bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
What drives the impact of women directors on firm performance? Evidence from intellectual capital efficiency of US listed firms
Authors: Shahzad Faisal , Hussain Baig Mushahid , Rehman Ijaz Ur , Latif Fawad , Sergi Bruno S. 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study whether the presence of women directors on the corporate board influences financial performance (FP). To examine the underlying causal mechanism, the authors modeled firm-level intellectual capital efficiency (ICE) in the relationshipbetween board gender diversity (BGD) and FP.

Design/methodology/approach
Using a sample of 5,879 US firms, a structural model of BGD, IC and FP is conceptualized by accounting for the endogeneity issues and alternative measures of the key variables in the empirical framework. In the model, the percentage of women directors is taken as BGD measures and value-added intellectual coefficient as an IC performance measure, considering governance and corporate performance measures.

Findings
The authors find a significant impact of BGD on FP. In particular, the results suggest: BGD is linked to IC; the influence of board gender diversity on the FP is indirect; and ICE fully mediates the relationship between BGD and FP.

Originality/value
To the best of the author’s knowledge, no study has empirically investigated whether the firm-level IC performance explains the influence of BGD on FP. Drawing on the resource-based view and organizational learning theory of the firm, the authors empirically modeled the relationship between BGD and FP through a mediation mechanism of firm-level ICE to fill the void in the literature.
Service quality, religiosity, customer satisfaction, customer engagement and Islamic bank’s customer loyalty
Authors: Abror Abror , Patrisia Dina , Engriani Yunita , Evanita Susi , Yasri Yasri , Dastgir Shabbir 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the influential factors of customer loyalty to Islamic banks, namely, service quality, customer satisfaction, customer engagement and religiosity.

Design/methodology/approach
This study is a survey of 335 Islamic bank customers in West Sumatra, Indonesia. This research deployed purposive sampling and analyzed the data by using covariance-based structural equation modeling.

Findings
Service quality has a positive and significant impact on customer satisfaction. Religiosity has a significant and negative moderating impact on the service quality–customer satisfaction relationship. Service quality has no significant influence on customer loyalty. Customer satisfaction is a significant antecedent of customer engagement and loyalty. Finally, customer engagement has a significant and positive effect on customer loyalty.

Research limitations/implications
This study is a combination of cross-sectional and a single-country case. Accordingly, the results may not be representative of other countries. Similar studies in longitudinal data collection are conducted in other countries (e.g. ASEAN countries), which would therefore be worthwhile. Some antecedents of customer loyalty have been neglected in this study (e.g. customer value co-creation and customer commitment); hence, the future study may investigate those factors.

Practical implications
By considering these Islamic banks’ antecedents, the Islamic banks might enhance their customer loyalty. Also, this study has revealed the moderating role of religiosity in a loyalty relationship. Therefore, it will give insights for the Islamic bank managers in decision-making.

Originality/value
This study has revealed the moderating role of religiosity on the link between service quality and customer satisfaction in Islamic banks, which is, to the authors’ knowledge, neglected in the previous studies. The customers with high religiosity will have a higher standard of satisfaction and demand a better service quality than the customers with low religiosity. This study has also examined the relationships between service quality, religiosity, customer satisfaction, customer engagement and loyalty as a whole, which have been limited previously.
Annuities are not securities: the regulatory Island in Illinois
Authors: Schaff Michele L. , Schaff Jeffery E. 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
Discusses the significance of the Illinois Supreme Court ruling in Van Dyke v. White, which clarified that annuities are not securities in the state of Illinois, with a particular focus on the ramifications to insurance, brokerage and investment advisory standards of care as well as causes of action for breaches thereof.

Design/methodology/approach
Describes the Court’s ruling as it relates to the industry going forward. Does not discuss the specifics of the plaintiff’s case or history.

Findings
The statutory language of Illinois’ securities laws specifically excludes annuities from the definition of securities. For this reason, the Illinois Department of Insurance has sole authority over regulating annuities, giving the Illinois Department of Securities no authority, except to the extent there is an investment advisor breach pursuant to §12(J) of the Illinois Securities Law of 1953. The industry has yet to react or adjust to the Court’s ruling, so there may be a future wave of reactions.

Originality/value
Assists the reader in understanding the unique regulatory environment of annuities in Illinois, the relevant standards of care related to annuity advice and transactions, and remedies for grievances after the Illinois Supreme Court ruling in Van Dyke v. White.
Resonanzfähigkeit: resonance capability in Luhmannian systems theory
Authors: Clark Carlton 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
This paper aims to contribute to the sociological literature on moral communication and disciplinary apparatuses in a functionally differentiated society. It combines Luhmannian and Foucauldian theories to further the understanding of social system complexity.

Design/methodology/approach
The paper draws on the work of Niklas Luhmann, Michel Foucault and others to explore resonance capability, disciplinary apparatuses and the complexity–sustainability trade-off. The argument is illustrated with a discussion of the late-nineteenth- to early-twentieth-century anti-child labor movement.

Findings
The paper argues that organizations are better equipped than function systems to draw moral distinctions. Given the amorality of the function systems and the increasing secularization of modern society, a great deal of moral communication now occurs in non-religious organizations. These social systems increase their complexity in response to new problems, but the increased system complexity may become unsustainable.

Research limitations/implications
The paper contributes to the growing sociological literature that compares and sometimes attempts to synthesize the theories of Luhmann and Foucault. It also contributes to the literature on organizational theory.

Originality/value
The paper brings together the work of Luhmann, Foucault, Valentinov and others to advance the understanding of organizations and moral communication in a functionally differentiated society. It uses Google Books Ngrams, among other resources, to support the argument.
Imaging features of extramedullary plasmacytoma
Authors: Ryu Seung Wook , Cohen‐Hallaleh Violette 
Published: December 2019

SummaryExtramedullary plasmacytomas are rare and can occur at any site. The imaging results are often nonspecific. This report highlights the radiographic, sonographic and cross‐sectional imaging features of extramedullary plasmacytomas.
Prognostic impact of CD34 and SMA in cancer‐associated fibroblasts in stage I–III NSCLC
Authors: Schulze Arik Bernard , Schmidt Lars Henning , Heitkötter Birthe , Huss Sebastian , Mohr Michael , Marra Alessandro , Hillejan Ludger , Görlich Dennis , Barth Peter J. , Rehkämper Jan , Evers Georg 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundEpithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial step in lung cancer pathogenesis. Among others, cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are reported to regulate this process.ObjectivesTo investigate the prognostic and clinical impact, we analyzed CD34+ and SMA+ CAFs in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsRetrospectively, immunohistochemistry was performed to study stromal protein expression of both CD34 and SMA in 304 NSCLC patients with pTNM stage I‐III disease. All tissue samples were embedded on tissue microarrays (TMAs).ResultsOur analysis revealed an association for CD34+ CAFs with G1/2 tumors and adenocarcinoma histology. Moreover CD34+ CAFs were identified as an independent prognostic factor (both for progression free survival [PFS] and overall survival [OS] in stage I‐III NSCLC). Besides, SMA+ expression correlated with higher pTNM‐tumor stages and lymphatic spread (pN stage). In turn, SMA‐negativity was associated with improved PFS, but no prognostic impact was found on OS. Of interest, neither CD34+ CAFs nor SMA+ CAFs were associated with the primary tumor size, localization and depth of infiltration (pT stage).ConclusionsCD34 was identified as an independent prognostic marker in pTNM stage I‐III NSCLC. Moreover, loss of CD34+ CAFs might influence the dedifferentiation of the NSCLC tumor from its cell origin. Finally, SMA+ CAFs are more prevalent in NSCLC tumors of higher stages and lymphonodal positive NSCLC.Key points

Expression of CD34 on cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) is an independent prognostic factor in stage I‐III NSCLC.
SMA+ cancer associated fibroblasts are associated with higher tumor stages in NSCLC and might contribute to tumor progression in NSCLC.
Fatty acids and recurrence of major depressive disorder: combined analysis of two Dutch clinical cohorts
Authors: Thesing C. S. , Lok A. , Milaneschi Y. , Assies J. , Bockting C. L. H. , Figueroa C. A. , Giltay E. J. , Penninx B. W. J. H. , Ruhé H. G. , Schene A. H. , Bot M. , Mocking R. J. T. 
Published: December 2019

ObjectiveOmega‐3 (n‐3) and omega‐6 (n‐6) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) alterations in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have been shown to persist after remission. Whether these alterations are risk factors for MDD recurrence remains unknown. Here, we examined whether fatty acids predict time until MDD recurrence in remitted MDD patients.MethodsData were used from remitted MDD patients of the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (n = 356) and the Depression Evaluation Longitudinal Therapy Assessment studies (n = 118). Associations of FAs with time until MDD recurrence up to 8‐year follow‐up were analyzed using Cox regression analyses. Study‐specific estimates were pooled using mega‐ and meta‐analysis techniques.Results27.5% (NESDA) and 56.8% (DELTA) participants had an MDD recurrence. Pooled results showed that no FA was significantly associated with time until MDD recurrence (n‐3 PUFAs: hazard ratio (HR) = 1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.98–1.41,P = 0.082; n‐6 PUFAs: HR = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.84–1.38,P = 0.55).ConclusionIn remitted MDD patients, circulating PUFAs were not associated with prospective risk of MDD recurrence. Consequently, circulating PUFAs are unlikely to reflect a vulnerability marker for recurrence, so correcting n‐3 PUFA ‘deficits’ through supplementation does not seem a promising option to prevent MDD recurrence.
Vitamin E acetate is not present in licit e‐cigarette products available on the UK market
Authors: Nyakutsikwa Blessing , Britton John , Bogdanovica Ilze , Langley Tessa 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAimsTo determine whether nicotine‐containing vaping products submitted to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) under the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 contain tetrahydrocannabinol or vitamin E acetate.MethodsAnalysis of data on ingredients for all products submitted for notification for the UK market by October 2017 to assess whether any were reported to contain vitamin E acetate or tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The analysis was not pre‐registered and the results should therefore be considered exploratory.ResultsVitamin E acetate and THC were not listed as an ingredient or emission in any of the 41 809 products that were submitted for notification.ConclusionsIn the United Kingdom, vapers and those considering switching from tobacco to vaping can be reassured that licit products available on the UK market do not contain tetrahydrocannabinol or vitamin E acetate.
FAAH levels and its genetic polymorphism association with susceptibility to methamphetamine dependence
Authors: Zhang Wei , Liu Huan , Deng Xiao‐Dong , Ma Ying , Liu Yun 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) gene was involved in the modulation of reward and addiction pathophysiology of illicit drugs abuse, and its polymorphisms might be associated with risk of methamphetamine (METH) dependence. This study aimed to investigate the FAAH mRNA levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma protein levels and to analyze the 385C/A polymorphism (rs324420) between METH‐dependent patients and controls. The levels of FAAH mRNA in METH dependence were significantly lower than in controls (P < 0.001), however, its plasma protein underwent a significant ∼2‐fold increase (P < 0.001). The A allele of the 385C/A polymorphism significantly increased the METH dependence risk (P < 0.001, odds ratio [OR] = 1.646, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.332–2.034). The carried A genotypes (AA, AC, and AA/AC) of 385C/A polymorphism also increased METH‐dependence risks under a different genetic model (AA vs. CC: P = 0.017, OR = 2.454, 95%CI = 1.171–2.143; AC vs. CC: P < 0.001, OR = 1.818, 95%CI = 1.404–2.353; AC/AA vs. CC: P < 0.001, OR = 1.858, 95%CI = 1.444–2.319). The similar results were obtained after adjusting for age and sex. Unfortunately, we failed to find that any genotype of 385C/A polymorphism affected the mRNA or plasma protein levels in controls, respectively (P > 0.05). These data indicate that the FAAH may play an important role in the pathophysiological process of METH dependence, and the 385C/A polymorphism may be associated with METH dependence susceptibility in a Chinese Han population.
Doxazosin down‐regulates sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 and exerts a renoprotective effect in rat models of acute renal injury
Authors: Rezq Samar , Nasr Ahmed M. , Shaheen Aya , Elshazly Shimaa M. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractSodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 (SGLT2) is known to be involved in the progression of acute renal injury (ARI) and is regulated by different mediators in the kidneys including extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK), hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF1α) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). In the present study, we investigated the possible protective effect of doxazosin on renal ischaemia/reperfusion (IR) and glycerol‐induced ARI by determining its effect on SGLT2 via modifying ERK‐HIF1α pathway and/or PGE2. Rats were divided into control, sham or IR where the rats received the vehicle, doxazosin (8 mg/kg) or the SGLT2 inhibitor, dapagliflozin (10 mg/kg) for 3 days followed by 45 minutes bilateral renal ischaemia then 24 hours reperfusion. Another group of rats received the vehicle, doxazosin or dapagliflozin for three days followed by injection of 50% glycerol (8 mL/kg, IM) or saline. Kidney function tests, systolic blood pressure (SBP), oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde [MDA] and NADPH oxidase), nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), HIF1α, ERK phosphorylation and PGE2 levels were determined. Additionally, renal sections were used for immunological expression of SGLT2. ARI rats showed significantly increased SBP; worsened kidney function tests; increased oxidative stress, iNOS, NO, HIF1α levels; and decreased PGE2 and ERK phosphorylation along with up‐regulated SGLT2. Doxazosin treatment protected against the kidney damage and attenuated the associated biochemical changes. Doxazosin has a direct renoprotective effect possibly by down‐regulating SGLT2.
Liposomal irinotecan in metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma in Asian patients: Subgroup analysis of the NAPOLI‐1 study
Authors: Bang Yung‐Jue , Li Chung‐Pin , Lee Kyung‐Hun , Chiu Chang‐Fang , Park Joon Oh , Shan Yan‐Shen , Kim Jun Suk , Chen Jen‐Shi , Shim Hyun‐Jeong , Rau Kun‐Ming , Choi Hye Jin , Oh Do‐Youn , Belanger Bruce , Chen Li‐Tzong 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe global, randomized NAPOLI‐1 phase 3 trial reported a survival benefit with liposomal irinotecan (nal‐IRI) plus 5‐fluorouracil/leucovorin (nal‐IRI+5‐FU/LV) in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) after previous gemcitabine‐based therapy. Median overall survival (OS) with nal‐IRI+5‐FU/LV was 6.1 vs 4.2 months with 5‐FU/LV alone (unstratified hazard ratio [HR] = 0.67, P = .012). Herein, we report efficacy and safety results from a post‐hoc subgroup analysis of Asian patients treated at Asian centers. Primary study endpoint was OS; secondary endpoints included progression‐free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and safety. Patients receiving nal‐IRI+5‐FU/LV (n = 34) had significantly longer median OS versus 5‐FU/LV (n = 35) (8.9 vs 3.7 months; unstratified HR = 0.51, P = .025). Patients had significantly increased median PFS with nal‐IRI+5‐FU/LV versus 5‐FU/LV (4.0 vs 1.4; unstratified HR = 0.48, P = .011), and increased ORR (8.8% vs 0; P = .114). nal‐IRI monotherapy (n = 50) numerically improved efficacy endpoints versus 5‐FU/LV (n = 48): median OS was 5.8 versus 4.3 months (HR = 0.83, P = .423) and median PFS was 2.8 versus 1.4 months (HR = 0.69, P = .155). Grade ≥3 neutropenia was reported more frequently with nal‐IRI+5‐FU/LV versus 5‐FU/LV (54.5% vs 3.4%), and incidence of grade ≥3 diarrhea was comparable between the two arms (3.0% vs 6.9%). This subgroup analysis confirms nal‐IRI+5‐FU/LV as an efficacious treatment option that improves survival in Asian patients with mPDAC that progressed after gemcitabine‐based therapy, with a safety profile agreeing with previous findings. The nal‐IRI+5‐FU/LV regimen should represent a new standard of care for these patients in Asia. (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01494506)
A novel series of chlorinated plastoquinone analogs: Design, synthesis, and evaluation of anticancer activity
Authors: Bayrak Nilüfer , Yıldırım Hatice , Yıldız Mahmut , Radwan Mohamed O. , Otsuka Masami , Fujita Mikako , Ciftci Halil I. , Tuyun Amaç Fatih 
Published: December 2019

AbstractHerein, we report the synthesis and cytotoxic effects of novel chlorinated plastoquinone analogs (ABQ1–17) against different leukemic cells. Compounds ABQ3, ABQ11, and ABQ12 demonstrated a pronounced antiproliferative effect against chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) K562 cell line with IC50 values of 0.82 ± 0.07, 0.28 ± 0.03, and 0.98 ± 0.22 μM, respectively. Among them, ABQ11 showed approximately three times higher selectivity than imatinib on CML. ABQ11‐treated CML cells induced significant apoptosis at low concentration. Inhibitory effect of ABQ11 against eight different tyrosine kinases, including ABL1, was investigated. ABQ11 inhibited ABL1 with IC50 value of 13.12 ± 1.71 μM, indicating that the moderate inhibition of ABL1 kinase is just an in‐part mechanism of its outstanding cellular activity. Molecular docking of ABQ11 into ABL1 kinase ATP‐binding pocket revealed the formation of some key interactions. Furthermore, DNA cleavage assay showed that ABQ11 strongly disintegrated DNA at 1 μM concentration in the presence of iron (II) complex system, assuming that the major mechanism for the anticancer effects of ABQ11 is DNA cleavage. In silico ADMET prediction revealed that ABQ11 is a drug‐like small molecule with a favorable safety profile. Taken together, ABQ11 is a potential antiproliferative hit compound that exhibits unique cytotoxic activity distinct from imatinib.
Expression profiling of single cells and patient cohorts identifies multiple immunosuppressive pathways and an altered NK cell phenotype in glioblastoma
Authors: Close H J , Stead L F , Nsengimana J , Reilly K A , Droop A , Wurdak H , Mathew R K , Corns R , Newton-Bishop J , Melcher A A , Short S C , Cook G P , Wilson E B 
Published: December 2019

Summary
Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive cancer with a very poor prognosis. Generally viewed as weakly immunogenic, GBM responds poorly to current immunotherapies. To understand this problem more clearly we used a combination of natural killer (NK) cell functional assays together with gene and protein expression profiling to define the NK cell response to GBM and explore immunosuppression in the GBM microenvironment. In addition, we used transcriptome data from patient cohorts to classify GBM according to immunological profiles. We show that glioma stem-like cells, a source of post-treatment tumour recurrence, express multiple immunomodulatory cell surface molecules and are targeted in preference to normal neural progenitor cells by natural killer (NK) cells ex vivo. In contrast, GBM-infiltrating NK cells express reduced levels of activation receptors within the tumour microenvironment, with hallmarks of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-mediated inhibition. This NK cell inhibition is accompanied by expression of multiple immune checkpoint molecules on T cells. Single-cell transcriptomics demonstrated that both tumour and haematopoietic-derived cells in GBM express multiple, diverse mediators of immune evasion. Despite this, immunome analysis across a patient cohort identifies a spectrum of immunological activity in GBM, with active immunity marked by co-expression of immune effector molecules and feedback inhibitory mechanisms. Our data show that GBM is recognized by the immune system but that anti-tumour immunity is restrained by multiple immunosuppressive pathways, some of which operate in the healthy brain. The presence of immune activity in a subset of patients suggests that these patients will more probably benefit from combination immunotherapies directed against multiple immunosuppressive pathways.
Selection of reference genes for quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction normalization inBradysia odoriphaga(Diptera: Sciaridae)
Authors: Tang Bowen , Dai Wu , Zhang Chunni 
Published: December 2019

AbstractSelecting stable reference genes for reverse transcription quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction analysis is critically important for gene expression.Bradysia odoriphagais the most serious pest of Chinese chives, but our knowledge of its genetics is limited. In the present study, five housekeeping genes (β‐Actin,α‐Tubulin,RPS7,GAPDHand18S rRNA) were cloned fromB. odoriphagausing the combined techniques of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction with rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The five genes, together withRPS15, were quantified for transcription stability inB. odoriphagaunder various experimental conditions. Their expression stability was evaluated using four different algorithms (a comparative ΔCt method, GeNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper). Additionally, we used an online Web‐based tool (RefFinder) to assign an overall final rank to each candidate gene. These analyses identified18S,RPS15andRPS7as the most stable reference genes across developmental stages.18S,RPS7andTubulinwere the most stable reference genes for monitoring gene expression across different tissues of adults.RPS7,GAPDHandTubulinwere selected as the best reference genes across different larval tissues.GAPDHandRPS15were selected to normalize gene expression for experiments of insecticide treatments.ActinandGAPDHare considered suitable reference genes in experiments of temperature treatments.ActinandTubulinare considered suitable reference genes for starvation experiments. This study provides an important supplement of suitable reference genes forB. odoriphagaand these results provide clues toward the understanding of the genes’ biological functions inB. odoriphaga.