bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of lean production on operational performance: a case study
Authors: Memari Ashkan , Panjehfouladgaran Hamid Reza , Abdul Rahim Abd. Rahman , Ahmad Robiah
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of adopting lean manufacturing principles on operational efficiency by eliminating seven major lean wastes (or Muda) in a Malaysian stationery manufacturer. Much of the research on lean considers its application to larger organisations with stable demand patterns. This research examines a small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) with a volatile demand pattern.

Design/methodology/approach

A process activity mapping (PAM) methodology was utilized to identify the potential for waste elimination. PAM is a visual tool that considers every step in a production process. Value-added and non-value-added activities are therefore examined to understand hidden wastes and their sources.

Findings

The results revealed that the adopted lean principles significantly reduce the waiting times. This time reduction resulted in savings (reduction of cycle time) and to a certain extent, can be a crucial driver in continuous improvement sustainability in the production process.

Research limitations/implications

The study focuses on a single case study and provides a springboard for further research. Future studies examining the results across a broader sample of organisations would develop the findings further.

Practical implications

The extant literature cites mixed success for lean implementation programmes. The results demonstrate that lean is still recognised as a powerful approach to improving operations in SMEs.

Originality/value

This paper reflects on the application of lean in a real case study showing the impact of lean on operational performance of an SME.
Rahat-Sahayog(relief support): examining disaster emergency response in the aftermath of the Nepal Earthquake 2015
Authors: Karki Jeevan , Matthewman Steve , Grayman Jesse Hession
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to critically examine the post-disaster emergency response amongst marginalised and disadvantaged social groups following the 2015 Nepal Earthquake (7.8 Mw).

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research method was employed by conducting interviews with disaster survivors from marginalised and ethnic social groups, humanitarian aid workers and government officials in the four districts worst hit by the 2015 Nepal Earthquake.

Findings

This research found that community members demonstrated remarkable cooperation in the aftermath of the disaster; however, caste-based discrimination still manifested in post-earthquake emergency environments. Further, this research showed that the engagement of government and local and international humanitarian organisations was noteworthy in the earthquake emergency response in Nepal as it localised relief packages and adapted the assistance corresponding to the fast-changing post-disaster environments. However, some relief materials were culturally inappropriate and climatically unsuitable. This paper also shows that the poor dissemination of relief distribution plans, resource duplication and ineffective targeting disproportionately impacted the oppressed and marginalised households in receiving humanitarian assistance.

Originality/value

Studies have been undertaken on the emergency response to the 2015 Nepal Earthquake, however, few have focussed on the lived experience of marginalised and disadvantaged social groups. Further, this research builds on, and contributes to, thehumanitarian mobile sovereigntydiscourse.
A summary of grey forecasting models
Authors: Xie Naiming
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to summarize progress of grey forecasting modelling, explain mechanism of grey forecasting modelling and classify exist grey forecasting models.

Design/methodology/approach

General modelling process and mechanism of grey forecasting modelling is summarized and classification of grey forecasting models is done according to their differential equation structure. Grey forecasting models with linear structure are divided into continuous single variable grey forecasting models, discrete single variable grey forecasting models, continuous multiple variable grey forecasting models and discrete multiple variable grey forecasting models. The mechanism and traceability of these models are discussed. In addition, grey forecasting models with nonlinear structure, grey forecasting models with grey number sequences and grey forecasting models with multi-input and multi-output variables are further discussed.

Findings

It is clearly to explain differences between grey forecasting models with other forecasting models. Accumulation generation operation is the main difference between grey forecasting models and other models, and it is helpful to mining system developing law with limited data. A great majority of grey forecasting models are linear structure while grey forecasting models with nonlinear structure should be further studied.

Practical implications

Mechanism and classification of grey forecasting models are very helpful to combine with suitable real applications.

Originality/value

The main contributions of this paper are to classify models according to models' structure are linear or nonlinear, to analyse relationships and differences of models in same class and to deconstruct mechanism of grey forecasting models.
Environmental cognition and environmental performance in restaurants: roles of green supplier selection and joint actions
Authors: Shin Soomin , Cho Meehee
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Although much empirical literature confirmed the foodservice industry’s significant impact on the environment, little scholarly attention has been paid to how restaurants can improve environmental performance. This study aimed to verify the impact of restaurant environmental cognition (EC) on environmental performance through green supplier selection (GSS) and joint actions (JAs).

Design/methodology/approach

Using an online survey company, the questionnaire was distributed to restaurant owners/or managers who were qualified to provide accurate information regarding their operational practices. A total of 285 responses were included in the analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to verify the validity and reliability of the measures. The SPSS PROCESS macro was used to test the hypothesized relationships.

Findings

The study showed that EC has positive and direct effects on restaurant environmental performance (REP). Each mediator of GSS and JAs played a positive mediating role between EC and REP. GSS and JAs also played multiple positive mediating roles between EC and REP. This study revealed that a path mediating between EC and REP through GSS can be used to derive the most optimal results.

Originality/value

This study focused on the importance of restaurant EC, which is a fundamental driver for restaurant environmental practices, but is overlooked in the relevant literature. The findings provide novel information that can be applied to operate green restaurants specifically through GSS and JAs. In particular, the present approach expands the existing knowledge on sustainable restaurant management by investigating EC from an organization perspective.
Institutional quality, employment, FDI and environmental degradation in developing countries: evidence from the balanced panel GMM estimator
Authors: Xaisongkham Sorphasith , Liu Xia
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The main purpose of this research is to examine the impact of institutional quality and sectoral employment on environmental degradation in developing countries. This paper also re-examined the validity of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis and estimated the long run impact of explanatory variables on CO2 emissions.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the balanced panel data for the period 2002–2016 was used based on data availability and applied two-step SYS-GMM estimators.

Findings

The results showed that institutional quality such as government effectiveness (GE) and the rule of law (RL) reduce CO2 emissions and promote environmental quality in developing countries. Interestingly, the authors found new evidence that employment in agriculture and industry has a positive impact on pollution, while employment in the service sector was negatively associated with CO2 emissions, and the validity of the EKC hypothesis was confirmed. In addition, the research suggests that strong institutional frameworks and their effective implementation are the most important panacea and should be treated as a top priority to counteract environmental degradation and achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Originality/value

This is the first study to examine the short run and long run effects of institutional quality and sectoral employment on environmental degradation using the balanced panel data for a large sample of developing countries. This paper also used a special technique of Driscoll and Kraay standard error approach to confirm the robustness results and showed the different roles of sectoral employment on environmental quality.
The mediating role of knowledge management processes in the effective use of artificial intelligence in manufacturing firms
Authors: Leoni Luna , Ardolino Marco , El Baz Jamal , Gueli Ginetta , Bacchetti Andrea
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to provide and empirically test a conceptual model in which artificial intelligence (AI), knowledge management processes (KMPs) and supply chain resilience (SCR) are simultaneously considered in terms of their reciprocal relationships and impact on manufacturing firm performance (MFP).

Design/methodology/approach

In the study, six hypotheses have been developed and tested through an empirical survey administered to 120 senior executives of Italian manufacturing firms. The data analysis has been carried out via the partial least squares structural equation modelling approach, using the Advanced Analysis for Composites 2.0 variance-based software program.

Findings

Using a conceptual model validated using an empirical survey, the study sheds light on the relationships between AI, KMPs and SCR, as well as their impacts on MFP. In particular, the authors show the positive effects of the adoption of AI on KMPs, as well as the influence of KMPs on SCR and MFP. Finally, the authors demonstrate that KMPs act as a mediator through which AI affects SCR and MFP.

Practical implications

This study highlights the critical role of KMPs for manufacturing firms that can deploy AI to stimulate KMPs and through attaining a high level of the latter might succeed in enhancing both their SCR and MFP.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates that manufacturing firms interested in properly applying AI to ameliorate their performance and resilience must carefully consider KMPs as a mediator mechanism.
Keyword-based faceted search interface for knowledge graph construction and exploration
Authors: Sellami Samir , Zarour Nacer Eddine
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Massive amounts of data, manifesting in various forms, are being produced on the Web every minute and becoming the new standard. Exploring these information sources distributed in different Web segments in a unified way is becoming a core task for a variety of users’ and companies’ scenarios. However, knowledge creation and exploration from distributed Web data sources is a challenging task. Several data integration conflicts need to be resolved and the knowledge needs to be visualized in an intuitive manner. The purpose of this paper is to extend the authors’ previous integration works to address semantic knowledge exploration of enterprise data combined with heterogeneous social and linked Web data sources.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors synthesize information in the form of a knowledge graph to resolve interoperability conflicts at integration time. They begin by describing KGMap, a mapping model for leveraging knowledge graphs to bridge heterogeneous relational, social and linked web data sources. The mapping model relies on semantic similarity measures to connect the knowledge graph schema with the sources' metadata elements. Then, based on KGMap, this paper proposes KeyFSI, a keyword-based semantic search engine. KeyFSI provides a responsive faceted navigating Web user interface designed to facilitate the exploration and visualization of embedded data behind the knowledge graph. The authors implemented their approach for a business enterprise data exploration scenario where inputs are retrieved on the fly from a local customer relationship management database combined with the DBpedia endpoint and the Facebook Web application programming interface (API).

Findings

The authors conducted an empirical study to test the effectiveness of their approach using different similarity measures. The observed results showed better efficiency when using a semantic similarity measure. In addition, a usability evaluation was conducted to compare KeyFSI features with recent knowledge exploration systems. The obtained results demonstrate the added value and usability of the contributed approach.

Originality/value

Most state-of-the-art interfaces allow users to browse one Web segment at a time. The originality of this paper lies in proposing a cost-effective virtual on-demand knowledge creation approach, a method that enables organizations to explore valuable knowledge across multiple Web segments simultaneously. In addition, the responsive components implemented in KeyFSI allow the interface to adequately handle the uncertainty imposed by the nature of Web information, thereby providing a better user experience.
Crisis response: design thinking can smooth disruptions
Authors: Duncan Ashten , Lehnert Kevin , Blagg Hollie
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Small business capabilities and customer interactions are particularly susceptible to market disruptions. Small businesses must pivot quickly to build or grow their capabilities and manage diverse strategies to deal with crises. This ability to quickly adapt and formulate strategies is necessary to help small businesses maintain sales and continue to engage with their clients, especially in light of disruption and crises. This work uses design thinking strategies to provide insight into how businesses can navigate such disruptions.

Design/methodology/approach

This research investigates how design thinking can help small businesses address crises. The focus is on leveraging design thinking strategies such as empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping and testing (EDIPT), divergence/convergence and customer journey mapping design thinking tools.

Findings

The authors provide propositions and strategies to help firms adapt their strategies to the demands of clients during crises.

Originality/value

This piece provides an accessible introduction to three design thinking strategies (general EDIPT model, convergence/divergence and consumer journey mapping). The authors present this in the context of disruption, especially the recent pandemic, specifically focusing on small businesses.
The real exchange rate and services export diversification
Authors: Gnangnon Sèna Kimm
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The relationship between real exchange rate and services export diversification is at the heart of this study.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis is performed using a sample of 113 countries over the period 1985–2014, and the 2-step system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) approach. The analysis uses both the Theil index and Herfindahl–Hirschman index of services export concentration.

Findings

The analysis shows that over the full sample, the real effective exchange rate appreciation induces a greater services export diversification. This outcome applies to high-income countries and developing countries. However, the positive effect of the appreciation of the real exchange rate on services export concentration is lower in least developed countries than in other countries. Finally, the effect of the appreciation of the real exchange rate on services export concentration in tax haven countries depends on the indicator of services export concentration, as this is positive for the Theil index and negative for the Herfindahl–Hirschman index of services export concentration.

Research limitations/implications

These findings highlight the strong influence of real exchange policies on countries' path of services export diversification.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this topic is being addressed in the empirical literature for the first time.
Digital humanitarianism and crisis management: an empirical study of antecedents and consequences
Authors: Kumar Anup , Joshi Sudhanshu , Sharma Manu , Vishvakarma Neeraj
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This study proposes a digital humanitarianism dynamic capability (DHDC) paradigm that explores the direct effects of DHDC on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and the mediating effects of process-oriented dynamic capabilities (PODC) on the relationship between DHDC and DRR.

Design/methodology/approach

To validate the proposed model, the authors used an offline survey to gather data from 260 district magistrates in India managing the COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings

The results affirm the importance of the DHDC system for DRR. The findings depict that the impact of PODC on DRR in the DHDC system is negligible. This study can help policymakers in planning during emergencies.

Research limitations/implications

Technological innovation has reshaped the way humanitarian organizations (HOs) respond to humanitarian crises. These organizations are able to provide immediate aid to affected communities through digital humanitarianism (DH), which involves significant innovations to match the specific needs of people in real-time through online platforms. Despite the growing need for DH, there is still limited know-how regarding how to leverage such technological concepts into disaster management. Moreover, the impact of DH on DRR is rarely examined.

Originality/value

The present study examines the impact of the dynamic capabilities of HOs on DRR by applying the resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capability theory (DCT).
The effect of alcohol consumption on workplace aggression: What's love (and job insecurity) got to do with it?
Authors: Jing Emma Lei , Inness Michelle , Gellatly Ian R.
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The authors tested whether the effect of alcohol consumption during work hours on workplace aggression was influenced by the combined impact of individuals' job insecurity and love of the job.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors employed a time-lagged design whereby 325 working adults (166 men; 159 women) provided data at two time points. Respondents were asked to report their typical alcohol consumption volume in a workday, the extent to which they loved their job, and how insecure they felt about their job. Approximately one week later, respondents completed a workplace aggression measure.

Findings

A substantial positive relationship was observed between the volume of alcohol consumed during work hours and the likelihood of aggressive acts. Beyond this preliminary finding, the authors found evidence for a three-way interaction. It appears that the fear of losing a beloved job creates a condition under which the drinking-aggression relationship is particularly strong.

Practical implications

Besides formal rules deterring alcohol consumption during work hours, managers may look to implement measures that nurture a sense of job love and job security, which can be beneficial in preventing aggression resulting from drinking in the workplace.

Originality/value

By examining alcohol consumption during a typical workday, the study captures the contextual and proximal effects of drinking, which are often not observed in workplace-focused studies that operationalize alcohol consumption in general terms. The findings also suggest that if employees who drink during work hours are afraid of losing the job they love, a particularly stressful situation is created in which workplace aggression is more likely to happen.
Directors' and officers' liability insurance and corporate environmental investment: empirical evidence from the most polluting Chinese listed firms
Authors: Yuan Yu , Liao Jia , Zheng Liping
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This study empirically investigates the impact of directors' and officers' liability insurance on corporate environmental investment.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper takes A-share listed firms in the most polluting industries from 2013 to 2019 as the research sample. The authors perform multiple regression analysis to examine the research question, and other approaches such as PSM and Heckman two-stage model are applied to test the robustness of the main results.

Findings

The authors find that D&O insurance insured firms significantly decrease the level of corporate environmental investment. The results keep consistent after alleviating potential endogenous concerns. Further analysis shows that the negative association between D&O insurance and environmental investment is more pronounced in firms facing greater environmental pressure and stronger market supervision, and firms located in regions with a rich legal environment.

Research limitations/implications

This research extends the literature on the antecedents of corporate environmental investment and the consequences of D&O insurance.

Practical implications

The study may deepen people's understanding of D&O insurance and inform them of its negative effects. This research sheds light on the potential factor resulting in a relatively low level of corporate environmental investment in China, which has an important policy implication for government to carry out some regulations to make a difference.

Originality/value

Against the backdrop that more importance has been attached to environmental protection globally, this paper is the first study to examine the impact of D&O insurance on corporate environmental investment in the context of the transitional and emerging market-China.
Technology on the move: creativity and innovation mobile apps
Authors: Kesselman Martin A.
Published: October 2022

Purpose

This paper reviews several of the best mobile applications that help with developing creative and innovative future forward ways that support library services. The tools that will be helpful to individuals, groups and appropriate for all ages that deal with creativity and innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of vetted mobile applications on creativity and innovation for IOS and Android.

Findings

Several top apps are provided as well as information on topics that readers can search for on creativity and innovation.

Originality/value

The original article is of value to librarians for high school and college students, for classroom learning and for new ideas to solve problems in all types of libraries.
Gender diversity and bank risk-taking: female directors and executives
Authors: Liu Chen , Wu Yan Wendy
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The authors investigate how a gender-diverse board, a gender-diverse executive team, or a female chief executive officer (CEO) impact bank balance sheet and equity risk.

Design/methodology/approach

Using panel data of U.S. bank holding companies over the period of 1992–2019, the authors conduct panel regressions with bank and year-fixed effects to analyze how female directors, female executives, and female CEOs impact a wide range of bank risk measures, controlling for the bank, board and executive characteristics.

Findings

The authors find female directors significantly reduce all types of risk. Female executives reduce some balance sheet risk but have an insignificant effect on bank equity risk. However, the presence of female CEOs does not significantly reduce bank risk-taking. During financial crises, female CEOs even increase equity risk.

Social implications

The findings are important to shed light on the ongoing debate on how gender quota policy could be efficiently used to balance the need for gender diversity while ensuring corporate performance. It could also improve social welfare by guiding proper public policy to ensure the efficient use of social labor capital and curb banks' excessive risk-taking incentives.

Originality/value

The authors provide the first empirical evidence demonstrating that female directors and female executives in the banking industry have different impacts on bank risk-taking. The authors also provide the first empirical evidence that female leaders have a different impact on two different types of risks: balance sheet and equity risk. The study is also the first to analyze the impact of female executives over multiple financial crises.
Hey, let's take a selfie: insights of selfie defamiliarisation in the classroom
Authors: Kumar Jeya Amantha , Silva Paula Alexandra , Osman Sharifah , Bervell Brandford
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Selfie is a popular self-expression platform to visually communicate and represent individual thoughts, beliefs, and creativity. However, not much has been investigated about selifie's pedagogical impact when used as an educational tool. Therefore, the authors seek to explore students' perceptions, emotions, and behaviour of using selfies for a classroom activity.

Design/methodology/approach

A triangulated qualitative approach using thematic, sentiment, and selfie visual analysis was used to investigate selfie perception, behaviour and creativity on 203 undergraduates. Sentiment analyses (SAs) were conducted using Azure Machine Learning and International Business Machines (IBM) Tone Analyzer (TA) to validate the thematic analysis outcomes, whilst the visual analysis reflected cues of behaviour and creativity portrayed.

Findings

Respondents indicated positive experiences and reflected selfies as an engaging, effortless, and practical activity that improves classroom dynamics. Emotions such as joy with analytical and confident tones were observed in their responses, further validating these outcomes. Subsequently, the visual cue analysis indicated overall positive emotions reflecting openness towards the experience, yet also reflected gender-based clique tendency with modest use of popular selfie gestures such as the “peace sign” and “chin shelf”. Furthermore, respondents also preferred to mainly manipulate text colours, frames, and colour blocks as a form of creative output.

Originality/value

The study's findings contribute to the limited studies of using selfies for teaching and learning by offering insights using thematic analysis, SA and visual cue analysis to reflect perception, emotions, and behaviour.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-11-2021-0608/
Shit happens. How do we make sense of that?
Authors: Jané Sophie E. , Fernandez Virginie , Hällgren Markus
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reflect upon how encountering trauma unexpectedly in the field informs the doing of fieldwork.

Design/methodology/approach

A reflexive essay approach was adopted to explore traumatic incidents in extreme contexts. Written vignettes, interviews, field notes and information conversations served as the bases for reflections.

Findings

Four themes arose from the reflections (Bracketing, Institutional Pressure, Impact on Research and Unresolvedness). It was suggested that researchers engaged in extreme context research, and management and organization studies scholars engaged in dangerous fieldwork more broadly, are under institutional pressure to continue work that may put themselves in harm's way. Traumatic experiences also shape and reflect the researcher's identity, which informs choices about current and future research projects.

Research limitations/implications

It was suggested that scholars will benefit from reading the accounts of others to reduce the burden of isolation that can accompany traumatic field experiences.

Originality/value

Exploring single traumatic events enabled in engaging with trauma encountered unexpectedly and directly in the field. The reflections reveal the effects of psychological and physical trauma on researchers, and highlight how trauma impacts the research process.
Worth doing but not worth having? The influence of personal aspirations and career expectations on the value of a doctorate
Authors: Guccione Kay , Bryan Billy
Published: October 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand the interaction between the component domains of doctoral value to identify those which have a greater influence on overall perceptions of the value of a doctorate. This study also investigates what may lead an individual to say the doctorate was not worth doing.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Bryan and Guccione’s (2018) conceptual model of “doctoral value”, this study used a qualitative survey, to examine 261 perceptions of the value of the doctorate in a range of employment contexts.

Findings

Individual perceptions of value are dynamically influenced by the fulfilment of expectations, career achievements and the employer’s perception of the doctorate’s value. The authors found that the circumstances of respondents’ current employment are the most common predictor of overall perceived value and that those who reported that their doctorates were “not worth doing” attributed this to lack of a positive career outcome.

Originality/value

A recurring concept was that respondents considered that their doctorate had been “worth doing” for the value it conveyed to them personally, but not “worth having” because of its low value to employers. This new understanding illustrates the complexity of decision-making and the individual career timelines that influence value. This study positions the “career value” and “personal value” domains as determinant in informing individual value judgements. The findings of this study lend weight to calls for doctoral education to focus on non-academic careers and also inspire further investigation into how non-academic employers recruit, motivate and value doctoral graduates.
Unleashing an ML-based selection criteria for economic lot sizing in a smart batch-type production system
Authors: Kumar Narinder , Singh Bikram Jit , Khope Pravin
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Inventory models are quantitative ways of calculating low-cost operating systems. These models can be either deterministic or stochastic. A deterministic model hypothesizes variable quantities like demand and lead time, as certain. However, various types of research have revealed that the value of demand and lead time is still ambiguous and vary unanimously. The main purpose of this research piece is to reduce the uncertainties in such a dynamic environment of Industry 4.0.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study tackles the multiperiod single-item inventory lot-size problem with varying demands. The three lot sizing policies – Lot for Lot, Silver–Meal heuristic and Wagner–Whitin algorithm – are reviewed and analyzed. The suggested machine learning (ML)–based technique implies the criteria, when and which of these inventory models (with varying demands and safety stock) are best fit (or suitable) for economical production.

Findings

When demand surpasses a predicted value, variance in demand comes into the picture. So the current work considers these things and formulates the proper lot size, which can fix this dynamic situation. To deduce sufficient lot size, all three considered stochastic models are explored exclusively, as per respective protocols, and have been analyzed collectively through suitable regression analysis. Further, the ML-based Classification And Regression Tree (CART) algorithm is used strategically to predict which model would be economical (or have the least inventory cost) with continuously varying demand and other inventory attributes.

Originality/value

The ML-based CART algorithm has rarely been seen to provide logical assistance to inventory practitioners in making wise-decision, while selecting inventory control models in dynamic batch-type production systems.
Efficacy and safety of spesolimab in Asian patients with a generalized pustular psoriasis flare: Results from the randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled Effisayil™ 1 study
Authors: Morita Akimichi , Tsai Tsen‐Fang , Yee Evelyn Yap Wen , Okubo Yukari , Imafuku Shinichi , Zheng Min , Li Ling , Quaresma Manuel , Thoma Christian , Choon Siew Eng
Published: October 2022

Generalized pustular psoriasis is a potentially life‐threatening neutrophilic skin disease characterized by recurrent flares of widespread erythema and eruption of sterile pustules. In the Effisayil™ 1 study (NCT03782792), 53 patients with a generalized pustular psoriasis flare were treated with placebo or spesolimab, a humanized anti‐interleukin‐36 receptor monoclonal antibody, the first targeted treatment to be studied in a randomized clinical trial. Spesolimab treatment resulted in rapid pustular and skin clearance, with an acceptable safety profile. Here, we evaluate the efficacy and safety of spesolimab in 29 Asian patients in the Effisayil™ 1 study. The primary endpoint, a Generalized Pustular Psoriasis Physician Global Assessment (GPPGA) pustulation subscore of 0 (no visible pustules) at Week 1, was achieved by 10 patients (62.5%) randomized to spesolimab and one patient (7.7%) randomized to placebo (risk difference 54.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 17.3–79.8). The key secondary endpoint, a GPPGA total score of 0 or 1 (clear or almost clear skin) at Week 1, was achieved by eight (50.0%) and two (15.4%) patients, respectively (risk difference 34.6, 95% CI −3.1–64.7). This was similar to previously published data in the overall population in whom the primary and key secondary endpoints were achieved by 54% versus 6% and 43% versus 11% of patients, respectively. The percentages of Asian patients randomized to spesolimab with a GPPGA pustulation subscore of 0 and GPPGA total score of 0 or 1 were sustained above 60% for up to 12 weeks. In these patients, patient‐reported outcomes also improved and markers of systemic inflammation were normalized. Eleven (68.8%) and eight (61.5%) of spesolimab‐ and placebo‐treated patients, respectively, experienced at least one adverse event. In conclusion, spesolimab improved outcomes in Asian patients compared with placebo, supporting its use in the treatment of generalized pustular psoriasis flares.
E93 promotes transcription of RHG genes to initiate apoptosis during Drosophila salivary gland metamorphosis
Authors: Zhang Jiahui , Zhang Wenhao , Wei Lin , Zhang Lidan , Liu Jiali , Huang Shumin , Li Sheng , Yang Weike , Li Kang
Published: October 2022

20‐hydroxyecdysone (20E) induced transcription factor E93 is important for larval–adult transition, which functions in programmed cell death of larval obsolete tissues, and the formation of adult new tissues. However, the apoptosis‐related genes directly regulated by E93 are still ambiguous. In this study, an E93 mutation fly strain was obtained by clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR) / CRISPR‐associated protein 9‐mediated long exon deletion to investigate whether and how E93 induces apoptosis during larval tissues metamorphosis. The transcriptional profile of E93 was consistent with 3 RHG (rpr, hid, and grim) genes and the effector caspase gene drice, and all their expressions peaked at the initiation of apoptosis during the degradation of salivary glands. The transcription expression of 3 RHG genes decreased and apoptosis was blocked in E93 mutation salivary gland during metamorphosis. In contrast, E93 overexpression promoted the transcription of 3 RHG genes, and induced advanced apoptosis in the salivary gland. Moreover, E93 not only enhance the promoter activities of the 3 RHG genes in Drosophila Kc cells in vitro, but also in the salivary gland in vivo. Our results demonstrated that 20E induced E93 promotes the transcription of RHG genes to trigger apoptosis during obsolete tissues degradation at metamorphosis in Drosophila.
Alcohol impairs recognition and uptake of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by suppressing toll‐like receptor 2 expression
Authors: Wigger Gregory W. , Khani Darya , Ahmed Mariam , Sayegh Layal , Auld Sara C. , Fan Xian , Guidot David M. , Staitieh Bashar S.
Published: October 2022

Background

Alcohol impairs pulmonary innate immune function and is associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB). Toll‐like receptor 2 (TLR2) is a pattern recognition receptor on alveolar macrophages that recognizes Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). The expression of TLR2 depends, in part, on granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) signaling. Given our prior work demonstrating the suppression of GM‐CSF signaling following chronic alcohol ingestion, we hypothesized that alcohol impairs TLR2 expression via the suppression of GM‐CSF and thereby reduces the ability of the macrophage to recognize and phagocytose Mtb.

Methods

Primary alveolar macrophages were isolated from control‐fed and alcohol‐fed rats. Prior to cell isolation, some alcohol‐fed rats were treated with intranasal GM‐CSF and then endotracheally inoculated with an attenuated strain of Mtb. Primary macrophages were then isolated and immunofluorescence was used to determine phagocytic efficiency and TLR2 expression in the presence and absence of GM‐CSF treatment and phagocytic efficiency in the presence and absence of TLR2 neutralization.

Results

TLR2 expression and phagocytosis of Mtb were significantly lower in the alveolar macrophages of alcohol‐fed rats than control‐fed rats. In parallel, blocking TLR2 signaling recapitulated this decreased phagocytosis of Mtb. In contrast, intranasal GM‐CSF treatment restored TLR2 expression and Mtb phagocytosis in the alveolar macrophages of alcohol‐fed rats to levels comparable to those of control‐fed rats.

Conclusions

Chronic alcohol ingestion reduces TLR2 protein expression and phagocytosis of Mtb, likely due to impaired GM‐CSF signaling. GM‐CSF restores membrane‐bound TLR2 expression and phagocytic function.
Paternal alcohol exposure has task‐ and sex‐dependent behavioral effect in offspring
Authors: Nieto Steven J. , Harding Mark J. , Nielsen David A. , Kosten Therese A.
Published: October 2022

Background

Endophenotypes for alcohol use disorder are well known and may reflect paternal exposure effects passed down to offspring via epigenetic mechanisms. Previously, we showed that paternal alcohol exposure prior to conception attenuates the acquisition of operant alcohol self‐administration. We now test whether paternal alcohol exposure alters their offsprings' behavioral responses to alcohol (endophenotypes) and global DNA methylation levels in reward‐related brain regions.

Methods

Adult male rats were exposed to alcohol vapors or air for 6 weeks and mated with alcohol‐naïve females 8 weeks later. Adult male and female offspring of the alcohol‐ and control‐sired litters were tested on three behaviors 30 m after gavage with water or alcohol (1.5 g/kg): open field, elevated plus maze, and accelerating rotarod. Global DNA methylation levels in sperm, nucleus accumbens, and prefrontal cortex were examined in male sires and in another group of offspring.

Results

Alcohol‐sired males showed less anxiety‐like behavior in the elevated plus maze that was not affected by alcohol administration. By contrast, alcohol had anxiolytic effects in the open field in male offspring only with no paternal alcohol effect. Neither paternal alcohol exposure nor alcohol administration altered locomotor activity in either sex. Sex‐specific effects of paternal alcohol exposure were seen in the rotarod test. Alcohol‐sired male offspring showed blunted sensitivity to the alcohol's motor‐impairing effects, whereas alcohol‐sired female offspring showed enhanced sensitivity. Global DNA methylation was altered in the sperm of alcohol‐exposed males, but no changes were seen in their offspring.

Conclusions

Paternal alcohol exposure prior to conception has sex‐ and task‐dependent effects on unconditioned behaviors in their offspring.
Intermittent access to oxycodone decreases dopamine uptake in the nucleus accumbens core during abstinence
Authors: Samson Kyle R. , Xu Wei , Kortagere Sandhya , España Rodrigo A.
Published: October 2022

A major obstacle in treating opioid use disorder is the persistence of drug seeking or craving during periods of abstinence, which is believed to contribute to relapse. Dopamine transmission in the mesolimbic pathway is posited to contribute to opioid reinforcement, but the processes by which dopamine influences drug seeking have not been completely elucidated. To examine whether opioid seeking during abstinence is associated with alterations in dopamine transmission, female and male rats self‐administered oxycodone under an intermittent access schedule of reinforcement. Following self‐administration, rats underwent a forced abstinence period, and cue‐induced seeking tests were conducted to assess oxycodone seeking. One day following the final seeking test, rats were sacrificed to perform ex vivo fast scan cyclic voltammetry and western blotting in the nucleus accumbens. Rats displayed reduced dopamine uptake rate on abstinence day 2 and abstinence day 15, compared to oxycodone‐naïve rats. Further, on abstinence day 15, rats had reduced phosphorylation of the dopamine transporter. Additionally, local application of oxycodone to the nucleus accumbens reduced dopamine uptake in oxycodone‐naïve rats and in rats during oxycodone abstinence, on abstinence day 2 and abstinence day 15. These observations suggest that abstinence from oxycodone results in dysfunctional dopamine transmission, which may contribute to sustained oxycodone seeking during abstinence.
A community‐wide approach to reducing risky drinking cultures in young people in rural Australia
Authors: Murphy Angela , Ollerenshaw Alison
Published: October 2022

Objective

This study evaluated the impact of a multi‐faceted, harm minimisation program addressing youth alcohol change and risky drinking behaviours in rural Australia. The role and influence of a multi‐tiered community approach to changing alcohol cultures is examined.

Setting

An alcohol culture change project for young people (12–18 years) was implemented in rural Victoria. It was informed by the Alcohol Cultures Framework, comprising community‐wide events and youth‐focused activities, co‐designed with young people. The approach aimed at maximising engagement and reducing alcohol‐related harm by targeting the shared activities and drinking practices of young people, parents and the community.

Participants

Participants (n = 446) provided feedback specific to three key program activities for promoting alcohol change.

Design

Mixed methods: Feedback sheets were collected, and interviews and focus groups were conducted with program participants.

Results

Participants indicated that the program had informed their understanding of the way people in their region drink, and the social norms and practices around alcohol that encourage risky drinking. It influenced their short‐ and medium‐term reactions, learnings and activities relating to alcohol consumption. The impact of the program was greatest in adults than young people although reflective learning and some behaviour change were evident across all age groups and community clusters.

Conclusion

Community‐wide health promotion events offer participants a deeper understanding of the ways in which dominant alcohol cultures inform the practices and activities of young people within a broader community context. Ensuring health promotion programs within a whole‐of‐community approach are established longer term, is recommended.
Neurodevelopmental outcomes after prenatal exposure to anaesthesia for maternal surgery: a propensity‐score weighted bidirectional cohort study
Authors: Bleeser T. , Devroe S. , Lucas N. , Debels T. , Van de Velde M. , Lemiere J. , Deprest J. , Rex S.
Published: October 2022

Up to 1% of pregnant women undergo anaesthesia for non‐obstetric surgery. This study investigated neurodevelopmental outcomes after prenatal anaesthesia for maternal surgery. A bidirectional cohort study of children born between 2001 and 2018 was performed: neurodevelopmental outcomes of children who had received prenatal anaesthesia for maternal surgery were prospectively compared with unexposed children, with exposure status being assessed retrospectively. Children exposed to anaesthesia for obstetric and fetal surgery were excluded. The primary outcome was the global executive composite of the behaviour rating inventory of executive function score. Our secondary outcomes were: total problems; internalising problems and externalising problems derived from the child behaviour checklist; psychiatric diagnoses; and learning disorders. In 90% of exposed children, there was a single mean (SD) antenatal anaesthesia exposure lasting 91(94) min. There was a broad spectrum of indications, with abdominal surgery being most frequent. Parents of 129 exposed (response rate 68%) and 453 unexposed (response rate 63%) children participated. There were no arguments for non‐response bias. After propensity weighting, there were no statistically significant differences in primary outcome, with a weighted mean difference (95%CI) of exposed minus unexposed children of 1.9 (−0.4–4.2), p = 0.10; or any of the secondary outcomes. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness. Exploratory analyses, however, showed significant differences in certain subgroups for the primary outcome, (e.g. for intra‐abdominal surgery, exposure duration > 1 h) and some cognitive subdomains (e.g. working memory and attention). This bidirectional cohort study, the largest investigation on the subject to date, has found no evidence in the general population for an association between prenatal exposure to anaesthesia and impaired neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Perceived ability to defend oneself against negative treatment at work: Gender differences and different types of bullying behaviours
Authors: Rosander Michael , Nielsen Morten B.
Published: October 2022

A lack of ability to defend oneself against bullying behaviour is considered a defining aspect of workplace bullying. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects perceived ability to defend has on exposure to bullying behaviour, and whether there are gender differences as well as differences regarding the type of bullying behaviour one is exposed to. The study is based on a longitudinal probability sample drawn from the whole Swedish workforce. The final sample size (394 participants, 43% men and 57% women) included only those who responded at both time points and who reported exposure to at least one bullying behaviour. The results showed that perceived ability to defend oneself only had a protective effect on bullying behaviours for male targets exposed to direct types of bullying behaviours. The study is an important contribution to the understanding of workplace bullying as a concept by showing that the perception of being able to protect oneself from bullying behaviour, in most cases, has little or no effect on the levels of bullying behaviour, and thereby on further escalation of the exposure, especially for women. An implication of the results is that organisations and employers must actively intervene in the early stages of the bullying process rather than believing that the targeted worker is able to deal with or withstand the exposure on their own.