer period and thoroughly address each investment’s seasonal effects.

Practical implications

The authors unveil how retailers achieve higher sales with value-related trade promotions when compared to experience-related trade promotions. The authors also shed light on the way manufacturers design their relationships with generalist and specialist retailers by working in direct and indirect channels. Trade promotions yield better results when the direct channel structure couples with a retailer’s generalist strategy.

Originality/value

The empirical findings help manufacturers achieve success in trade promotions by developing an equitable evaluation to contrast value- and experience-related promotions accounting for generalist and specialist retail strategies and direct and indirect channels.
Evaluating hospitality employees' various relationships and the effects on organizational commitment
Authors: Bae Stephanie
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how various relationships an employee builds within the organization affect their willingness to stay with the company. Specific research objective was to examine impact of social exchange on organizational commitment in the hospitality industry.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey using Qualtrics' panel database was used to collect data. The target was full-time employees in the hospitality industry. A total of 245 surveys were collected and used for data analysis. The results were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Results of hypotheses testing showed that internal service quality and perceived organizational support have positive relationships with organizational commitment.

Originality/value

These findings can help hospitality managers develop programs and interact with employees in order to increase commitment and a sense of belonging with the company.
University students involved in a sustainable world: assessing sustainable consumption in Spain
Authors: Margaça Clara , Hernández Sánchez Brizeida , Sánchez-García José Carlos
Published: September 2021

Purpose

To achieve sustainable development to protect the environment and society, an increasing number of scholars have conducted in-depth research on sustainable and responsible consumption behaviors. The outputs demonstrate that consumers are increasingly concerned and aware of the issues associated with the excessive use of resources. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the validity and reliability of the Sustainable Consumption Scale (SC-S) in the Spanish context.

Design/methodology/approach

The adaptation of SC-S to Spanish was carried out in accordance with international methodological standards. The Spanish version of this scale was applied empirically to the research sample was composed of 962 university students (49.1% male and 50.9% female) from 54 Universities in 15 regions of Spain that participated in the study.

Findings

The analyses carried out to verify the psychometric properties retained 16 items from the original proposal, grouped equally in three factors: Cognitive – six items; Affective – seven items; and Conative – four items. The scale presented adequate adjustment indexes, as well as optimal values of the different measures of reliability, recommended by the literature.

Originality/value

This instrument can be used by the Spanish academic community, which will contribute to the assessment and prediction regarding a sustainable consumption attitude. From these screenings, it will be also possible to understand the impact and development of the objectives outlined by Agenda 2030.
“Bio to bits”: the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) as a metaphor for Big Data ecosystem assessment
Authors: Ghazinoory Sepehr , Nasri Shohreh , Dastranj Roya , Sarkissian Alfred
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Big Data (BD) is not only a quintessential part of many economic activities but also has evolved into a veritable business ecosystem. However, most Big Data ecosystem (BDE) models have a technical, bottom-up focus and mostly lack the capability for a broad socioeconomic analysis. This paper identifies the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) as a useful, operational framework and uses a metaphorical analogy to adapt it for the BDE. The top-down approach adopted here allows for seeing the big picture of the BD ecosystem. Meeting “end-user needs” is the main objective of the proposed BDE framework.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology of this paper consists of two parts. First, the MA is adapted for the BDE through a metaphorical analogy. Then, to operationalize and validate the proposed framework, it is applied to an emerging BD ecosystem.

Findings

In total, four types of services are offered in the BD ecosystem: provisioning information and products; regulating; cultural and supporting services. Direct and indirect drivers of change impact ecosystem processes such as BD service provision. Based on the assessment results, interventions can be devised to remedy problems, sustain the ecosystem or accelerate growth. The proposed BDE assessment framework is applied to an emerging BDE as an example of operationalization and validation of the proposed BDE framework.

Originality/value

The strengths of the proposed BDE framework is that, in contrast to existing frameworks that are technical and bottom-up, it is constructed top-down by a metaphorical analogy from the proven MA framework. It is a generic framework with the ultimate objective of meeting the “end-user needs” and does not focus on a single sector or firm. Also, the proposed BDE framework is multi-faceted and considers broad socioeconomic issues such as regulating, cultural and supporting services and drivers of change.
Sustainability reporting or integrated reporting: which one is valuable for investors?
Authors: Permatasari Ika , Narsa I Made
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This research is motivated by the development of dialogue and debate regarding company reporting in the form of sustainability reporting (SR) – which is separate from the annual report (AR) – or integrated reporting (IR). Research into SR and IR is still fascinating, and this study addresses the debate about them. This study aims to examine which of the two reports is more valuable for investors, and also examine whether IR has value relevance because the information in the IR could reinforce the importance of the accounting information.

Design/methodology/approach

As with previous studies, we adopted a valuation approach – the Ohlson model – to assess the value relevance of non-financial information (in the form of SR/IR) and financial information. As a preliminary study, we used non-financial information as a binary variable, i.e. a group of companies that issue sustainability reports and a group of companies that issue integrated reports. Therefore, they complement and interact with the financial statements’ information. This paper used panel data consisting of 931 firm-years of SR issuers and 922 firm-years of IR issuers in Europe and Africa in the period from 2005 to 2019.

Findings

The results showed that SR had a higher value relevance than IR. However, when the authors interact the corporate reporting form with the accounting information, IR had value relevance because the information contained in the IR could reinforce the importance of the accounting information.

Practical implications

This study will support regulators in various countries to monitor the reporting practices of companies in those countries. The results of this study provide evidence that sustainability reports get a higher response than integrated reports. However, when interacted with the accounting variables, information in the IR is considered to be more relevant than that found in the SR. Therefore, it is hoped that the results of this study will help the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) in reviewing IR practices around the world so that the implementation of IR practices can be realized in accordance with the mission that the IIRC wants to achieve.

Originality/value

Research into the value relevance of SR and IR has been carried out by several previous researchers separately, but to the best of the author’s knowledge, there are no studies comparing the value relevance of the two.
Social welfare and bank performance: evidence from a stochastic neural hybrid MCDM approach
Authors: Maredza Andrew , Wanke Peter , Antunes Jorge , Pimenta Roberto , Tan Yong
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper investigates the endogenous relationships between banking performance and social welfare in Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive three-stage multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) approach based on alternative informational assumptions is applied.

Findings

Results indicate that banking performance is paradoxically associated with stagnant economic activity and higher wealth concentration for the minority. The authors found that SADC banking performance promotes higher Human Development Index (HDI) standards possibly via efficient financial intermediation, dissemination of best managerial practices and other forms of positive spillovers in these countries.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the MCDM literature by simultaneously exploring the key concepts of “utility functions” (using COPRAS) and “distance to ideal solutions” (using TOPSIS) in mapping and explaining the feedback and cause-effect processes between banking performance and social welfare that may exist. Another distinctive aspect is related to the computation of bias-free criteria weights, using a robust SWARA order-rank based on information entropy. Finally, this paper is concerning the endogeneity measurement, using a novel stochastic structural relationship non-linear programme.
Linear optimal weighting estimator (LOWE) for efficient parallel hybridization of load forecasts
Authors: Chahkotahi Fatemeh , Khashei Mehdi
Published: September 2021

Purpose

Improving the accuracy and reducing computational costs of predictions, especially the prediction of time series, is one of the most critical parts of the decision-making processes and management in different areas and organizations. One of the best solutions to achieve high accuracy and low computational costs in time series forecasting is to develop and use efficient hybrid methods. Among the combined methods, parallel hybrid approaches are more welcomed by scholars and often have better performance than sequence ones. However, the necessary condition of using parallel combinational approaches is to estimate the appropriate weight of components. This weighting stage of parallel hybrid models is the most effective factor in forecasting accuracy as well as computational costs. In the literature, meta-heuristic algorithms have often been applied to weight components of parallel hybrid models. However, such that algorithms, despite all unique advantages, have two serious disadvantages of local optima and iterative time-consuming optimization processes. The purpose of this paper is to develop a linear optimal weighting estimator (LOWE) algorithm for finding the desired weight of components in the global non-iterative universal manner.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, a LOWE algorithm is developed to find the desired weight of components in the global non-iterative universal manner.

Findings

Empirical results indicate that the accuracy of the LOWE-based parallel hybrid model is significantly better than meta-heuristic and simple average (SA) based models. The proposed weighting approach can improve 13/96%, 11/64%, 9/35%, 25/05% the performance of the differential evolution (DE), genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO) and SA-based parallel hybrid models in electricity load forecasting. While, its computational costs are considerably lower than GA, PSO and DE-based parallel hybrid models. Therefore, it can be considered as an appropriate and effective alternative weighing technique for efficient parallel hybridization for time series forecasting.

Originality/value

In this paper, a LOWE algorithm is developed to find the desired weight of components in the global non-iterative universal manner. Although it can be generally demonstrated that the performance of the proposed weighting technique will not be worse than the meta-heuristic algorithm, its performance is also practically evaluated in real-world data sets.
Consumers’ decision-making self-efficacy for service purchases: construct conceptualization and scale
Authors: Hale Dena , Thakur Ramendra , Riggs John , Altobello Suzanne
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a scale to determine the consumer’s level of decision-making self-efficacy for a high-involved service purchase, specifically the purchase of medical insurance. One question to ask is how service providers can help consumers purchase the services that best meet their needs? Before interventions can occur, it is necessary to benchmark consumers’ perceptions of their own decision-making control and abilities.

Design/methodology/approach

A scale that measures consumers’ service decision-making self-efficacy was developed using the principles established for scale development validation. A four-study approach was used to reach the research objective.

Findings

The research consisted of four studies designed to: generate items to measure consumer service decision-making self-efficacy (CSDMSE); purify the scale and assess its dimensionality (second-order structure); establish the reliability and validity of the scale; and establish norms to provide details on its usefulness for aiding consumers with service purchases. The scale was found to be a higher-order construct, comprising three lower-order constructs.

Originality/value

Research suggests that consumer self-efficacy may affect their decision-making. The greater the consumer’s self-efficacy for decision-making tasks, the more efficient the decision-making process strategies are expected to be. This is the purpose for which the CSDMSE scale measure was created: to understand how, where and when service professionals can assist consumers with making appropriate service-related decisions and purchases.
Computer‐aided selective production of low-resistance NiP and NiCuP layers
Authors: Kowalik Piotr , Wróbel Edyta
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to present the possibility of computer-aided technology of chemical metallization for the production of electrodes and resistors based on Ni-P and Ni-Cu-P layers.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the calculated parameters of the process, test structures were made on an alumina substrate using the selective metallization method. Dependences of the surface resistance on the metallization time were made. These dependencies take into account the comparison of the calculations with the performed experiment.

Findings

The author created a convenient and easy-to-use tool for calculating basic Ni-P and Ni-Cu-P layer parameters, namely, surface resistance and temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of test resistor, based on chemical metallization parameters. The values are calculated for a given level of surface resistance of Ni-P and Ni-Cu-P layer and defined required range of changes of TCR of test resistor. The calculations are possible for surface resistance values in the range of 0.4 Ohm/square ÷ 2.5 Ohm/square. As a result of the experiment, surface resistances were obtained that practically coincide with the calculations made with the use of the program created by the authors. The quality of the structures made is very good.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the paper presents a new, unpublished method of manufacturing electrodes (resistors) on silicon, Al2O3 and low temperature co-fired ceramic substrates based on the authors developed computer program.
Possibilities for assessing authentic leadership competencies: testing existing instruments and proposing an extended one
Authors: Meerits Artur , Kivipõld Kurmet , Akuffo Isaac Nana
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: to test existing Authentic Leadership (AL) instruments simultaneously in the same environment, and based on these, to propose an extended instrument for the assessment of AL intrapersonal and interpersonal competencies.

Design/methodology/approach

Three existing instruments of AL – Authentic Leadership Questionnaire (ALQ) (Walumbwa et al., 2008), Authentic Leadership Inventory (ALI) (Neider and Schriesheim, 2011) and the Three Pillar Model (TPM) (Beddoes-Jones and Swailes, 2015) – were tested, and an extended instrument was proposed based on the results. Two different samples were used – a homogeneous sample (N = 1021) from the military and a heterogeneous sample (N = 547) from retail, catering, public services and logistics industries. Construct validity for the instruments was assessed using a confirmatory factor analysis, and the internal consistency of the factors was analysed using Cronbach’s alpha.

Findings

From existing instruments, two out of three indicate issues with internal factor consistency and model fit. The internal consistency of factors and model fit of the extended instrument developed here is satisfactory and suitable for assessing authentic leadership competencies in a single organisation or industry.

Originality/value

This paper sees AL as the behaviour of leaders affected by leadership competencies. Three existing AL instruments were tested alongside a proposed extended instrument to assess AL intrapersonal and interpersonal competencies in the same context.
Attempt of thyX gene silencing and construction of a thyX deleted clone in a Mycobacterium bovis BCG
Authors: Arimura Yuki , Minato Yusuke , Wada Takayuki , Nakayama Masaaki , Ryumon Ayako , Hirata Nao , Nakajima Chie , Suzuki Yasuhiko , Ato Manabu , Kobayashi Kazuo , Ohara Naoko , Iida Seiji , Ohara Naoya
Published: September 2021

Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis, possess flavin‐dependent thymidylate synthase, ThyX. Since thyX is absent in humans and was shown to be essential for M. tuberculosis normal growth, ThyX is thought to be an attractive novel TB drug target. This study assessed thyX essentiality in Mycobacterium bovis BCG strains using CRISPR interference based gene silencing and found that thyX is not essential in an M. bovis BCG Tokyo derivative strain. A thyX deletion mutant strain was successfully constructed from that strain, which reinforces the non‐essentiality of thyX under a certain genetic background.
Combatting plant diseases with ant chemicals: A review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Offenberg Joachim , Jensen Ida Cecilie , Hansen Rikke Reisner
Published: September 2021

Plant diseases are a growing threat to plant production and food security. An accumulating number of studies show that ants and their bacterial symbionts produce antibiotics that are potentially effective against plant pathogens.

From 14 publications covering 246 ant antibiotic‐pathogen combinations, we evaluated the effectiveness of ant‐derived chemicals (produced by ants or their microbiomes) in combatting plant pathogens. In a meta‐analysis, we quantified the effect of ant chemicals on plant pathogens and compared it with the effect on other micro‐organisms.

Twenty‐two ant secretions and 30 ant symbionts inhibited 20 and 10 plant pathogens, respectively, including major plant diseases and resistant strains. Ant‐derived antibiotics showed broad‐spectrum effects. Ant chemicals were antagonistic to plant pathogens in 93% of all tested combinations and microbiomes in 19%. All tested ant species contained antagonistic ant chemicals, and 10 of the 12 examined ant microbiomes contained at least one antagonistic symbiont. Ant chemicals had an overall negative effect on micro‐organisms and were more detrimental to plant pathogens compared to other micro‐organisms.

Policy implications. By showing that ant‐derived antibiotics inhibit a wide range of economically important plant pathogens, we emphasize the potential of ant chemicals and live ants to protect plants. We recommend attention to this topic and provide recommendations for future research and management directions that may facilitate a new path in the development of efficient and sustainable plant protection.
Gut region induces gastrointestinal microbiota community shift in Ujimqin sheep (Ovis aries): from a multi‐domain perspective
Authors: Yang Jie , Yu Zhisheng , Wang Bobo , Ndayisenga Fabrice
Published: September 2021

Gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota is one of the most complicated microbial ecosystems and is vital in regulating biological processes associated with nutrient absorption and homeostatic maintenance. Although several efforts have been achieved in characterizing bacterial communities across gut regions, the variation of non‐bacterial communities across GI tracts is still largely unexplored. To address this, we investigated microbial biogeography throughout the whole GI tracts of Ujimqin sheep (Ovis aries) by amplicon sequencing which targeted bacteria, fungi, and archaea. The results indicated that the community structures of all three domains were significantly distinguished according to GI tracts (stomach, small intestine, and large intestine), and a more strong and efficient species interaction was detected in small intestine based on cross‐domain network analysis. Moreover, a between‐domain difference in microbial assembly mechanism of among‐GI regions was revealed here, wherein bacterial community is dominantly governed by variable selection (explaining ~62% of taxa turnover), while fungal and archaeal communities mainly governed by homogenizing dispersal (explaining ~49% and 60% of the turnover, respectively). Overall, these data highlight the GI section‐ and domain‐dependence of GI microbial structure and assembly mechanism, suggesting that multi‐domain should be explicitly considered when evaluating the influences of GI selection on gut microbial communities.
The Great Chester Cat Hoax: Creating an Urban Legend in the Anglosphere Press, 1815–1955
Authors: SMITH CHRISTOPHER
Published: September 2021

In 1815 a cat hoax rocked Chester. Someone plastered the city with handbills offering to buy cats. Hundreds of cats were rounded up and delivered, yet there was no buyer to be found. In the resulting chaos, people were injured, and hundreds of cats were drowned. This story was widely reported at the time up and down Britain. Soon enough it was also told in newspapers and compendia of trivia across the anglosphere. Yet, the Great Chester Cat Hoax never happened; it was a journalistic invention which rapidly transformed into a widely believed urban legend. This did not, however, prevent copycat hoaxes from materialising as pranksters imitated the story, first in the British Isles and then later in North America. The press were instrumental in the evolution and spread of cat hoaxes, and pranksters soon utilised newspaper adverts to engineer new hoaxes. Press coverage of cat hoaxes also evolved, reflecting the changing role of the cat in urban society and emergent anti‐cruelty concerns. Finally, the article shows that the meaning of the hoax was tied to ideas regarding ignorance rooted in anti‐Hibernian attitudes, as well as gendered and working‐class stereotypes.
Associations between ethnicity and admission to intensive care among women giving birth: a cohort study
Authors: Jardine J , Gurol‐Urganci I , Harris T , Hawdon J , Pasupathy D , van der Meulen J , Walker K ,   the NMPA project team
Published: September 2021

Objective

To determine the association between ethnic group and likelihood of admission to intensive care in pregnancy and the postnatal period.

Design

Cohort study.

Setting

Maternity and intensive care units in England and Wales.

Population or sample

A total of 631 851 women who had a record of a registerable birth between 1 April 2015 and 31 March 2016 in a database used for national audit.

Methods

Logistic regression analyses of linked maternity and intensive care records, with multiple imputation to account for missing data.

Main outcome measures

Admission to intensive care in pregnancy or postnatal period to 6 weeks after birth.

Results

In all, 2.24 per 1000 maternities were associated with intensive care admission. Black women were more than twice as likely as women from other ethnic groups to be admitted (odds ratio [OR] 2.21, 95% CI 1.82–2.68). This association was only partially explained by demographic, lifestyle, pregnancy and birth factors (adjusted OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.37–2.09). A higher proportion of intensive care admissions in Black women were for obstetric haemorrhage than in women from other ethnic groups.

Conclusions

Black women have an increased risk of intensive care admission that cannot be explained by demographic, health, lifestyle, pregnancy and birth factors. Clinical and policy intervention should focus on the early identification and management of severe illness, particularly obstetric haemorrhage, in Black women, in order to reduce inequalities in intensive care admission.

Tweetable abstract

Black women are almost twice as likely as White women to be admitted to intensive care during pregnancy and the postpartum period; this risk remains after accounting for demographic, health, lifestyle, pregnancy and birth factors.
Negative cross‐resistance of a pyrethroid‐resistant Drosophila mutant to Phryma leptostachya‐derived haedoxan A
Authors: Qie Xingtao , Du Yuzhe , Aioub Ahmed A.A. , Dong Ke , Hu Zhaonong
Published: September 2021

Voltage‐gated sodium channels are the primary target of pyrethroid insecticides. Mutations in sodium channel confer knockdown resistance (kdr) to pyrethroids in various arthropod pests. Haedoxan A (HA) is the major insecticidal component from Phryma leptostachya. It has been shown that HA alters electrical responses at the Drosophila neuromuscular junction and modifies the gating properties of cockroach sodium channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes. However, whether sodium channel mutations that confer pyrethroid resistance also affect the action of HA is unknown. In this study, we conducted bioassays using HA and permethrin in two Drosophila melanogaster strains: w1118, an insecticide‐susceptible strain, and parats1, a pyrethroid‐resistant strain due to a I265N mutation in the sodium channel, and identified a new case of negative cross‐resistance (NCR) between permethrin and HA. Both parats1 larvae and adults were more resistant to permethrin, as expected. However, both parats1 larvae and adults were more sensitive to HA compared to w1118. We confirmed that the I265N mutation reduced the sensitivity to permethrin of a Drosophila sodium channel variant, DmNav22, expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Interestingly, the I265N mutation also abolished the effect of HA on sodium channels. Further characterization showed that I265 on the sodium channels is critical for the action of both pyrethroids and HA on sodium channels, pointing to an overlapping mode of action between pyrethroids and HA on the sodium channel. Overall, our results suggest an I265N‐independnt mechanism(s) in parats1 flies that is responsible for the NCR between permethrin and HA at the whole insect level.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors for first‐line treatment of advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer: A systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Peng Tzu‐Rong , Lin Hung‐Hong , Tsai Fang‐Pei , Wu Ta‐Wei
Published: September 2021

Objective

Currently, several immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) treatment for advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have been investigated; their overall efficacy and safety remain unclear.

Methods

We searched electronic databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared ICIs with or without chemotherapy to chemotherapy in advanced NSCLC. We collected and compaired thier parameters, including overall survival (OS), progression‐free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and treatment‐related adverse events (TRAEs) of grade ≥3.

Results

A total of 15 RCTs involving 8869 patients with NSCLC were included. Pembrolizumab plus platinum‐based chemotherapy had higher OS and PFS than platinum‐based chemotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] 0.55, 95% CI 0.46–0.67; HR 0.54, 95% CI 0.41–0.70, respectively). Pembrolizumab plus platinum‐based chemotherapy had higher ranked ORR than platinum‐based chemotherapy (odds ratio [OR] 2.92, 95% CI 1.99–4.22). In terms of OS, atezolizumab, pembrolizumab plus platinum‐based chemotherapy, and nivolumab plus ipilimumab ranked as the best treatments for patients with programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) expression levels of ≥50%, 1–49%, and <1%, respectively. In terms of PFS, pembrolizumab plus platinum‐based chemotherapy ranked as the best treatment for patients with any PD‐L1 expression levels. However, ipilimumab plus platinum‐based chemotherapy, nivolumab plus platinum‐based chemotherapy, and atezolizumab plus platinum‐based chemotherapy have higher TRAEs of grade ≥3 than platinum‐based chemotherapy.

Conclusions

Pembrolizumab plus platinum‐based chemotherapy prevailed in rank in OS, PFS, and ORR benefit. The TRAEs of pembrolizumab plus platinum‐based chemotherapy were more than ICI monotherapy and chemotherapy.
Epigenetic treatment of behavioral and physiological deficits in a tauopathy mouse model
Authors: Wang Wei , Cao Qing , Tan Tao , Yang Fengwei , Williams Jamal B. , Yan Zhen
Published: September 2021

Epigenetic abnormality is implicated in neurodegenerative diseases associated with cognitive deficits, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). A common feature of AD is the accumulation of neurofibrillary tangles composed of hyperphosphorylated tau. Transgenic mice expressing mutant P301S human tau protein develop AD‐like progressive tau pathology and cognitive impairment. Here, we show that the euchromatic histone‐lysine N‐methyltransferase 2 (EHMT2) is significantly elevated in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of P301S Tau mice (5–7 months old), leading to the increased repressive histone mark, H3K9me2, which is reversed by treatment with the selective EHMT inhibitor UNC0642. Behavioral assays show that UNC0642 treatment induces the robust rescue of spatial and recognition memory deficits in P301S Tau mice. Concomitantly, the diminished PFC neuronal excitability and glutamatergic synaptic transmission in P301S Tau mice are also normalized by UNC0642 treatment. In addition, EHMT inhibition dramatically attenuates the hyperphosphorylated tau level in PFC of P301S Tau mice. Transcriptomic analysis reveals that UNC0642 treatment of P301S Tau mice has normalized a number of dysregulated genes in PFC, which are enriched in cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix organization, ion channels and transporters, receptor signaling, and stress responses. Together, these data suggest that targeting histone methylation enzymes to adjust gene expression could be used to treat cognitive and synaptic deficits in neurodegenerative diseases linked to tauopathies.
The state in Chinese economic history
Authors: Qian Jiwei , Sng Tuan‐Hwee
Published: September 2021

We survey the recent economics and history literature on the Chinese state to investigate its role in China's long‐term socioeconomic development. We highlight three insights. First, unlike in Europe, where interstate competition helped give rise to capitalist states with high capacity, the Chinese state emerged from a different historical context. Second, the 18th‐ and 19th‐century Chinese state does not fit into the mould of a strong and extractive Oriental despotic state as once commonly believed. By conventional measures, early modern China had a weak state. Third, state building and centre‐local relations are two useful dimensions to understand development and change in China's recent history and political economy. To adapt China to a changing world, Chinese state builders embarked on a long process of state building from the late‐19th century through the Republican and Communist eras. Facilitated partly by regional decentralisation, the process now sees the Chinese state playing a substantially larger role in the economy and everyday life than any previous time in history.
Management of haematoma after thyroid surgery: systematic review and multidisciplinary consensus guidelines from the Difficult Airway Society, the British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons and the British Association of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
Authors: Iliff H. A. , El‐Boghdadly K. , Ahmad I. , Davis J. , Harris A. , Khan S. , Lan‐Pak‐Kee V. , O’Connor J. , Powell L. , Rees G. , Tatla T. S.
Published: September 2021

Haematoma after thyroid surgery can lead to airway obstruction and death. We therefore developed guidelines to improve the safety of peri‐operative care of patients undergoing thyroid surgery. We conducted a systematic review to inform recommendations, with expert consensus used in the absence of high‐quality evidence, and a Delphi study was used to ratify recommendations. We highlight the importance of multidisciplinary team management and make recommendations in key areas including: monitoring; recognition; post‐thyroid surgery emergency box; management of suspected haematoma following thyroid surgery; cognitive aids; post‐haematoma evacuation care; day‐case thyroid surgery; training; consent and pre‐operative communication; postoperative communication; and institutional policies. The guidelines support a multidisciplinary approach to the management of suspected haematoma following thyroid surgery through oxygenation and evaluation; haematoma evacuation; and tracheal intubation. They have been produced with materials to support implementation. While these guidelines are specific to thyroid surgery, the principles may apply to other forms of neck surgery. These guidelines and recommendations provided are the first in this area and it is hoped they will support multidisciplinary team working, improving care and outcomes for patients having thyroid surgery.
Can time to menopause be predicted?
Authors: Tanbo Tom G. , Fedorcsak Peter Z.
Published: September 2021

Menopause represents the definite end of a woman’s reproductive life and the onset of a persistent hypoestrogenic state. This postmenopausal period will for most women last several decades. Although mean menopausal age seems to have increased somewhat during the last century, there is a significant individual variation in age at natural menopause. With efficient contraception, women of reproductive age can now, to some extent, choose when they want to have children. As a consequence of this and other sociodemographic changes, age at first birth has increased significantly over the last 50 years. It is well documented that long before a woman enters the menopausal transition and subsequent menopause, fertility declines and finally ceases. Being able to predict when a woman will enter menopause would therefore, from a reproductive perspective, be of major interest. Several sociodemographic, morphometric, and endocrine factors are associated with age at menopause or time to menopause. Unfortunately the sensitivity and specificity of these in predicting time to or age at menopause are low. Therefore, with the exception of anti‐Müllerian hormone measurements, either alone or in combination with chronological age close to menopause, there are as of now no reliable ways of predicting when a woman will enter menopause.
Comparison on the properties of bovine pericardium and porcine pericardium used as leaflet materials of transcatheter heart valve
Authors: Jin Chang , Zhao Li , Wu Zebin , Li Bin , Liu Ronghui , He Hongping , Wang Lizhen , Wang Weidong
Published: September 2021

Background

In order to obtain the smaller delivery diameter, porcine pericardium had been used as a substitute material of bovine pericardium for the leaflet materials of transcatheter heart valve (THV). However, the differences between them had not been fully studied. Therefore, this study compared the microstructure, biochemical and mechanical properties of two materials and hydrodynamics of THV made by the two materials in detail.

Methods

In this study, firstly, the microstructure of pericardium was analyzed by staining and scanning electron microscope; secondly, the biochemical properties of pericardium after different processes were compared by heat shrinkage temperature test, free amino and carboxyl concentration test, enzyme degradation test, subcutaneous implantation calcification analysis in rats; finally, the mechanical properties were evaluated by uniaxial tensile test before and after the pericardium being crimped, and then, the hydrodynamics of THV was studied according to the ISO5840 standard.

Results

Compared with bovine pericardium, after the same process, porcine pericardium showed a looser and tinier fiber bundle, a similar free carboxyl concentration, a lower resistance to enzyme degradation, a significantly lower calcification, bearing capacity and damage after being crimped, a better hydrodynamic and adaption with lower cardiac output and deformation of implantation position. Meanwhile the dehydration process of pericardium almost had preserved all the biochemical advantages of two materials.

Conclusion

In this study, porcine and bovine pericardium showed some significant differences in biochemical, mechanical properties and hydrodynamics. According to the results, it was presumed that the thinner porcine pericardium might be more suitable for THV of right heart system. Meanwhile, more attention should be taken for the calcification of THV made by the bovine pericardium.
Infrastructure investment and marginal spending behaviour of households
Authors: Hu Jingxin , Li Tao , Ran Guanghe
Published: September 2021

To shed light on the debate over the effect of infrastructure investment on household consumption, this paper uses rural and urban household consumption data from the Chinese Household Income Project (CHIP) to analyse how infrastructure development affects the marginal spending behaviour of households. We find that although infrastructure stock crowds in total consumption, the effects of infrastructure development on sub‐categories of consumption differ considerably between the rural sample and the urban sample. Specifically, infrastructure development promotes urban households' spending on infrastructure‐based goods, and generates more spillover effects on rural households as indicated by the marginal consumption pattern shifting from necessities to more luxurious goods. Heterogeneity analyses show that the effect of infrastructure development is stronger in households with higher income and with a younger head.
Pharmacokinetically‐guided dosing to improve the efficacy of brigatinib in non‐small cell lung cancer patients
Authors: Koele Simon E. , van Beek Stijn W. , van der Wekken Anthonie J. , Piet Berber , van den Heuvel Michel M. , ter Heine Rob
Published: September 2021

Brigatinib was recently approved for the treatment of anaplastic lymphoma kinase‐positive non‐small cell lung cancer and is dosed according to a one‐dose‐fits‐all paradigm. We aimed to identify a pharmacokinetically‐guided precision dosing strategy to improve treatment response with brigatinib through simulations using a previously published pharmacokinetic‐pharmacodynamic model. Dosing strategies explored were the approved 180 mg QD; the highest tolerable dose tested in clinical trials: 240 mg QD; and two precision dosing strategies targeting the median trough concentrations following 180 mg QD, and 240 mg QD. We investigated the impact of alternative dosing regimens on progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and the probability of developing a grade ≥2 rash or grade ≥2 amylase increase. Median PFS and OS increased by 1.6 and 7.8 months, respectively between the currently approved dosing strategy and precision dosing to the median trough concentration of the 240 mg dosing strategy, with only a minor increase in the probability of developing toxicity.
‘'Ethno…graphy?!? I can't even say it”: Co‐designing training for ethnographic research for people with learning disabilities and carers
Authors: Mikulak Magdalena , Ryan Sara , Bebbington Pam , Bennett Samantha , Carter Jenny , Davidson Lisa , Liddell Kathy , Vaid Angeli , Albury Charlotte
Published: September 2021

Accessible Summary

We are a team of academic researchers, people with learning disabilities and carers. We worked together to design training materials for people with learning disabilities and carers to work as co‐researchers on research projects.

The training was for doing a type of research called ethnography. When you do ethnography, you spend time with people to learn about their lives.

In this article, we describe what we did and what we learnt.

We think more people with learning disabilities and carers should be involved in research but many do not have the confidence to do it. Training can help with that.

We also think that ethnography is a type of research that can be easier to do than other types of research. This is because ethnography uses the skills lots of us already have the following: watching, listening and talking to people.

Background

There is a strong ethical case and an urgent need for more participatory research practices in disability research but a lack of resources to support this. It is important to involve people with learning disabilities and carers at all stages, including when designing training for co‐research.

Methods

We co‐developed training materials to support people with learning disabilities and carers to work as ethnographic co‐researchers and for academic researchers to facilitate co‐research. We focused on what people with learning disabilities and carers thought was important to learn.

Findings

Whilst not all types of research methods are easy to democratise, ethnographic observation is a research method that lends itself well to participatory co‐research.

Conclusions

For people to be able to meaningfully participate, research processes need to become more accessible and transparent. Training that considers the needs and priorities of people with learning disabilities and carers and addresses the confidence gap is key for meaningful co‐research.
MK‐6, a novel not‐α IL‐2, elicits a potent antitumor activity by improving the effector to regulatory T cell balance
Authors: Kobayashi Maki , Kojima Katsuhiko , Murayama Kazutaka , Amano Yuji , Koyama Takashi , Ogama Naoko , Takeshita Toshikazu , Fukuhara Tatsuro , Tanaka Nobuyuki
Published: September 2021

IL‐2 is a pleiotropic cytokine that regulates immune cell homeostasis. Its immunomodulatory function has been used clinically as an active immunotherapy agent for metastatic cancers. However, severe adverse effects, including the vascular leak syndrome and the preferential stimulation of anti‐immunogenic Treg rather than effector T cells, have been obstacles. We newly designed a mutein IL‐2, Mutakine‐6 (MK‐6), with reduced IL‐2Rα–binding capability. MK‐6 induced comparable cell growth potential toward IL‐2Rβγ–positive T cells but was far less efficient in in vitro Treg proliferation and STAT5 activation. Unlike IL‐2, in vivo administration of MK‐6 produced minimal adverse effects. Using CT26 and B16F10‐syngeneic tumor models, we found MK‐6 was highly efficacious on tumor regression. Serum albumin conjugation to MK‐6 prolonged in vivo half‐life and accumulated in CT26 tumors, showing enhanced antitumor effect. Tumor‐infiltrating leukocytes analysis revealed that albumin‐fused MK‐6 increased the ratio of effector CD8+ T cells to CD4+ Treg cells. These results demonstrated that MK‐6 is an efficient immunomodulator potentially used for improved immunotherapy with decreased adverse effects and attenuated Treg stimulation.