bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Copper impedes calcification of human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells through inhibition of osteogenic transdifferentiation and promotion of extracellular matrix stability
Authors: Orlov Iurii , Lenglet Gaëlle , Avondo Carine , Beattie John H. , Kamel Said , Korichneva Irina
Published: August 2024

Vascular calcification (VC), a common pathological condition, is a strong predictor of cardiovascular events and associated mortality. Development and progression of VC heavily rely on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and are closely related to oxidative stress, inflammation, and remodelling of extracellular matrix (ECM). Copper (Cu), an essential microelement, participates in these processes, however its involvement in pathophysiology of VC and VSMCs physiology remains poorly investigated. In the present study we analysed Cu impact on the calcification of human aortic primary VSMCs inducedin vitroby treatment with high calcium and phosphate levels. Supplementation with physiological micromolar Cu significantly reduced the amount of calcium deposited on VSMCs as compared to moderate deficiency, Cu restriction with chelators or Cu excess. Moreover, optimal concentrations of Cu ions increased protein production by VSMCs, stimulated their metabolic activity, inhibited alkaline phosphatase activity associated with cell-conditioned medium and cellular lysates, and prevented osteogenic differentiation of VSMCs. RNA-seq results indicated that high calcium and phosphate treatments activated many pathways related to oxidative stress and inflammation in VSMCs at the initial stage of calcification. At the same time, expression of VSMC-specific markers and certain components of ECM were downregulated. Supplementation of calcifying cells with 10 μM Cu prevented most of the transcriptomic alterations induced by high calcium and phosphate while chelation-mediated restriction of Cu greatly aggravated them. In summary, physiological concentration of Cu impedesin vitrocalcification of VSMCs, prevents their osteogenic transition and minimises early phenotypic alterations induced by high calcium and phosphate, thereby underlining the importance of Cu homeostasis for the physiology of VSMCs, one of the cornerstones of cardiovascular health. Our data suggest that peculiarities of Cu metabolism and its status should be considered when developing preventive and therapeutic approaches for cardiovascular diseases.
Type 1 Diabetes Genetic Risk Score classifies diabetes subtypes in Indians: Impact of HLA diversity on the lower discriminative ability
Authors: Sankareswaran Alagu , Kunte Pooja , Fraser Diane P , Shaik Mobeen , Weedon Michael N , Oram Richard A , Yajnik Chittaranjan S , Chandak Giriraj R
Published: August 2024

Objectives

Genetic Risk scores (GRS) classify diabetes types, type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) in Europeans but the power is limited in other ancestries. We explored the performance of T1DGRS and potential reasons for inferior discrimination ability in diabetes-type classification in Indians.

Research Design and Methods

In a well-characterized Indian cohort comprising 645 clinically diagnosed T1D, 1153 T2D and 327 controls, we estimated the discriminative ability of T1DGRS (comprising 67 SNPs from Europeans) using receiver operating characteristics-area under the curve (ROC-AUC). We also compared the islet autoantibody status (AA), frequency and effect size of various HLA alleles/haplotypes between Indians and Europeans.

Results

The T1DGRS was discriminative of T1D from T2D and controls but the ability is lower in Indians than Europeans (AUC=0.83 vs 0.92 respectively, p<0.0001). The T1DGRS was higher in AA-positive patients compared to AA-negative patients [13.01 (12.79-13.23) vs 12.09 (11.64-12.56)], p<0.0001) and showed greater discrimination in the AA-positive T1D (ROC-AUC 0.85). While association of common HLA-DQA1∼HLA-DQB1 haplotypes with T1D is replicated, important differences in the risk allele frequency, nature/direction and magnitude of association between Indians and Europeans were noted.

Conclusions

A T1DGRS derived from Europeans is discriminative of T1D in Indians, highlighting similarity in heritability of T1D. Differences in allele frequency, effect size and directionality, especially in the HLA region are important contributors to inferior discrimination performance of T1DGRS in Indians. Further studies of diverse populations may improve its performance.
Ethical boundaries in employee relationships: addressing workplace affairs in the health-care industry
Authors: Bilderback Stephanie
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the impact of prolonged work hours and high stress levels on ethical behavior within health-care settings. It evaluates how these factors compromise professional and personal boundaries and examines the efficacy of targeted ethical training programs designed to mitigate these challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts an integrated conceptual framework combining the interactionist model of ethical decision-making, organizational justice theory and virtue ethics. It uses data from the General Social Survey (GSS) and analyzes trends and insights from existing literature. The study explores theoretical underpinnings and empirical evidence to understand the complex interplay between workplace stress, long hours and ethical behavior in health-care environments, ensuring the validity and reliability of the findings.

Findings

The findings highlight a significant correlation between excessive work hours, increased stress levels and ethical lapses in health-care settings. These lapses, including breaches of confidentiality and inappropriate workplace relationships, can have profound implications for patient care and professional satisfaction. The efficacy of ethical training programs in enhancing moral reasoning and ethical judgment among health-care professionals is demonstrated, particularly those programs that mirror real-world complexities. Such training equips health-care workers with the necessary tools to navigate ethical dilemmas effectively, fostering a culture of ethical awareness and integrity.

Originality/value

This paper uniquely contributes to the literature by comprehensively analyzing how stress and work hours influence ethical behavior, specifically in health-care settings. Supported by a robust theoretical framework, it extends previous research by demonstrating the effectiveness of ethical training in improving ethical behavior. The paper provides practical recommendations for health-care organizations to cultivate a culture of ethical awareness and integrity, highlighting the potential for such programs to improve patient care and professional satisfaction significantly.
Mandatory climate disclosures: impacts on energy and agriculture markets
Authors: Ho Linh , Renwick Alan
Published: August 2024

Purpose

With the rise of mandating climate-related disclosures (CRD), this paper aims to investigate how energy and agriculture markets are exposed to climate disclosure risk.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the multivariable simultaneous quantile regression and data from 1 January 2017 to 29 February 2024, the authors examine daily and monthly responses of energy and agriculture markets to climate disclosure risk, energy risk, market sentiment, geopolitical risk and economic policy risk. The sample covers the global market, Australia, Canada, European Union (EU), Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK and the USA.

Findings

The results show that climate disclosure risk creates both positive and negative shocks in the energy and agriculture markets, and the impacts are asymmetric across quantiles in different economies. The higher the climate disclosure risk, the greater impact of crude oil future on the energy sector in North America (Canada and the USA) and Europe (EU and the UK), but no greater effects in Asia Pacific (Australia, New Zealand and Singapore). The agriculture sector can hedge against economic policy and geopolitical risks, but it is highly exposed to climate disclosure and energy risks.

Originality/value

This study timely contributes to the modest literature on the asymmetric effects of climate disclosure risk on the energy and agriculture markets at the global and national levels. The findings offer practical implications for policymakers and investment practitioners in understanding financial effects of mandating CRD to diversify risks depending upon market conditions and policy uncertainty.
Work-related boredom, felt deprivation and employee dissatisfaction: is being closer to the leader a bane?
Authors: Mishra Sreelekha
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Job dissatisfaction is a prevalent, yet understudied phenomenon. This study aims to examine the determinants of job dissatisfaction among information technology (IT) professionals. Based on the relative deprivation theory and the social exchange theory, this study examines the complex linkage between work-related boredom, felt deprivation, leader–member exchange and job dissatisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The questionnaire-based survey data were collected from IT professionals working in Bangalore, India. Regression with process macro was used for data analysis.

Findings

This study found the predictors of job dissatisfaction and felt deprivation. It also found the path through which work-related boredom impacts job dissatisfaction (through felt deprivation). Furthermore, it found that the direct effect of boredom on felt deprivation is greater for employees in close relationships with the leader.

Research limitations/implications

Job dissatisfaction is one of the critical factors that has several adverse consequences for individuals and the organization. This study provides the antecedents, explains the path and suggests a boundary condition leading to job dissatisfaction. It further highlights the adverse consequences of work-related boredom on felt deprivation for employees having strong leader–member exchange relationships.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on job dissatisfaction, boredom, felt deprivation and leader–member exchange in the IT sector in an emerging economy. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is one of the early studies that explain the mechanism and the conditions leading to felt deprivation and job dissatisfaction.
Navigating GST revenue efficiency challenges: a solution to dilemma of policy makers for enhancing revenue efficiency
Authors: Garg Shubham , Mittal Sangeeta , Garg Aman
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the determinants of GSTefficiency of the Indian states to assist the policymakers, government and GST council to devise their policies and strategies to boost the GSTefficiency of the Indian states.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis has used the panel data set of 27 Indian states and 3 UTs with a time span of 2017–18 to 2022–23. The study has used the Generalized Method of Moment regression for exploring the determinants of GSTefficiency of the state governments in India.

Findings

The findings depict that sectoral composition, inflation rate, financial development, state’s self-reliance, per capita income and gross fiscal deficit have a significant effect on GSTefficiency of the state governments. The findings support the Tanzi effect 1977 and claim that the rise in the inflation level erodes GSTefficiency of the state governments. The rise in the self-reliance of the state government will make the Indian states self-dependent and will reduce their reliance on central transfers.

Practical implications

The government should make efforts to make the Indian states self-reliant by increasing the share of OTR (Own Tax Revenue) instead of increasing their revenue efficiency in short-run through devolution and central transfers. Moreover, the Indian government should devise their macro-economic policies to curb the inflation level and gross fiscal deficit of the state governments in the country.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this may be the first study to explore the determinants of GSTefficiency of the state governments in India.
Customer churn analysis using feature optimization methods and tree-based classifiers
Authors: Ehsani Fatemeh , Hosseini Monireh
Published: August 2024

Purpose

As internet banking service marketing platforms continue to advance, customers exhibit distinct behaviors. Given the extensive array of options and minimal barriers to switching to competitors, the concept of customer churn behavior has emerged as a subject of considerable debate. This study aims to delineate the scope of feature optimization methods for elucidating customer churn behavior within the context of internet banking service marketing. To achieve this goal, the author aims to predict the attrition and migration of customers who use internet banking services using tree-based classifiers.

Design/methodology/approach

The author used various feature optimization methods in tree-based classifiers to predict customer churn behavior using transaction data from customers who use internet banking services. First, the authors conducted feature reduction to eliminate ineffective features and project the data set onto a lower-dimensional space. Next, the author used Recursive Feature Elimination with Cross-Validation (RFECV) to extract the most practical features. Then, the author applied feature importance to assign a score to each input feature. Following this, the author selected C5.0 Decision Tree, Random Forest, XGBoost, AdaBoost, CatBoost and LightGBM as the six tree-based classifier structures.

Findings

This study acclaimed that transaction data is a reliable resource for elucidating customer churn behavior within the context of internet banking service marketing. Experimental findings highlight the operational benefits and enhanced customer retention afforded by implementing feature optimization and leveraging a variety of tree-based classifiers. The results indicate the significance of feature reduction, feature selection and feature importance as the three feature optimization methods in comprehending customer churn prediction. This study demonstrated that feature optimization can improve this prediction by increasing the accuracy and precision of tree-based classifiers and decreasing their error rates.

Originality/value

This research aims to enhance the understanding of customer behavior on internet banking service platforms by predicting churn intentions. This study demonstrates how feature optimization methods influence customer churn prediction performance. This approach included feature reduction, feature selection and assessing feature importance to optimize transaction data analysis. Additionally, the author performed feature optimization within tree-based classifiers to improve performance. The novelty of this approach lies in combining feature optimization methods with tree-based classifiers to effectively capture and articulate customer churn experience in internet banking service marketing.
Differential responses of community‐level functional traits to mid‐ and late‐season experimental drought in a temperate grassland
Authors: Fenollosa E. , Fernandes P. , Hector A. , King H. , Lawson C. S. , Jackson J. , Salguero‐Gómez R.
Published: August 2024

Extreme precipitation events are becoming more intense and frequent due to climate change. This climatic shift is impacting the structure and dynamics of natural communities and the key ecosystem services they provide. Changes in species abundance under these conditions are thought to be mediated by functional traits, morpho‐physiological characteristics of an organism that impact its fitness. Future environmental conditions may, therefore, favour different traits to those in present‐day communities.

After 6 years of manipulated precipitation levels, including drought (−50% of ambient precipitation), irrigation (+50% of ambient precipitation), and control (ambient precipitation), we measured five key functional traits (plant height, leaf dry matter content [LDMC], leaf thickness, specific leaf area [SLA], and leaf phosphorus concentration) in 586 individual vascular plants to study the effects of precipitation changes on community‐weighted functional traits. Additionally, we tested whether the precipitation change effects on the traits depend on the time of the growing season.

As expected, reduced precipitation impacted community composition only for the late‐season timing, after the seasonal field mowing, but led to a significant change in all community‐level plant traits between season timings. Under drought, communities shifted towards shorter individuals with thicker but small leaves and lower phosphorous content. Overall, a combination of community reassembly and intraspecific variation contributed to community‐weighted differences between control and drought plots for plant height, SLA, and LDMC traits. Species turnover was the main driver of community‐weighted means (CWMs) shifts in all traits in the late‐season but SLA. Whereas all traits showed variations at the community level with drought, SLA and LDMC were the most responsive traits at the species level. Nevertheless, our results suggest underestimation of intraspecific variation due to sensitive species lower abundance under stress. No differences in CWMs of functional traits were observed between control and irrigated plots.

Synthesis: Our findings suggest that functional trait composition of grassland communities may shift under climate change‐induced drought, depending on the growing season timings. Trait‐based attempts to predict ecosystem functioning must account for such temporal variation in community trait values.
Public opinion towards interest groups: The differential impact of ties to cause and business groups
Authors: RASMUSSEN ANNE , REHER STEFANIE
Published: August 2024

Interest groups are often included as key actors in consultation processes, with the aim of making policy more effective, fair and representative. At the same time, their influence is frequently viewed with suspicion. This research note uses survey experiments in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States (N = 9,357) to explore how the ties citizens hold to different types of interest groups affect their perceived legitimacy of involving them in parliamentary hearings. We find that affective, behavioural and attitudinal ties shape how citizens evaluate the representation of groups, but that there are important differences between ties to different group types: ties to cause groups representing societal interests are more consequential than ties to business interests. These findings underline important heterogeneity in how different interest groups relate to their constituencies and have implications for accountability relationships between citizens and policymakers. The heightened sensitivity of citizens with ties to cause groups regarding their representation underscores the need to actively nurture and involve these groups in policy making.
Deep estimation of the intensity and timing of natural selection from ancient genomes
Authors: Laval Guillaume , Patin Etienne , Quintana‐Murci Lluis , Kerner Gaspard
Published: August 2024

Leveraging past allele frequencies has proven to be key for identifying the impact of natural selection across time. However, this approach suffers from imprecise estimations of the intensity (s) and timing (T) of selection, particularly when ancient samples are scarce in specific epochs. Here, we aimed to bypass the computation of allele frequencies across arbitrarily defined past epochs and refine the estimations of selection parameters by implementing convolutional neural networks (CNNs) algorithms that directly use ancient genotypes sampled across time. Using computer simulations, we first show that genotype‐based CNNs consistently outperform an approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) approach based on past allele frequency trajectories, regardless of the selection model assumed and the number of available ancient genotypes. When applying this method to empirical data from modern and ancient Europeans, we replicated the reported increased number of selection events in post‐Neolithic Europe, independently of the continental subregion studied. Furthermore, we substantially refined the ABC‐based estimations of s and T for a set of positively and negatively selected variants, including iconic cases of positive selection and experimentally validated disease‐risk variants. Our CNN predictions support a history of recent positive and negative selection targeting variants associated with host defence against pathogens, aligning with previous work that highlights the significant impact of infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, in Europe. These findings collectively demonstrate that detecting the footprints of natural selection on ancient genomes is crucial for unravelling the history of severe human diseases.
Prenatal (Second Trimester and Third Trimester) and Postnatal (Third and Fourth Week After Birth) Developmental Radiological Investigation of Sheep Skulls
Authors: Güzel Barış Can , Işbilir Fatma
Published: August 2024

The skull is a complex, vital structure made up of many bones. It has been observed that studies on skulls help to determine species and sex. In recent years, craniometric studies have been frequently used to determine morphometric features in animals. In our study, 150 skulls were studied, 50 from the second trimester (25 males and 25 females), 50 from the third trimester (25 males and 25 females), and 50 from the third and fourth week after birth (25 males and 25 females). The skulls were sectioned by computerised tomography and stored in DICOM format. From the images, nine different measurements and five index calculations were made. The similarities and differences between species were determined by ignoring sex differences. Correlation analyses were performed to compare measurement parameters between animal species. In addition, the results of statistical analyses between sexes were evaluated without species distinction. SL, CW and ICI parameters were highly statistically significant between measurements in the second trimester, third trimester and postnatal group (p < 0.01). In the third trimester, the EHC measurement parameter was found to be highly significant between males and female (p < 0.01). In Table 5, the CL parameter was positively correlated with CW, IHC, EHC, ILC, ELC, FMW and FMH. There are very few studies on foetal development. It is predicted that the data obtained can be used in zoo‐archaeology, anatomy, surgery and forensic medicine. In addition, radiographic determination of craniometric features will help in the treatment and prognosis of diseases.
Playing the sycophant card: The logic and consequences of professing loyalty to the autocrat
Authors: Baturo Alexander , Khokhlov Nikita , Tolstrup Jakob
Published: August 2024

Despite the centrality of the loyalty–competence framework in research on authoritarian politics, scholars have only focused on material aspects of what elites do in their service to the dictator. Yet nonmaterial aspects such as sycophantically praising the autocrat in speech—a common, everyday practice under authoritarianism, have been ignored. We propose a novel theory to explain under what conditions elites “overpraise” the ruler and imitate his rhetoric, and whether they will be rewarded. We test the empirical implications through semisupervised text analysis and an original dataset of almost 1000 annual legislative addresses of Russian governors. Contrary to common assumptions that sycophancy is uniform across elites, we find that governors who are politically and economically vulnerable and without alternative career paths behave more sycophantically and show that they survive in office longer. Our results have important implications for how personality cults develop and how dictators navigate the loyalty–competence trade‐off.
Question mark in Landia
Authors: Saffitz Jane L.
Published: August 2024

What happens when we remove key specificities that orient ethnography? Based on 30 months of fieldwork somewhere and set in fictional Landia, this piece eschews conventional ways of representing ethnographic encounters—through specific matterings of people and place—for disquieting generality. Against vague references to violence by Snatchers and a movement to protect the Marked, I foreground the affective experiences of two interlocutors without relying on taken‐for‐granted specificities that structure modes of seeing. This reveals how power operates through the reproduction of embodied difference, even within movements by and for people with non‐normative bodyminds; and how generality as a method of creative ethnographic writing can reveal otherwise eclipsed strands of meaning and experience. Despite being Marked, Yuli and Adan do not see themselves in discourses about markedness. As a result, they question processes of categorization, identification, and marginalization in social movements. My goal is to dwell in these moments where operative narratives unravel, and people overspill their categories. Asking what a messier crip politics of difference might do for those with forms of markedness, this piece encourages readers to envision activist‐adjacent modes of redress that acknowledge complicity and entanglement, embrace accountability and repair, and build solidarity across forms of difference.
The mediating effect of firm familiarity between corporate social responsibility and reputation, trust, and customer satisfaction
Authors: Homer Stephen T. , Berezina Elizaveta B. , Gill Colin Mathew Hugues D.
Published: August 2024

When assessing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and its impact on company performance there may be an informational asymmetry caused by differences in Familiarity with the firm assessed. This study uses participants' ratings of six large UK retailers to establish the direct relationships between the CSR components of Economic, Legal, Ethical, and Discretionary, and the firm performance dimensions of Reputation, Trust, and Customer Satisfaction, then explores whether Familiarity mediates the relationships between the CSR and the performance dimensions. The findings show CSR Economic, Legal, and Discretionary are associated with firm Reputation and Trust, but not Customer Satisfaction, and that CSR Ethical is associated with Reputation, Trust, and Customer Satisfaction. Familiarity acts as a mediator between CSR Economic, Legal and Discretionary, and Trust and Customer Satisfaction. Familiarity also mediates the relationship between CSR Discretionary and Reputation. The link between CSR Economic and Legal, and Customer Satisfaction only emerges in mediation analysis. Managerial implications suggest increasing familiarity is vital through open and continuous communication about CSR programs is essential to keep customers aware. Methodological implications propose reevaluating the methods used to measure (CSR), taking into consideration its' multi‐faceted nature and the diverse impacts that different aspects have on familiarity and performance measures.
Social sharing of emotion during the collective crisis of COVID‐19
Authors: Ma Gloria W. S. , Schöne Jonas P. , Parkinson Brian
Published: August 2024

We collected data from two sources – social media and online questionnaires – to investigate the emotional consequences of social sharing during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Study 1 tracked and analysed sentiment of tweets posted over the course of a month in the crisis period and found that users who tweeted more frequently about COVID‐19 expressed decreasing negative sentiment and increasing positive sentiment over time. Granger causality tests confirmed that this association was better interpreted in the forward direction (sharing levels predicting sentiment) than in the reverse direction (sentiment predicting sharing levels). Study 2 focused on immediate emotional consequences of sharing COVID‐19‐related events and found that participants reported improved overall affect about an event after sharing it, especially when that event was a personal experience rather than a news story. Reported positive feelings about both kinds of events were also significantly higher after sharing. Taken together, both studies suggested that social sharing is linked with emotional relief and may therefore help people to deal with their negative experiences during a persistent collective crisis.
DNA damage induced PARP‐1 overactivation confers paclitaxel‐induced neuropathic pain by regulating mitochondrial oxidative metabolism
Authors: Ge Meng‐meng , Hu Jun‐jie , Zhou Ya‐qun , Tian Yu‐ke , Liu Zhi‐heng , Yang Hui , Zhou Yi‐rong , Qiu Qiu , Ye Da‐wei
Published: August 2024

Aims

Poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase (PARP) has been extensively investigated in human cancers. Recent studies verified that current available PARP inhibitors (Olaparib or Veliparib) provided clinical palliation of clinical patients suffering from paclitaxel‐induced neuropathic pain (PINP). However, the underlying mechanism of PARP overactivation in the development of PINP remains to be investigated.

Methods and Results

We reported induction of DNA oxidative damage, PARP‐1 overactivation, and subsequent nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) depletion as crucial events in the pathogenesis of PINP. Therefore, we developed an Olaparib PROTAC to achieve the efficient degradation of PARP. Continuous intrathecal injection of Olaparib PROTAC protected against PINP by inhibiting the activity of PARP‐1 in rats. PARP‐1, but not PARP‐2, was shown to be a crucial enzyme in the development of PINP. Specific inhibition of PARP‐1 enhanced mitochondrial redox metabolism partly by upregulating the expression and deacetylase activity of sirtuin‐3 (SIRT3) in the dorsal root ganglions and spinal cord in the PINP rats. Moreover, an increase in the NAD+ level was found to be a crucial mechanism by which PARP‐1 inhibition enhanced SIRT3 activity.

Conclusion

The findings provide a novel insight into the mechanism of DNA oxidative damage in the development of PINP and implicate PARP‐1 as a possible therapeutic target for clinical PINP treatment.
The war in Ukraine is changing plausible future socioeconomic scenarios leading to an unexplored outlook for biodiversity
Authors: Vincent Claire , Cristiano Andrea , Cuadros‐Casanova Ivon , Pacifici Michela , Soria Carmen D. , Tedeschi Lisa , Beekmann Milena , D'alessio Alessandra , Lucas Pablo M. , Nania Dario , Rondinini Carlo
Published: August 2024

Shared socioeconomic pathways are a key tool in predicting biodiversity scenarios and in the subsequent design of environmental policies. Here, we discuss how recent policy changes to global trade routes, agriculture, and energy production in response to the war in Ukraine are impacting socioeconomic scenarios used to set and assess biodiversity targets. We also discuss how the disruption to the global geopolitical landscape provides a window of opportunity for policy reform and the radical societal paradigm shift that is needed to tackle the global biodiversity crisis. We call for the re‐evaluation of biodiversity targets with newly developed scenarios that reflect the changes made to production and consumption patterns. We also recommend establishing national biodiversity working groups to screen proposed policies for their potential risks to the drivers of biodiversity change, since policy decisions made in response to the war that seemingly are far removed from the environment can have lasting impacts on nature.
Adherence to glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist treatment in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A nationwide registry study
Authors: Lassen Mats C. H. , Johansen Niklas Dyrby , Modin Daniel , Catarig Andrei‐Mircea , Vistisen Bodil Kjeldgaard , Amadid Hanan , Zimmermann Esther , Gislason Gunnar , Biering‐Sørensen Tor
Published: August 2024

Aims

To assess the level of adherence to glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist (GLP‐1RA) treatment using real‐world data and to investigate the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with discontinuation of GLP‐1RAs.

Methods

First‐time users of GLP‐1RAs with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), aged ≥18 years, in the period 2007 to 2020, were identified using Danish registries, allowing all participants a minimum of 18 months’ follow‐up. Adherence to GLP‐1RA therapy (medication possession ratio >0.80) and discontinuation of GLP‐1RA therapy was estimated at 6‐ and 12‐month follow‐ups. Multivariable cause‐specific Cox regression was used to identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with risk of discontinuation.

Results

In total, 44 343 first‐time users of GLP‐1RAs with T2DM were identified (mean age 58.6 years, 42.7% female, median duration of T2DM 6.8 years, median glycated haemoglobin level 65 mmol/mol). The absolute risk of discontinuing GLP‐1RA treatment within 6 months was 14.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 13.9–14.6) and 21.2% (95% CI 20.8–21.5) within 12 months. At 6 months, 50.4% were adherent to GLP‐1RA therapy and at 12 months, 48.6% remained adherent. In the multivariable model, younger (<40 years) and older age (>75 years), higher Charlson Comorbidity Index score, lower household income, high school and longer university degree as educational attainment level, and longer diabetes duration were associated with a higher risk of discontinuing GLP‐1RA treatment.

Conclusion

Approximately one in five patients discontinued GLP‐1RA therapy within the first 12 months and only half were adherent. Overall, lower socioeconomic status and higher comorbidity burden were associated with higher risk of discontinuing GLP‐1RA treatment.
Double‐orifice mitral valve associated with mild mitral stenosis and coarctation of the aortic isthmus: A rare case of incomplete form of Shone's syndrome
Authors: Yang Lei , Zheng Shuang , Xiao Fei , Xiao Bin , Zheng Guang‐mei , Li Tiantian , Jing Hong‐xia
Published: August 2024

Shone's syndrome (SS) is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly characterized by a spectrum of developmental abnormalities. It predominantly presents as consisting of a variety of left ventricular inflow and outflow tract lesions, with inflow tract lesions typically including parachute mitral valve and supravalvular mitral ring. However, reports of SS involving double‐orifice mitral valve are scarce.
The hinge‐1 domain of Flna is not necessary for diverse physiological functions in mice
Authors: Wade Emma M. , Goodin Elizabeth A. , Morgan Tim , Pereira Stephana , Woolley Adele G. , Jenkins Zandra A. , Daniel Philip B. , Robertson Stephen P.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The filamins are cytoskeletal binding proteins that dynamically crosslink actin into orthogonal networks or bundle it into stress fibres. The domain structure of filamin proteins is very well characterised, with an N‐terminal actin‐binding region, followed by 24 immunoglobulin‐like repeat units. The repeat domains are separated into distinct segments by two regions of low‐complexity known as hinge‐1 and hinge‐2. The role of hinge‐1 especially has been proposed to be essential for protein function as it provides flexibility to the otherwise rigid protein, and is a target for cleavage by calpain. Hinge‐1 protects cells from otherwise destructive forces, and the products of calpain cleavage are involved in critical cellular signalling processes, such as survival during hypoxia. Pathogenic variants in FLNA encoding Filamin A, including those that remove the hinge‐1 domain, cause a wide range of survivable developmental disorders. In contrast, complete loss of function of this gene is embryonic lethal in human and mouse.

Methods and Results

In this study, we show that removing filamin A hinge‐1 from mouse (FlnaΔH1), while preserving its expression level leads to no obvious developmental phenotype. Detailed characterisation of the skeletons of FlnaΔH1 mice showed no skeletal phenotype reminiscent of that found in the FLNA‐causing skeletal dysplasia. Furthermore, nuclear functions of FLNA are maintained with loss of Filamin A hinge‐1.

Conclusion

We conclude that hinge‐1 is dispensable for filamin A protein function during development over the murine lifespan.
Singularity analysis for V‐notches in a piezoelectric multimaterial and functionally graded piezoelectric materials
Authors: Yao Shanlong , Dai Guibin , Cheng Changzheng , Niu Zhongrong
Published: August 2024

This study develops a novel singularity analysis method that addresses the limitations posed by piezoelectric material quantity and the variation patterns of property functions in functionally graded piezoelectric materials (FGPMs). Given that piezoelectric composite materials consist of multiple materials, the material properties of FGPMs vary with respect to angle. By introducing the asymptotic assumption that governs the physical fields close to the notch vertex into the static equilibrium equations, a comprehensive set of characteristic equations is formulated. All singularity orders and corresponding characteristic angle functions of the notch are determined by numerically solving the established characteristic equations. The effects of the notch opening angle, piezoelectric material polarization direction, and boundary conditions on the electromechanical field singularity at the notch are assessed. The judicious selection of material variation patterns can alleviate notch singularity in FGPMs.
Functional Traits of the World's Late Quaternary Terrestrial Mammalian Predators
Authors: Wooster Eamonn I. F. , Lundgren Erick J. , Balisi Mairin , Lemoine Rhys T. , Sandom Christopher J. , Svenning Jens‐Christian , Rowan John , Jolly Chris J. , Linley Grant D. , Cowan Mitchell. A. , Wright Nick , Westaway Dylan , Nimmo Dale , Nichols Hannah , Middleton Owen S.
Published: August 2024

Motivation

Terrestrial predators play key roles in cycling nutrients, as well as limiting prey populations, and shaping the behaviour of their prey. Prehistoric, historic and ongoing declines of the world's predators have reshaped terrestrial ecosystems and are a topic of conservation concern. However, the availability of ecologically relevant predator functional traits is limited, hampering efforts to understand macroecological changes in this ecologically important functional group. Here, we present CarniTraits, a comprehensive open‐access functional trait database of all late Quaternary (~130,000 ybp) terrestrial mammalian predators (149 species, ≥1 kg body mass, ≥50% vertebrate meat consumption).

Main Types of Variables Contained

Mammalian terrestrial predator functional traits including body mass, diet, scavenging, locomotion, cooperative hunting, hunting habitat, hunting method, bone consumption, temporal activity patterns, brain mass and encephalisation quotient.

Spatial Location and Grain

Global.

Time Period and Grain

Late Quaternary (the last ~130,000 years).

Major Taxa and Level of Measurement

All late Quaternary terrestrial mammalian predators (149 species, ≥1 kg body mass, ≥50% vertebrate meat consumption).

Software Format

csv.
The role of accounting in creating, perpetuating, and overcoming inequalities: Going beyond discipline, borders, and stasis towards accounting as activism
Authors: Haynes Kathryn
Published: August 2024

This reflective article addresses the role and power of accounting in creating, perpetuating and, potentially overcoming, inequalities. Such inequalities may be based on personal characteristics, including gender, or relate to the global effects of neo‐liberalism and broader structural inequalities resulting in colonialism, slavery, and repression. The article illustrates how accounting operates in society, its power and effects, particularly the role of accounting as a calculative practice and as a profession in creating and perpetuating inequalities. However, accounting can also subvert or overcome inequalities, when positioned with critical and emancipatory intent. Three areas of going beyond accounting's current confines are discussed where it is proposed that accounting research and practice can contribute to an enhanced understanding of intersectional perspectives and systemic inequalities, and, importantly, ways of overcoming them. These are: going beyond disciplinary orientation to embrace feminist interdisciplinarity; going beyond borders to embrace reflexive intersubjectivity and contextualized knowledge; and going beyond stasis towards academic activism.
INVENTORIES, INPUT COSTS, AND PRODUCTIVITY GAINS FROM TRADE LIBERALIZATIONS
Authors: Khan Shafaat Yar , Khederlarian Armen
Published: August 2024

Sourcing internationally allows firms to access cheaper or better inputs but increases logistical costs, particularly through higher inventory holdings. This article examines the productivity gains from trade liberalizations accounting for inventory costs—typically omitted from revenue‐based measures of productivity. In model simulations, we show that omitting these overestimates the effect of input tariffs on productivity and that controlling for inventories in the estimation of productivity corrects the bias. We document these facts during India's 1990s reforms. First, firms' inventories increase strongly with imports. Second, productivity gains drop by 20–50% once inventory costs are accounted for.
International students' perspectives on medical school and internship: ‘Oh international? Are you international?’
Authors: Selvanderan Kendra D. , Thomas Josephine S.
Published: August 2024

Background

International students account for a significant proportion of medical graduates Australia‐wide, and most opting to remain in Australia for their first year of practice (Internship). Hence, understanding this particular demographic's perspectives is crucial for curriculum and workforce planning. Despite this, very few studies have addressed this demographic, and none have explored the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on international medical students specifically.

Aim

A qualitative design was used to explore the perspectives of final‐year international medical students at an Australian medical school as they prepared for transition to internship during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Methods

Participants engaged in a semi‐structured interview about the pandemic's personal and professional implications. The data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Seven out of 34 final‐year international medical students at the University of Adelaide participated. The main themes identified were that isolation was magnified, institutional support was lacking and that uncertainty was challenging. The pandemic did not deter participants from pursuing an Australian internship, as Australia was considered a desirable place for internship compared to their home countries.

Conclusions

While the COVID‐19 pandemic exacerbated the situation, many of the challenges identified by international students already existed. Issues such as social isolation, racial discrimination, financial hardship and lack of institutional support have been prevalent for decades. Insights from this study reveal a need to improve the medical school experience. Australian Universities have a responsibility to ensure fair treatment of international students by training faculty, implementing support programmes and ensuring an inclusive and culturally safe learning environment.
The experience of an adult diabetic foot unit continuing face‐to‐face consults during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Gong Joanna Y. , Collins Lucy , Barmanray Rahul D. , Pang Nang S. K. , Le Minh V. , Wraight Paul R.
Published: August 2024

Background and Aims

The COVID‐19 pandemic significantly disrupted lower limb diabetes care. We aimed to map trends in diabetes‐related lower limb amputation and hospitalisation rates through the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of all individuals who underwent a lower limb amputation for a diabetes‐related foot complication from 2018 to 2021 at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, a quaternary hospital in Australia. Hospitalisation rates with a diabetes‐related foot complication were collected for comparison. The start of the COVID‐19 epoch was defined as 16 March 2020, when a state of emergency was declared in Melbourne.

Results

During the study period, 360 lower limb amputations for diabetes‐related foot complications were performed in 247 individuals. The median monthly number of amputations remained stable prior to and during the COVID‐19 epoch; there was a median of 8.0 amputations per month (interquartile range (IQR) = 6.5–11) before COVID‐19, compared to 6.5 amputations (IQR = 5.0–8.3) during the COVID‐19 epoch (P = 0.23). Hospitalisation with a diabetes‐related foot complication significantly increased from a median monthly rate of 11 individuals (IQR = 9.0–14) before COVID‐19 to 19 individuals (IQR = 14–22) during the COVID‐19 epoch (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Despite increased hospitalisations for diabetes‐related foot complications during COVID‐19, there was not a corresponding increase in amputation rates. Face‐to‐face care of diabetes‐related foot complications was prioritised at this centre and may have contributed to stable amputation rates during the pandemic.
Contributions of each of the BAFF receptors to the lymphocyte profiles in C57BL/6 mice
Authors: Stohl William , Wu Ying , Stohl Malka
Published: August 2024

BAFF, a vital B cell survival and differentiation factor, has three receptors: B‐cell maturation antigen (BCMA), transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI) and BR3. Although B cells are greatly reduced in B6.Baff−/− (which harbour no BAFF) and B6.Br3−/− mice (which harbour supra‐normal levels of BAFF), the distributions of B cell subsets and relationships between Foxp3+ and CD4+ cells in these mice differ. Using a large panel of B6 congenic knockout and/or transgenic mice, we demonstrate that (1) supra‐normal levels of BAFF per se do not explain the phenotypic differences between B6.Baff−/− and B6.Br3−/− mice; (2) B cells are expanded in B6.Taci−/− mice, with preferential expansion of follicular (FO) B cells at the expense of CD19+CD21−/loCD23−/lo B cells but without the preferential expansion of Foxp3+ cells observed in B6 mice bearing a Baff transgene; (3) despite no expansion in total B cells, percentages of FO B cells and marginal zone B cells are higher and percentages of CD19+CD21−/loCD23−/lo B cells are lower in young B6.Bcma−/− mice, consistent with the inability of B6.Br3−/−.Taci−/− mice to recapitulate the B cell profile of B6.Baff−/− mice; and (4) percentages of Foxp3+ cells in B6.Br3−/−.Taci−/− mice are intermediate between those in B6.Br3−/− and B6.Taci−/− mice despite the B cell profile of B6.Br3−/−.Taci−/− mice strongly resembling that of B6.Br3−/− mice. Collectively, our findings point to a non‐redundant role for each of the BAFF receptors in determining the ultimate lymphocyte profile of the host. This may have clinically relevant ramifications in that the degree that a candidate therapeutic agent blocks engagement of any given individual BAFF receptor may affect its clinical utility.