bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring flexible working practices and the digital divide in a post-lockdown era
Authors: Soga Lebene Richmond , Bolade-Ogunfodun Yemisi , De Amicis Anna
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This paper explores flexible working practices (FWPs) and takes a critical view that argues a need to consider not only access to digital technological resources but also the vast array of factors that constrain one’s ability to use technology for its intended benefits, as constituting the digital divide post-COVID-19 lockdown.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a critical evaluation of the extant literature, we engage in a conceptual undertaking to develop theoretical propositions that form the basis for future empirical undertakings. To theoretically ground the arguments raised, we deploy the ontological lens of actor-network theory to illuminate the socio-technical dimensions of the digital divide in light of FWPs.

Findings

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to adopt socially distanced work practices has become a reality for many organisations. We find that the adoption of FWPs, enabled by digital technologies, simultaneously signals hidden inequalities. We also develop a conceptual framework which depicts user responses in different technology environments that can either be limiting or enabling for individuals’ work productivity.

Originality/value

With regards to the digital divide, attention has often focused on access to digital technologies, as the term “digital divide” portrays. The implication is that the array of factors and resources that individuals are heterogeneously networked to, which also constitute the digital divide, is often taken for granted. We take a different ontological view that brings to the fore other factors at play within an individual’s network of relations.
Theorising worker voice for supply chain justice – communication, representation and recognition
Authors: Stephens Victoria , Benstead Amy Victoria , Goworek Helen , Charles Erica , Lukic Dane
Published: February 2024

Purpose

The paper explores the notion of worker voice in terms of its implications for supply chain justice. The paper proposes the value of the recognition perspective on social justice for framing workers’ experiences in global supply chains and identifies opportunities for the advancement of the worker voice agenda with recognition justice in mind.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a conceptual approach to explore the notion of worker voice in supply chains in terms of the recognition perspective on social justice.

Findings

Sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) scholarship has considered worker voice in terms of two key paradigms, which we term communication and representation. To address recognition justice for workers in global supply chains, the worker voice agenda must consider designing worker voice mechanisms to close recognition gaps for workers with marginalised identities; the shared responsibilities of supply chain actors to listen alongside the expectation of workers to use their voice; and the expansion of the concept of worker voice to cut across home-work boundaries.

Originality/value

The paper offers conceptual clarity on the emerging notion of worker voice in SSCM and is the first to interrogate the implications of recognition justice for the emergent worker voice agenda. It articulates key opportunities for future research to further operationalise worker voice upon a recognition foundation.
Commuting and its relationship with health and engagement of civil construction workers
Authors: dos Santos Júlia Barros , Macedo Nascimento Paulo Marcelo , Lima Josiane Palma
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Identifying factors that impact workers’ health and performance is extremely important for companies and, in particular, for companies in the construction sector. Despite the evidence, knowledge about the relationship between commuting, health and worker performance is still limited. More specifically on the relationship with work engagement, studies focus on work-related aspects, neglecting individual and behavioral factors. This study aims to verify the relationship between the commuting patterns of workers, their health and their work engagement in a civil construction company located in São José dos Campos, Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured questionnaire was applied to 43 civil construction workers. The participants’ physical and mental health was evaluated using the 12-item short-form health survey. Employees’ work engagement was assessed through the UWES-17 scale. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed on the relationship between physical and mental health, engagement and commuting to work.

Findings

The result corroborated the literature showing that the use of active transport positively influenced the mental health of construction workers and negatively affected those who use individual motorized transport. People working from home had the lowest values for total engagement, vigor and dedication.

Originality/value

This study provides evidence and a prior understanding of this relationship, serving as a basis for decision-making processes in the area of transport that contribute to the health and better functioning of companies in the construction sector. This work also contributes to the state of the art on the relationship between commuting, health and worker engagement.
More knowledge, better innovation? Role of knowledge breadth and depth
Authors: Wang Wei , Yin Ximing , Coles Ryan , Chen Jin
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Current open innovation (OI) and external knowledge search (EKS) research primarily shows a positive linear relationship between EKS and innovation at an individual level. However, organizational scholarship argues that excessive EKS may harm innovation. This study combines the knowledge-based view (KBV) and attention-based view (ABV) to articulate a nonlinear theory of EKS and innovation at the individual level.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors constructed a multi-sourced dataset covering 59,798 USA pharmaceutical patents spanning from 1975 to 2014 and employed negative binomial fixed-effect models to examine theoretical hypotheses.

Findings

We find a significant concave curvilinear relationship between EKS and innovation quantity as well as innovation quality at an individual level. An individual’s knowledge breadth and depth moderate the relationship between EKS and innovation, such that the threshold at which EKS has diminishing returns for individual innovation is higher for inventors with a broad range of knowledge and those with deeper expertise in the domain where they are innovating.

Research limitations/implications

Managers should guide inventors toward a moderate investment of time and effort in EKS and should caution against over searching. Besides, managers should recognize that an inventor’s capacity for EKS is determined in part by their breadth of knowledge across various domains as well as the depth of knowledge they have in the knowledge domain where they are innovating.

Practical implications

We provide both parties with a clearer understanding of when EKS can begin to deteriorate an individual’s innovation performance why that deterioration occurs, and we also highlight two individual-level knowledge characteristics to take into consideration when deciding when to cease the EKS process.

Social implications

This study provides a novel holistic understanding of OI and knowledge management for policymakers and organizations to nourish innovation dynamism and make the best of knowledge stocks in the community, which in turn will create endless power for sustainable social change and inclusive development.

Originality/value

This study contributes to OI theory by highlighting the non-linear nature of the relationship between EKS and innovation on an individual level. This represents a fundamental shift in theory on EKS and individual innovation by suggesting a major rethinking of how the two concepts relate, revealing the dark side of EKS in knowledge management if inventors engage in excessive EKS. Likewise, our study’s incorporation of the ABV informs KBV scholarship by highlighting the role of the limited attentional capacity of individuals in firm knowledge management.
From worshipping Tyche to playing with wild cards
Authors: Walter Justine
Published: February 2024

In his Physics, Aristotle acknowledges the role of Tyche, the Greek equivalent of contingency. His home, the Greek peninsula, was, and is today, regularly struck by natural hazards. Ancient records document that they wrought substantial damage to the infrastructure and political integrity of communities. Lacking reliable forecasting systems, for the ancient Greeks any of these hazards was contingent, even though there existed accepted interpretations of what (or who) caused these phenomena. Roughly 2.500 years later, future studies call sudden, unpredictable events like these ‘wild cards’. Occurring with a low probability but a substantial impact, wild cards pose challenges to social, political, and economic stability. Just as natural hazards unexpectedly interrupted and transformed social, political, and economical life in ancient communities, wild cards have the potential to disrupt current and future societies and economies. With the modern world increasingly complex and interconnected, wild cards will increase in frequency, likelihood, and impact. More than ever, local calamities will show global effects. To mitigate these effects and enable a fast recovery, creative approaches are needed. A gaze into how the societies of the distant past successfully coped with the wild cards that hit them, may thus yield inspiration for disaster risk reduction in the Anthropocene.
Use of high‐intensity ultrasound and micellar casein concentrate addition for improving whey Ricotta cheese production
Authors: Vargas Sara A , Ruiz‐López Irving Israel , Amador‐Espejo Genaro Gustavo , Ruiz‐Espinosa Hector
Published: February 2024

The influence of high‐intensity ultrasound (E = 42.2 W*s/mL) and coprecipitation processes with micellar casein concentrate (0.5, 1.5% w/w) on improving whey protein recovery during Ricotta cheese elaboration was evaluated. Acid and sweet whey were used. Whey treatment (control, ultrasonicated whey, coprecipitation process and ultrasonication + coprecipitation) was used as the independent variable in a completely randomised design. Since neither acidification nor pH adjustment was required, sonication reduced processing time (~6.6%). Coprecipitation (1.5%) enhanced the cheese yield generating textural defects. Softer textures were obtained by using ultrasonication and coprecipitation, suggesting the possibility of producing ricotta cheeses with higher yields and unique technological features.
Payment Practices Transparency and Customer‐Supplier Dynamics
Authors: GREWAL JODY , MOHAN ADITYA , PÉREZ‐CAVAZOS GERARDO
Published: February 2024

We exploit
the introduction of the Payment Practices Disclosure Regulation in the United Kingdom (UK) to examine the effects of mandating disclosure of customer‐supplier payment practices. We find that nondisclosing small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) experience a reduction in their accounts receivable by 8.3%, consistent with an acceleration of their trade credit collections. Further, SMEs exhibit fewer financial constraints after the regulation. We survey managers from large firms and SMEs to understand the underlying mechanisms. The required disclosures raise large firms’ reputational concerns and shift the bargaining power between large firms and SMEs. Additionally, the new disclosures compel executives at large firms to scrutinize their own firms’ payment practices, leading to increased accountability and a stronger focus on timely payment among senior managers.
Research on risk factor filtering and rating of cold chain logistics from the perspective of root‐state risk identification
Authors: Wang Yingchen , Wang Xiangmei , Zhang Yikai , Geng Xiaoxiao
Published: February 2024

The natural attributes of perishable and vulnerable cold chain products make the cold chain have more risks than the general supply chain. The attribute characteristics and internal relations of various risks increase the complexity of risk analysis. The purpose of this paper is to study the horizontal and vertical assessment of various risk factors. The multi‐dimensional risk measurement model is used to integrate the assessment of multiple risk factors of human, machine, environment, and management, and the cold chain risk management is discussed from the perspective of risk factor classification. The root‐state risk identification (RSRI) method was used to identify potential risks. Based on the double standard filtering and multiple criteria, the filtering of irrelevant risks and screening of uncontrollable risks were evaluated, and the triangular fuzzy number method was used to quantitatively evaluate the controllable risk factors. A total of 223 potential risks, 18 important risks, and 6 key risks were identified, followed by inspection and quarantine reports, pesticide residues, improper loading and unloading operations, unqualified centralized environment, unqualified pre‐cooling technology of carriages, and unreasonable storage temperature. According to the analysis results, targeted control measures are proposed to better prevent risks and reduce the probability of cold chain accidents. The traditional risk assessment method can only assess the impact of a single risk factor on the system. This assessment method overcomes this limitation and provides a new perspective for cold chain risk management.

Practical Application

This study laid the foundation for further risk safety management of cold chain logistics.
FTO overexpression inhibits the invasion and migration of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast‐like synoviocytes by suppressing miR‐126‐5p
Authors: Cai Yuxia , Wang Ling , Zheng Yueling
Published: February 2024

Aim

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) inflicts chronic joint inflammation, leading to cartilage damage and potential disability. This study delves into the impact of fat mass and obesity‐associated protein (FTO) on the invasion and migration of fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (FLSs) in RA, aiming to identify a novel target for RA treatment.

Methods

RA‐FLSs and control‐FLSs from RA patients and healthy controls were isolated and cultured. An FTO overexpression vector was constructed and transfected into RA‐FLSs, with subsequent measurement of FTO, miR‐126‐5p, and FOXO3 expression levels using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction or western blot assays. The proliferation, invasion, and migration capabilities of RA‐FLSs were assessed. The total m6A modification of cellular mRNA was quantified. The interaction between m6A and DiGeorge syndrome critical region 8 (DGCR8) on pri‐miR‐126‐5p was evaluated using methylated RNA immunoprecipitation. The binding relationship between miR‐126‐5p and FOXO3 3′UTR sequence was verified.

Results

FTO was downregulated in RA‐FLSs. FTO overexpression inhibited the invasion and migration of RA‐FLSs. FTO reduced the m6A modification level of pri‐miR‐126‐5p in RA‐FLSs, inhibiting miR‐126‐5p expression by reducing the binding of DGCR8 to pri‐miR‐126‐5p. miR‐126‐5p targeted and inhibited FOXO3 expression. Overexpression of miR‐126‐5p or FOXO3 knockdown could partially reverse FTO overexpression's inhibitory effect on the invasion and migration of RA‐FLSs.

Conclusion

FTO overexpression curtailed miR‐126‐5p by diminishing the m6A modification level of pri‐miR‐126‐5p, subsequently enhancing FOXO3 expression and restraining the invasion and migration of RA‐FLSs.
Trends in pain undertreatment among lung cancer patients at the EOL: Analysis of urban city medical insurance data in China
Authors: Zheng Jiani , Huang Yihua , He Junyi , Zhou Huaqiang , Liu Tingting , Huang Jie , Shi Mengting , Zhao Yuanyuan , Fang Wenfeng , Yang Yunpeng , Zhang Li
Published: February 2024

Background

Cancer‐related pain is one of the common priority symptoms in advanced lung cancer patients at the end‐of‐life (EOL). Alleviating pain is undoubtedly a critical component of palliative care in lung cancer. Our study was initiated to examined trends in opioid prescription‐level outcomes as potential indicators of undertreated pain in China.

Methods

This study used data on 1330 patients diagnosed with lung cancer of urban city medical insurance in China who died between 2014 and 2017. Opioid prescription‐level outcomes were determined by annual trends of the proportion of patients filling an opioid prescription, the total dose of opioids filled by decedents, and morphine milligram equivalents per day (MMED) at the EOL (defined as the 60 days before death). We further analyzed monthly changes in the number of opioid prescriptions filled, MMED, and mean daily dose of opioids per prescription (MDDP) of the last 60 days of life by year at death and age, respectively.

Results

A total of 959 patients with exact dates of death were included, with 432 cases (45.06%; 95% CI: 44.36%–45.77%) receiving at least one opioid prescription at the EOL. The declining trends were shown in the proportion of patients filling any opioid prescription, the total dose of opioids filled by decedents and MMED, with an annual decrease of 0.341% (p = 0.01), 104.23 mg (p = 0.011) and 2.84 mg (p = 0.014), respectively. Within the 31–60 days to the 0–30 days of life, the MMED declined 6.08 mg (95% CI: −7.14 to −5.03; p = 0.000351), while the number of opioid prescriptions rose 0.66 (95% CI: 0.160–1.16; p = 0.025). Like the MMED, the MDDP fell 4.11 mg (95% CI: −5.86 to −2.37; p = 0.005) within the last month before death compared to the previous month.

Conclusion

Terminal lung cancer populations in urban China have experienced reduced access to opioids at the EOL. The clinicians did not prescribe a satisfactory dose of opioids per prescription, while the patients suffered increasing pain in the last 30 days of life. Sufficient opioid analgesic administration should be advocated for lung cancer patients during the EOL period.
Genomic evolutional analysis of surgical resected specimen to assess osimertinib as a first‐line therapy in two patients with lung cancer harboring EGFR mutation: Case series
Authors: Koba Hayato , Yoneda Taro , Morita Hiroko , Kimura Hideharu , Murase Yuya , Terada Nanao , Tambo Yuichi , Horie Masafumi , Kasahara Kazuo , Matsumoto Isao , Yano Seiji
Published: February 2024

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) is crucial for patients with lung cancer harboring EGFR mutations. However, almost all patients experience disease progression, regardless of their response to the targeted therapy, necessitating the development of additional treatment options. Two patients with lung cancer harboring EGFR‐L858R mutations in exon 21 were treated by surgical resection during successful osimertinib treatment. Because the pathological diagnosis was suspected to be pleural metastasis, osimertinib treatment was continued until disease progression. We analyzed the evolution of genomic alterations and the levels of AXL using tumor specimens obtained by repeated biopsies during the course of treatment: initial diagnosis, operation, and disease progression. Genetic alterations detected at the three time points were dramatically changed and showed reductions in numbers, while EGFR‐L858R mutations were detected in all samples tested in both patients. Immunohistochemical expression of AXL remained positive from the beginning of analysis to disease progression. Clonal evolution under oncogenesis is related to gradual accumulation of genomic alterations during tumor growth. However, our case series revealed that volume reduction procedures may cause this phenomenon. Therefore, identification of intrinsic drug‐resistant cells in tumors may be as important as detection of acquired genetic alterations.
A new method for voxel‐based modelling of three‐dimensional forest scenes with integration of terrestrial and airborne LiDAR data
Authors: Li Wenkai , Hu Xiaomei , Su Yanjun , Tao Shengli , Ma Qin , Guo Qinghua
Published: February 2024

Simulating realistic three‐dimensional (3D) forest scenes is useful in understanding the links between forest structure and ecosystem functions (e.g. radiative transfer). Light detection and ranging (LiDAR) technology provides useful 3D data for forest reconstructions since it can characterise 3D structures of individual trees and canopies. High‐density terrestrial LiDAR (terrestrial laser scanning, TLS) is suitable for fine‐scale reconstructions but is limited to smaller forest plots; low‐density airborne LiDAR (airborne laser scanning, ALS) can cover larger areas but is only suitable for coarse‐scale reconstructions. How to take advantage of TLS and ALS to enable fine‐scale forest simulations in large areas needs to be studied.

We propose a new voxel‐based method for forest simulations using the integration of TLS and ALS data. TLS data of representative reference trees are used to approximate the detailed architectures of the whole forest scene, with structural information on each individual tree extracted from ALS data. The high‐density point cloud data derived from TLS and ALS data are voxelised using high resolution solid voxels for scene representation. We tested the proposed method using two virtual forests (108 m × 108 m) and a real forest (300 m × 300 m) with conifer and broadleaf species. The physically based ray tracer (PBRT) was used to visualise the true virtual forest scenes, whereas voxel‐based radiative transfer (VBRT) was used to visualise the modelled forest scenes from LiDAR data. For the real forest scene, simulated and real ALS data were compared.

Our results demonstrate that the images simulated by VBRT and PBRT are similar in the virtual forest scenes, with average radiance values of 1.02 and 1.72, respectively. In the real forest scene, the distributions of points and individual tree attributes (tree height, crown radius, and tree volume) derived from real and simulated ALS also match well, with Kullback–Leibler divergence ranging from 0.006 to 0.06.

We conclude that the new method is capable of modelling fine‐scale 3D forests in large areas (over 1 ha) when TLS and ALS data are available, and it has good potential in studying the process of radiative transfer in conifer and broadleaf forests.
The 2024 revision of the Norwegian standard for the safe practice of anaesthesia
Authors: Leonardsen Ann‐Chatrin Linqvist , Haugen Arvid Steinar , Ræder Johan , Finjarn Therese Jenssen , Isern Erik , Aakre Elin K. , Bruun Anne Marie Gran , Hennum Kristoffer , Ramstad Jan Petter , Sand Tina , Monsen Svein Arne
Published: February 2024

The Norwegian standard for the safe practice of anaesthesia was first published in 1991, and revised in 1994, 1998, 2005, 2010 and 2016 respectively. The 1998 version was published in English for the first time in Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica in 2002. It must be noted that this is a national standard, reflecting the specific opportunities and challenges in a Norwegian setting, which may be different from other countries in some respects. A feature of the Norwegian healthcare system is the availability, on a national basis, of specifically highly trained and qualified nurse anaesthetists. Another feature is the geography, with parts of the population living in remote areas. These may be served by small, local emergency hospitals. Emergency transport of patients to larger hospitals is not always achievable when weather conditions are rough. These features and challenges were considered important when designing a balanced and consensus‐based national standard for the safe practice of anaesthesia, across Norwegian clinical settings. In this article, we present the 2024 revision of the document. This article presents a direct translation of the complete document from the Norwegian original.
Risk prediction models in emergency surgery: Protocol for a scoping review
Authors: Hansted Anna K. , Møller Morten H. , Møller Ann M. , Burcharth Jakob , Thorup Sofie S. , Vester‐Andersen Morten
Published: February 2024

Background

Risk prediction models are used for many purposes in emergency surgery, including critical care triage and benchmarking. Several risk prediction models have been developed, and some are used for purposes other than those for which they were developed. We aim to provide an overview of the existing literature on risk prediction models used in emergency surgery and highlight knowledge gaps.

Methods

We will conduct a scoping review on risk prediction models used for patients undergoing emergency surgery in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA‐ScR). We will search Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library and include all study designs. We aim to answer the following questions: (1) What risk prediction models are used in emergency surgery? (2) Which variables are used in these models? (3) Which surgical specialties are the models used for? (4) Have the models been externally validated? (5) Where have the models been externally validated? (6) What purposes were the models developed for? (7) What are the strengths and limitations of the included models? We will summarize the results descriptively. The certainty of evidence will be evaluated using a modified Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Conclusion

The outlined scoping review will summarize the existing literature on risk prediction models used in emergency surgery and highlight knowledge gaps.
Do Better Managers Get Better Loan Contracts?
Authors: Francis Bill B. , Ren Ning , Sun Xian , Wu Qiang
Published: February 2024

This paper examines the impact of managerial ability on bank loan contracting. We find that firms with higher‐ability managers obtain more favourable loan contract terms, including lower loan spreads, fewer covenants, and more short‐term maturities. Furthermore, the negative relation between managerial ability and loan spread is concentrated in firms with higher information asymmetry, higher default risk, or lower agency costs of debt. Finally, we find that firms with higher‐ability managers are more likely to choose public bonds over bank loans.
Oomycetes as damping‐off pathogens and functional plant traits associated with the susceptibility of west Australian native plant species
Authors: Shaw Christopher J. , Hardy Giles E. St. J. , Dunstan William A. , Burgess Treena I.
Published: February 2024

Damping‐off oomycete and fungal plant pathogens reduce the germination, emergence, and survival of seedlings. In agricultural systems, this poses a significant problem as it may reduce productivity; in contrast, the impact is more subtle in natural ecosystems and may be essential for maintaining the structure and diversity of plant communities. The oomycete genusPhytophthorais frequently detected in natural plant communities causing disease in mature plants, but it is rarely assessed as a damping‐off pathogen. A pathogenicity experiment was established with five oomycete treatments, three putatively nativePhytophthoraspecies, the invasiveP. cinnamomi, andPythium irregulare, to determine the damping‐off host range in selected plant species from a hyper‐diverse Mediterranean‐type ecosystem. Additionally, plant and seed traits were analysed to determine if they were correlated with susceptibility to pre‐emergent damping‐off.Phytophthora arenariawas the only putatively native generalist damping‐off pathogen, causing 12 of 19 plant species to experience significantly reduced seedling emergence or survival relative to the control treatment.Pythium irregulareand the introducedP. cinnamomicaused significant damping‐off for 12 and 13 plant species, respectively. Plant species that were slowest to germinate and emerge were the most susceptible to pre‐emergence damping‐off caused byP. arenaria. These results suggest native and invasivePhytophthoramay substantially influence the structure and diversity of natural plant communities through damping‐off. While mature plant species are the most common focus inPhytophthoraresearch, our study indicates damping‐off should be considered to determine the full impact of these soil‐borne plant pathogens.
Quality effects of home acquisitions in residential aged care
Authors: Sutton Nicole , Ma Nelson , Yang Jin Sug , Lin Jiali
Published: February 2024

Objective

The recent consolidation of the Australian residential aged care market has raised concerns about the potential adverse effects of acquisition activity on quality of care (QoC). We examined changes in QoC outcomes within acquired homes and the influence of the acquiring providers' characteristics on these post‐acquisition outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective observational study was conducted using de‐identified data sets obtained under the legal authority of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Regression analysis was used to investigate post‐acquisition changes in QoC outcomes for 225 Australian home acquisitions between 2015 and 2019. The outcomes were analysed for the first two full financial years before and after the acquisition.

Results

After controlling for other factors, we find acquired homes were associated with significantly worse QoC outcomes in the 2 years after acquisition, with higher rates of hospitalisations and reported complaints to the regulator. However, these results were driven by homes acquired by providers that were smaller in scale, for‐profit or had comparatively poorer average quality across the other homes they operated.

Conclusions

Our finding that homes' QoC on average declines in the first 2 years following acquisition, are consistent with studies in other countries and points to the potential risks that consolidation poses to the care delivered to older people in Australia during that period.
Who claims the federal adoption tax credit? Those who know about it
Authors: Wallace Cullen T.
Published: February 2024

This research investigates which individuals are aware of and claim the federal adoption tax credit. Using a probit model, I find that the probability that one claims the credit increases with one's income and is lower for Black adoptive parents compared to White ones. These discrepancies in usage stem from different probabilities of knowing about the credit. However, conditional on awareness, I find that the probability of claiming the credit is no different among members of differing income or racial groups, implying that a direct way to increase take‐up of the tax credit could simply be increasing awareness of it.
Changes in intraocular pressure during the first 24 h after transscleral cyclophotocoagulation
Authors: Rasmuson Erika , Lindén Christina , Lundberg Björn , Jóhannesson Gauti
Published: February 2024

Aims

To estimate the changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) during the first 24 h after transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TCP).

Methods

A prospective single‐centre study, where patients with glaucoma destined for treatment with TCP were asked for participation. The IOP was measured prior to TCP and at 1, 2, 4, 6 and 24 h post‐TCP. An IOP spike was defined as an elevation of IOP of ≥5 mmHg compared with baseline. The visual acuity (VA) was examined at baseline and after 24 h.

Results

The mean IOP prior to TCP in 58 eyes of 58 patients was 26.2 (±8.9 SD) mmHg. Twenty‐three eyes (40%) experienced an IOP spike at some examination timepoint during the first 24 h. The mean value of the IOP spike was 12.1 (±6.9) mmHg. Fifty‐six per cent of the eyes with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG) experienced an IOP spike, and 16% had an IOP spike ≥20 mmHg. The IOP was significantly reduced at the 24 h examination by 8.1 (±7.8) mmHg (n = 58). The VA 24 h after TCP was unchanged compared with baseline.

Conclusion

Clinically significant IOP spikes were common in the first 24 h post‐TCP. Almost one in five eyes had an increase of 10 mmHg and in almost one in 10 eyes, the IOP increase was 20 mmHg or higher. Eyes with PEXG had a higher occurrence of IOP spikes and displayed a greater magnitude of IOP elevation. Prophylactic post‐operative IOP‐lowering medication should be considered to prevent further glaucoma damage.
Zoti's Social Toolkit: Developing and piloting novel animated tasks to assess emotional understanding and conflict resolution skills in childhood
Authors: Lloyd‐Esenkaya Vanessa , Russell Ailsa J. , St Clair Michelle C.
Published: February 2024

Current methods used to investigate emotional inference and conflict resolution knowledge are limited in their suitability for use with children with language disorders due to a reliance on language processing. This is problematic, as nearly 8% of the population are estimated to have developmental language disorder (DLD). In this paper, we present ‘Zoti's Social Toolkit’, a set of animated scenarios that can be used to assess emotion inferencing and conflict resolution knowledge. All animated scenarios contain interpersonal situations centred around a gender‐neutral alien named Zoti. Four studies investigated the face and construct validity of the stimuli. The final stimulus set can be used with children, who may or may not have language difficulties and is openly available for use in research.
The relationship between the Big Five personality traits and earnings: Evidence from a meta‐analysis
Authors: Vella Melchior
Published: February 2024

This meta‐analysis examines the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and earnings. The results reveal that openness to experience, conscientiousness, and extraversion exhibit positive correlations with earnings, whereas agreeableness and neuroticism are inversely correlated with earnings. Overall, personality has a modest‐to‐small effect on earnings, with variations in results depending on econometric models used. Accounting for publication bias, socioeconomic background, and cognitive ability in models affects effect sizes. The findings also underscore the potential for omitted variable bias in the reported personality effects on earnings when relevant factors are omitted from the earnings equation.
A theory of entry dissuasion
Authors: Buccella Domenico , Fanti Luciano
Published: February 2024

In an industry with homogeneous goods, this note compares the standard incumbent's strategic capacity choice versus the incumbent's pre‐emptive payment (profit) transfer (PPT) strategy (i.e., pre‐entry acquisition). It is shown that via the transfer option, the incumbent holds its monopoly position “dissuading” the potential competitor entry for a range of fixed costs larger than under strategic capacity. Moreover, in that range, at least one firm is better off under PPT, while the other is indifferent between PPT and capacity choice. That is, in contestable markets, the incumbent can keep its dominant position in an easier way than standard models predict.
The impact of Foxp3+ regulatory T‐cells on CD8+ T‐cell dysfunction in tumour microenvironments and responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Attias Mikhaël , Piccirillo Ciriaco A.
Published: February 2024

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been a breakthrough in cancer therapy, inducing durable remissions in responding patients. However, they are associated with variable outcomes, spanning from disease hyperprogression to complete responses with the onset of immune‐related adverse events. The consequences of checkpoint inhibition on Foxp3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells remain unclear but could provide key insights into these variable outcomes. In this review, we first cover the mechanisms that underlie the development of hot and cold tumour microenvironments, which determine the efficacy of immunotherapy. We then outline how differences in tumour‐intrinsic immunogenicity, T‐cell trafficking, local metabolic environments and inhibitory checkpoint signalling differentially impair CD8+ T‐cell function in tumour microenvironments, all the while promoting Treg‐cell suppressive activity. Finally, we focus on the mechanisms that enable the induction of polyfunctional CD8+ T‐cells upon checkpoint blockade and discuss the role of ICI‐induced Treg‐cell reactivation in acquired resistance to treatment.
Concurrent targeting of GSK3 and MEK as a therapeutic strategy to treat pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Fukuda Junki , Kosuge Shinya , Satoh Yusuke , Sekiya Sho , Yamamura Ryodai , Ooshio Takako , Hirata Taiga , Sato Reo , Hatanaka Kanako C. , Mitsuhashi Tomoko , Nakamura Toru , Matsuno Yoshihiro , Hatanaka Yutaka , Hirano Satoshi , Sonoshita Masahiro
Published: February 2024

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide. However, drug discovery for PDAC treatment has proven complicated, leading to stagnant therapeutic outcomes. Here, we identify Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) as a therapeutic target through a whole‐body genetic screening utilizing a ‘4‐hit’ Drosophila model mimicking the PDAC genotype. Reducing the gene dosage of GSK3 in a whole‐body manner or knocking down GSK3 specifically in transformed cells suppressed 4‐hit fly lethality, similar to Mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase (MEK), the therapeutic target in PDAC we have recently reported. Consistently, a combination of the GSK3 inhibitor CHIR99021 and the MEK inhibitor trametinib suppressed the phosphorylation of Polo‐like kinase 1 (PLK1) as well as the growth of orthotopic human PDAC xenografts in mice. Additionally, reducing PLK1 genetically in 4‐hit flies rescued their lethality. Our results reveal a therapeutic vulnerability in PDAC that offers a treatment opportunity for patients by inhibiting multiple targets.
Glycyrrhetinic acid alleviates atrial fibrillation by inhibiting the expression of PIM1
Authors: Liang Hao , Zhang Na , Zhao Le , Wang Qingsong , An Yu , Wang Hong
Published: February 2024

Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) is known to exert a cardioprotective effect, while its mechanism in atrial fibrillation (AF) remains poorly defined. Accordingly, isoprenaline (ISO) was applied to establish the rat AF model, and then GA (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg/day) was administrated to these rats for a total of 21 days. The fibrosis and pathological conditions of rat atrial tissues were observed. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was adopted to calculate the levels of proto‐oncogene serine/threonine‐protein kinase Pim1 (PIM1) and Interleukin (IL)‐4/6/13/17. For in‐vitro experiments, isolated cardiac fibroblasts received the transfection with PIM1‐specific overexpression plasmid or siPIM1 and the treatment with ISO. Subsequently, cell viability was gauged by cell counting kit‐8 assay. The protein levels of alpha‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), collagen I and III, transforming growth factor‐beta1 (TGF‐β1) and mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 7 (Smad7) were measured by western blot. GA led to the shortened duration of AF and alleviated myocardial fibrosis and atrial tissue lesions in ISO‐treated AF rats in vivo. Meanwhile, GA inhibited the expressions of PIM1 and IL‐4/6/13/17 in the atrial tissue of AF model rats. In the meantime, enhanced cell viability, inhibited expressions of PIM1, IL‐4/6/13/17, α‐SMA, collagen‐I, collagen‐III and TGF‐β1, and promoted Smad7 expression were observable in ISO‐treated cardiac fibroblasts in vitro. Oppositely, the effects of GA were reversed following PIM1 overexpression, while knockdown of PIM1 enhanced the effects of GA on cardiac fibroblasts. Collectively speaking, GA alleviates AF through suppressing the expression of PIM1.
Capsaicin derivatives: Synthesis and biological activity
Authors: Liu Shun , Zheng Xing , Wu Jiao , Zeng Yiqian , Wei Xueni , Li Anfeng , Yao Xu
Published: February 2024

Capsaicin is the main active ingredient of chili peppers and the most pungent alkaloid. It is reported that capsaicin has many pharmacological effects such as analgesia, anticancer, anti‐inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti‐obesity. However, the application of capsaicin is limited by its adverse side effects, such as stomach irritation, stomach cramps, and burning sensation. In recent years, many capsaicin derivatives have been synthesized and their biological activities have been evaluated. Some capsaicin derivatives have shown promising activities in cells and animal models. Herein, we described the synthesis and biological activity of capsaicin and its derivatives. It is hoped that the insights obtained in this perspective will facilitate the synthesis of a second generation of capsaicin analogs with improved biological activities.
Investigating if high‐quality kindergarten teachers sustain the pre‐K boost to children's emergent literacy skill development in North Carolina
Authors: Carr Robert C. , Jenkins Jade M. , Watts Tyler W. , Peisner‐Feinberg Ellen S. , Dodge Kenneth A.
Published: February 2024

This study tested the hypothesis that high‐quality kindergarten teachers sustain and amplify the skill development of children who participated in North Carolina's NC Pre‐K program during the previous year, compared to matched non‐participants (N = 17,330; 42% African American, 40% Non‐Hispanic White, 15% Hispanic; 51% male; Mage = 4.5 years at fall of pre‐K). Kindergarten teacher quality was measured using a “value‐added” approach. NC Pre‐K participants outperformed non‐participants in the fall of kindergarten (β = .22) and 11% of this boost remained evident by the spring of kindergarten. Higher value‐added teachers promoted the skill development of all children (β = .30 in the spring) but did not differentially benefit the skill development of former NC Pre‐K participants compared to non‐participants.
Associations between gender and health‐related quality of life in people with IgE‐mediated food allergy and their caregivers: A systematic review
Authors: Rosser Sophie A. , Lloyd Melanie , Hu Alice , Loke Paxton , Tang Mimi L. K.
Published: February 2024

Objective

Understanding factors that impact health‐related quality of life (HRQL) is essential to inform personalised food allergy management. However, there are inconsistencies about the impact of gender on HRQL in food allergy. This review aimed to collate all investigations of the association between gender and total or subdomain HRQL scores of individuals with food allergy and their caregivers.

Design

This is a narrative systematic review. We descriptively synthesised and compared HRQL outcomes by participant and parent genders according to statistical and clinical significance. Study quality was assessed using the ROBINS‐I, inclusive of all domains. Sensitivity analysis of non‐interventional studies was conducted using the ROBINS‐E.

Data Sources

A systematic search of Medline and Embase databases was conducted on 4 April 2022 and updated on 5 December 2023.

Eligibility Criteria

Studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported original data on the association between any sex and/or gender and HRQL, as measured with any validated instrument, in populations with IgE‐mediated food allergy. Interventional and non‐interventional studies were eligible.

Results

A comparison of 34 eligible studies (10 interventional and 24 non‐interventional) indicated females with food allergy (62.5% of studies of children, 83.3% of studies of adults) and mothers of children with food allergy (50% of studies of caregivers) experienced poorer self‐reported baseline HRQL than their counterparts, notably in domains of physical, emotional or food anxiety‐related well‐being. Gender differences in child HRQL after food allergen immunotherapy were observed. However, selective reporting in included interventional studies meant the direction of this association could not be determined. The proxy‐reported total HRQL of participants was not affected by caregiver gender, nor was caregiver HRQL likely impacted by child gender.

Conclusions

Gender should be considered an important modifier of participant HRQL outcomes in food allergy studies. Purposeful exploration of HRQL in all genders is needed to fully understand the implications of this construct on the lived experience of food allergy.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO (CRD42022329901).
Identification of a founder variant AAGAB c.370C>T, p.Arg124Ter in patients with punctate palmoplantar keratoderma in Southern Denmark
Authors: Gram Stine Bjørn , Jørgensen Anne Sofie Fredberg , Bygum Anette , Brusgaard Klaus , Ousager Lilian Bomme
Published: February 2024

Palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK) is a heterogeneous group of rare skin diseases characterized by hyperkeratosis on the palms or soles. The subtype isolated punctate PPK is caused by heterozygous variants in AAGAB. We investigated if the variant AAGAB c.370C>T, p.Arg124Ter in patients with punctate PPK in the Region of Southern Denmark represented a founder variant and estimated the age to the most recent common ancestor. We performed haplotype analysis on samples from 20 patients diagnosed with punctate PPK and the AAGAB c.370C>T, p.Arg124Ter variant. Using the Gamma Method, we calculated the years to the most recent common ancestor. We also explored the presence of the variant in other populations through literature and databases (HGMD, ClinVar, and gnomAD). Our analysis revealed a shared haplotype of 3.0 Mb, suggesting shared ancestry. The ancestral haplogroup was estimated to an age of 12.1 generations (CI: 4.9–20.3) equivalent to approximately 339 years (CI: 137–568). This study confirms that the frequently observed variant AAGAB c.370C>T, p.Arg124Ter in punctate PPK among patients in the Region of Southern Denmark is caused by a founder variant. We recommend testing for the variant as initial screening in our region and potentially for all Danish patients presenting with punctate PPK.
Defining success in adult obesity management: A systematic review and framework synthesis of clinical practice guidelines
Authors: Juul‐Hindsgaul Nicole , Alalwani Zahra , Boylan Anne‐Marie , Hartmann‐Boyce Jamie , Nunan David
Published: February 2024

Obesity is a chronic and complex disease affecting millions of people worldwide. Currently, there is no standard definition of success for the management of obesity. We set out to complete a synthesis of clinical practice guidelines for obesity management for adult populations, aiming to provide both a quantitative descriptive and qualitative analysis of definitions of success in clinical practice guidelines. An electronic search retrieved 4477 references. Sixteen clinical practice guidelines were included after screening and full‐text review. We coded definitions of success 147 times across the included guidelines. No standard or explicit definition of success was identified in the guidelines but rather success was implicitly defined. We developed three themes describing how success was defined in the clinical practice guidelines: Knowledge‐based decision making; management of expectations; and the perception of control. The review reinforced that success is an inherently subjective and complex concept. Defining success is limited by existing studies that focus on weight loss and would benefit from additional research on different outcomes. Equally, the relationship between people living with obesity and their clinicians should be further explored to understand how defining success is controlled, discussed and framed in a clinical setting.