bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of TLR4 signaling on Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS-induced cardiac dysfunction in mice
Authors: Matsuo Ichiro , Kawamura Naoya , Ohnuki Yoshiki , Suita Kenji , Ishikawa Misao , Matsubara Takehiro , Mototani Yasumasa , Ito Aiko , Hayakawa Yoshio , Nariyama Megumi , Morii Akinaka , Kiyomoto Kenichi , Tsunoda Michinori , Gomi Kazuhiro , Okumura Satoshi 
Published: October 2021

AbstractOral infections, particularly periodontitis, are a well-established risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, although the molecular mechanisms involved remain elusive. The aims of the present study were to investigate the effects of lipopolysaccharide derived from Porphyromonas gingivalis (PG-LPS) on cardiac function in mice, and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Mice (C57BL/6) were injected with PG-LPS (0.8 mg/kg/day) with or without an inhibitor of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling (TAK-242, 0.8 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks. Left ventricular ejection function was significantly decreased at 1 week (from 67 ± 0.5 to 58 ± 1.2 %) and remained low at 4 weeks (57 ± 1.0 %). The number of apoptotic myocytes was increased (approximately 7.4-fold), the area of fibrosis was increased (approximately 3.3-fold) and the number of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine-positive myocytes, a sensitive indicator of oxidative DNA damage, was increased (approximately 7.6-fold) at 4 weeks in the heart of PG-LPS treated mice. However, levels of various serum pro-inflammatory cytokines in PG-LPS-treated mice were similar to those in control mice. The impairment of cardiac function in PG-LPS-treated mice appears to involve activation of TLR4-NADPH oxidase (NOX) 4 signaling, leading to abundant production of reactive oxygen species and Ca2+ leakage from sarcoplastic reticulumn induced by calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII)-mediated phosphorylation of phospholamban (at Thr-17) and ryanodine receptor 2 (at Ser-2448). Pharmacological inhibition of TLR4 with TAK-242 attenuated the changes in cardiac function in PG-LPS-treated mice. Our results indicate that TLR4-NOX4 signaling may be a new therapeutic target for treatment of cardiovascular diseases in patients with periodontitis.
Evolutionary sweeps of subviral parasites and their phage host bring unique parasite variants and disappearance of a phage CRISPR-Cas system
Authors: Angermeyer Angus , Hays Stephanie G. , Nguyen Maria H.T. , Johura Fatema-tuz , Sultana Marzia , Alam Munirul , Seed Kimberley D. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractVibrio cholerae is a significant threat to global public health in part due to its propensity for large-scale evolutionary sweeps where lineages emerge and are replaced. These sweeps may originate from the Bay of Bengal where bacteriophage predation and the evolution of anti-phage counter defenses is a recurring theme. The bacteriophage ICP1 is a key predator of epidemic V. cholerae and is notable for acquiring a CRISPR-Cas system to combat PLE, a defensive subviral parasite encoded by its V. cholerae host. Here we describe the discovery of five previously unknown PLE variants, including one found during recent surveillance of patient samples in Bangladesh. We also observed a lineage sweep of PLE negative V. cholerae occurring within a patient population in under a year which coincided with a loss of ICP1’s CRISPR-Cas system. These findings reinforce the importance of surveillance to better understand the selective pressures that drive pandemic cholera.
Board characteristics, audit committee attributes and firm performance: empirical evidence from emerging economy
Authors: Fariha Rifat , Hossain Md. Mukarrom , Ghosh Ratan 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThis study is designed and directed to analyze the effect of board characteristics and audit committee attributes on the firm performance of publicly listed commercial banks of Bangladesh.Design/methodology/approachThirty publicly listed commercial banks of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) have been taken as sample for this study. Data have been collected from annual reports between 2011 and 2017 of the assessed banks. Pooled OLS model has been used for running regression model of this study.FindingsBoard independence has a negative and significant relationship with ROA and Tobin's Q. However, Board Independence has a positive and significant relationship with Stock Return. On the other hand, Board Diversity has a negative and significant relationship with ROA and ROE, which implies inefficiency of diversified board members in the context of Bangladesh. Family duality has a positive and significant relationship with ROA and a negative and significant relationship with Stock return. Board Meeting has a positive and significant relationship with ROA. Audit Committee Size has a negative and significant relationship with Tobins' Q. Independence of audit committee chairman has a negative and significant relationship with Tobin's Q and Stock Returns. Presence of non-executive directors and number of audit meetings have no significant relationship with any of the predicted variables.Research limitations/implicationsAmong all variables of the board characteristics, role of independent directors and participation of female directors have conflicting results in this study. This has raised a question about the fair appointment independent directors and their objective view on the board. Female directors' role is not convincing in the context of Bangladesh as most of the commercial banks are family-owned. Policymakers can tighten and supervise the appointment of independent directors to ensure good governance in the banking sector. Moreover, role of audit committee and independence of audit committee chairman have generated conflicting results in terms of market-based performance measure.Originality/valueBanking sector of Bangladesh experiences huge corruption in the form of excessive NPLs and poor management quality which results in low profit for the firm. This study has explored the problems of management quality and flaws of audit committee which is hampering overall growth of banking industry. Improvement of independent directors' appointment and audit committee formation and reporting will certainly help banking industry of Bangladesh to improve overall performance.
Antecedents and consequences of perceived job security of professional accountants
Authors: Shahid Ahmad Usman , Tufail Hafiza Sobia , Shahid Jawad , Ismail Aimen 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to develop and empirically test a theoretical model of antecedents and consequences of perceived job security of professional accountants. This study contributes to the literature by examining the mediating role of perceived job security between the reward management system and the ethical job performance of professional accountants.Design/methodology/approachA survey was used to collect responses from professional accountants at small- and medium-tier accounting firms in Pakistan. Of the total 313 circulated research instruments, 270 were completed producing a response rate of 86%. The hypotheses were tested by performing structural equation modeling, confirmatory factor analysis and correlation using SPSS 24 and AMOS 25.FindingsFindings specify that the perceived job security of professional accountants partially and fully mediates the relationship between their ethical job performance and intrinsic and rewards, respectively. Additionally, reward management systems including intrinsic and extrinsic rewards have a significant impact on the ethical job performance of professional accountants.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study may have significant implications for researchers for examining the subjects' perceived job security in enhancing the overall performance of the firms. The findings may also benefit domestic and international accounting firms for recognizing the importance of rewards and job security for enhancing the ethical performance of accountants.Originality/valueThis study is the first to provide empirical evidence for the importance of perceived job security for professional accountants in Pakistan. The current research also provides sharper insights into establishing the direct impact of both extrinsic and intrinsic rewards on professional accountants' ethical job performance.
Disability inclusiveness of early warning system: a study on flood-prone areas of Bangladesh
Authors: Chisty Musabber Ali , Nazim Ashrafuzzaman , Rahman Md. Mostafizur , Dola Syeda Erena Alam , Khan Nesar Ahmed 
Published: October 2021

PurposePersons with disabilities face the impacts of disasters differently. Early warning systems can be one of the powerful tools to reduce the vulnerabilities of persons with disabilities and mitigate the impacts of disasters. The main objective of this study was to assess the disability inclusiveness of the current early warning system (EWS) in flood-prone areas of Bangladesh.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative method was focused on getting in-depth information. Persons with disabilities participated in focus group discussions (FGDs) and shared the inclusiveness and gaps of the current EWS. Through extensive literature review, a checklist was developed to conduct the FGDs. QDA Miner 6.0.6 software was used for coding and analyzing the data.FindingsResults indicated that, though persons with disabilities have proper risk knowledge, the current monitoring and warning service, dissemination and communication, and response capability are not fully inclusive. A significant gap in the EWS was found in response capability. Even if somehow persons with disabilities manage to receive a warning about a flood, they lack the capacity to respond to the warning.Research limitations/implicationsThe study proposed that to make an EWS inclusive and effective, the concerned authorities should focus on all four parts of the EWS.Originality/valueStudies related to disability and disaster management are not very common. Conducting a qualitative study provided the persons with disabilities the opportunity to share their perspectives. Future studies can focus on vulnerability and capacity assessment of persons with disabilities to identify areas requiring interventions to enhance resilience.
Two aspects of health literacy and their importance for the use of health-promotion measures by teachers in the school setting
Authors: Hoppe-Herfurth Anne-Cathrin , Burkhardt Birgit , John Nancy , Bilz Ludwig 
Published: October 2021

PurposeTeachers are exposed to many stressors. Compared to other occupational groups, they are more frequently affected by psychosomatic complaints. In recent decades, numerous prevention and intervention measures for promoting health have been developed and implemented for this target group. However, it remains unclear how the uptake of health-promotion measures (HPMs) by teachers can be increased in order to prevent stress-related disorders. This paper examines two facets of health literacy—health awareness and health value—in terms of their importance in both the take-up and intended take-up of HPMs.Design/methodology/approachIn the 2017/2018 school year, data were collected by paper and pencil from a representative sample of 830 teachers across all school types in the German State of Brandenburg.FindingsTeachers who place great value on their own health show significantly higher levels of take-up and intended take-up of HPMs. The findings regarding health awareness are more heterogeneous. Further associations were found with age and psychosocial stress.Originality/valueWhile there has been growing academic interest in developing HPMs for teachers, there has been relatively little focus on the factors that may influence the implementation and uptake of these measures. The paper contributes to addressing this gap by shedding light on the relevance of two facets of health literacy. Strengthening the perceived importance of health could be a starting point for increasing the use of HPMs by teachers and thus improving their health.
Menstrual knowledge and perceptions of schoolgirls in Bangladesh: do socio-economic factors really matter?
Authors: Parvin Gulsan Ara , Takashino Nina , Islam Md. Shahidul , Rahman Md. Habibur , Abedin Md. Anwarul , Basu Mrittika 
Published: October 2021

Purpose
This study aims to explore whether socio-economic factors determine the level of menstrual knowledge and perceptions of schoolgirls in Bangladesh. The aim of this study is to understand how knowledge and perceptions vary with variations in the different socio-economic factors in a schoolgirl’s life such as place of residence, religion, age, grade, parents’ education, parents’ occupation, family income and even family size.

Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected from four schools (two in urban areas and two in rural areas). A total of 450 schoolgirls from grades V–X were interviewed to examine how knowledge and perceptions varied with different socio-economic aspects. Multiple logistic regression models were used to measure the associations between various socio-economic variables and perceptions of and knowledge about menstruation.

Findings
Respondents from urban areas were 4.75 times more likely and those 14–16 years old were two times more likely to report higher levels of knowledge about menstruation compared to their counterparts. Based on the father’s occupation, respondents whose father was engaged in a professional occupation were 1.983 times more likely to have a higher level of knowledge on menstruation compared to those whose fathers were in an unskilled profession. Similarly, the odds of positive perceptions on menstruation were 1.456 and 1.987 times higher, respectively, among respondents living in urban areas and those 14–16 years old, compared to their counterparts.

Originality/value
This study provides evidence that different socio-economic and even demographic factors are important in the development of menstrual knowledge and perceptions. Policy formulation and development actions related to adolescent girls’ physical and reproductive health development need to consider these factors in Bangladesh and in other developing countries, where poor knowledge and perception related to menstruation are hindering girls’ mental and physical development. This is expected that better knowledge and perception will facilitate girls’ right to have better health and social lives.
Club convergence and drivers of house prices across Turkish cities
Authors: Gunduz Lokman , Yilmaz Mustafa Kemal 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the convergence pattern of residential house prices in a panel of 55 major cities in Turkey over the period between 2010 and 2018 and to investigate the determinants of convergence club formations.Design/methodology/approachThe authors applied the log t-test to identify the convergence clubs and estimated ordered logit model to determine the key drivers.FindingsThe results suggest that there are five convergence clubs and confirm the heterogeneity of the Turkish housing market. Istanbul, the commercial capital, and Mugla, an attractive tourist destination, are at the top of the housing market and followed by the cities located in the western part, particularly along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts of Turkey. Moreover, the ordered logit model results point out that the differences in employment rate, climate, population density and having a metropolitan municipality play a significant role in determining convergence club membership.Practical implicationsLarge-scale policy measures aiming to increase employment opportunities in rural cities of central and eastern provinces and providing lower land prices and property taxes in the metropolitan cities of Turkey can help mitigate some of the divergence in the house prices across cities.Originality/valueThe novelty of this study lies in employing a new data set at the city level containing 55 cities in Turkey, which is by far the largest in terms of city coverage among emerging market economies to implement the log t-test. It also contributes to the literature on city-specific determinants of convergence club formation in the case of an emerging economy.
Predictors of financial satisfaction and its impact on psychological wellbeing of individuals
Authors: Owusu Godfred Matthew Yaw 
Published: October 2021

PurposeIn this study, the author examines the effect of financial knowledge, financial attitude and responsible financial management behaviour on financial satisfaction and investigates the association between financial satisfaction and psychological wellbeing of individuals. The author examines these relationships having controlled for the influence of key demographic variables including age, gender, marital status, income level and employment status of respondents on the predicted relationships.Design/methodology/approachData was gathered by means of a self-administered questionnaire to postgraduate business students from a large public university in Ghana. The hypothesized relationships of the study were tested using the Partial Least Square Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) technique.FindingsThe author shows from the structural model analysis using the bootstrapping procedure that financial knowledge, financial attitude and sound financial management behaviour have important implications on financial satisfaction levels of individuals. Further, the author finds financial satisfaction to be an important predictor of the psychological wellbeing of individuals.Practical implicationsThe paper highlights the relevance of financial satisfaction on the psychological wellbeing of an individual and identifies some of the dominant factors that are associated with financial satisfaction.Originality/valueThis study examines the concept of financial satisfaction at the individual level and uniquely highlights the psychological implications of financial satisfaction.
The impact of interprofessional practice models on health service inequity: an integrative systematic review
Authors: Carey Melissa Jane , Taylor Melissa 
Published: October 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this review was to explore the literature for evidence of the impact of interprofessional practice models on health service inequity, particularly within community care settings for diverse ageing populations.Design/methodology/approachAn integrative systematic literature review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework combined with the EndNote reference management system. Following the collection and comprehensive screening process completion, a thematic analysis of the included articles occurred utilising within NVivo 12 software.FindingsThe review found that there was a paucity of evidence related to the relationship between interprofessional practice models (IPM) and health service equity for ageing populations. There is a need to improve collaborative practices between social care, public health care and health service providers to more clearly define team member roles. Key aspirations included the need for future innovations in health service delivery to place health service equity as a goal for interprofessional practice. There is a need to find ways to measure and articulate the impact for vulnerable populations and communities.Research limitations/implicationsThe review offers insight into the need for health care delivery models to place health service equity at the centre of the model design. In practice settings, this includes setting interprofessional team goals around achieving equitable care outcomes for, and with, vulnerable populations. Implications for practice relate to improving how interprofessional teams work with communities to achieve health care equity.Originality/valueThere is a consensus across the literature that there continues to be health service inequity, yet IPE and interprofessional collaborative practice (IPC) have been growing in momentum for some time. Despite many statements that there is a link between interprofessional practice and improved health service equity and health outcomes, evidence for this is yet to be fully realised. This review highlights the urgent need to review the link between education and practice, and innovative health models of care that enable heath care professionals and social care providers to work together towards achieving health equity for ageing populations. It is clear that more evidence is required to establish evidence for best practice in interprofessional care that has the mitigation of health care inequity as a central objective.
Productivity of gig workers on crowdsourcing platforms through artificial intelligence and gamification: a multi-theoretical approach
Authors: Behl Abhishek , Sampat Brinda , Raj Sahil 
Published: October 2021

PurposeGig workers form the backbone of any crowdsourcing platform where they showcase their talent and choose a job of their choice and freedom. The study explores the role of information quality (IQ) and social-mediated dialogue (SMD) in evaluating gig worker engagement and productivity on crowdsourcing platforms. The authors also propose to understand how gig worker productivity could be improved under the moderating effect of game elements.Design/methodology/approachA conceptual model was developed and empirically tested by integrating media richness theory and dialogic public relation theory. Data were collected from gig workers that are involved in crowdsourcing activities for the past three years. An overall sample of 346 gig workers contributing to at least one of the crowdsourcing platforms was collected. The authors tested the hypotheses using Warp PLS 7.0. Warp PLS 7.0 uses partial least square (PLS) structured equation modeling (SEM) and has been used widely to test path analytical models.FindingsResults reveal that the information quality plays an essential role in the SMD, thereby fostering gig workers' productivity and engagement, which could be improved in the presence of game elements due to their nature of supporting rewards. However, engagement in the platform leading to improved productivity was not supported.Practical implicationsThe study lays practical foundations for crowdsourcing platforms as it sets the importance of both IQ and dialogic communication channels. The two-way communication between gig workers and the platforms via accurate, timely, valuable and reliable information forms the key to the task's success. The introduction of the right game element will help to achieve better engagement and productivity.Originality/valueThis study also offers a new dimension to media richness theory and dialogic public relation theory in crowdsourcing platforms. The results would help platform designers and gig employers understand gig workers' quality and performance in a platform economy. The study uniquely positions itself in the area of crowdsourcing platforms by using game elements.