bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How online social community participation affect product stickiness: a study on green energy technology product
Authors: Lin You-Hung , Chang Hsin Hsin , Chiu Chun Po
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study aims to develop a conceptual model for GET products that participate in brands’ online communities, based on social cognitive theory (SCT), with environmental factors, personal factors and behavioral factors being used to explore whether users of GET products participate in brand online communities as well as to determine whether participation in a community forum causes users to stick with GET products. In addition, expectancy confirmation is also considered in the research model.

Design/methodology/approach

This research examines whether environmental and personal factors have a positive effect on the behavioral factors of Gogoro users, and then further effects on green energy technology (GET) product stickiness for users in online communities. A website was used to distribute links to two Facebook club sites: Gogoro Series 2 Fan Club and the Gogoro Fan Club. The respondents’ qualification criteria were restricted to people who had used Gogoro products and participated in a Gogoro online community. A total of 581 valid responses were collected for structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis, and expectancy confirmation was found to be moderate from a hierarchical regression.

Findings

The results of SEM show that virtual interactivity has a positive effect on product-related content, and social norms were found to have significant effects on creating product-related content. Brand community identification, perceived relative advantage and brand knowledge self-efficacy are found to be related to both creating and contributing product-related content. Also, creating product-related content and contributing user participation behaviors influence ET product stickiness.

Practical implications

Online community managers can boost user participation by increasing interaction, and community identification by enhancing users’ perceptions of benefiting from participating in their communities. Companies can also encourage users to create product-related content to increase users’ stickiness to GET products. Further, GET companies can try to enhance users’ intrinsic connection with other community users to increase their brand community identification if they want to increase users’ willingness to participate.

Originality/value

This study adopted SCT to measure the GET product stickiness formation process in an attempt to determine what factors boost user participation based on triadic reciprocality. Also, expectancy confirmation plays an important role in the relationship between community users’ participation behaviors and GET product stickiness. The results indicated that it was appropriate to add virtual interactivity to environmental factors and perceived relative advantage to personal factors to measure users’ participation in an online social community. Actual product users’ online community participation behavior could be a very influential indicator of actual product stickiness formation.
Flexible paths to innovation: mitigating commuting’s impact on creative deviance
Authors: Liu Xiaoqin , Lin Zhibin , Li Xiaohui , Liang Cuiying
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how long commutes negatively affect employees’ creative deviance at work, exploring the mediating role that impaired work–life balance plays in linking commute to restricted creative deviance, as well as examining whether access to flexible work arrangements can alleviate commuting’s detrimental indirect effects.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a three-wave survey methodology conducted over monthly intervals with 246 participants in China’s Pearl River Delta region. Rigorous screening ensured a demographically diverse sample.

Findings

Commuting time negatively affects creative deviance, both directly and indirectly through work–life balance. Flexible work arrangements mitigate the adverse effects of long commutes on work–life balance, subsequently weakening the indirect effect of commuting time on creative deviance through work–life balance.

Practical implications

A holistic approach is suggested for organizations aiming to foster a supportive and ethical work environment, which involves a combination of organizational policies, leadership practices and individual actions to promote both creativity and employee welfare.

Originality/value

This research breaks new ground by identifying commuting time as a key factor influencing creative deviance in the workplace, mediated by work–life balance. It integrates transportation research with organizational behavior, applying an ethics of care perspective to challenge traditional paradigms. The study’s interdisciplinary approach, bridging multiple fields, provides a novel, holistic view of how non-work factors impact workplace innovation.
Influential factors in the consumption of water by schoolchildren in Mexico
Authors: Fernandez-Haddad Marilu , Huerta-Carvajal Maria Isabel
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Based on the assumptions of the social ecological theory (SET), this study aims to identify the factors that influence water consumption by the schoolchildren segment in urban communities in Mexico, to further develop a community-based social marketing intervention.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was formative research, quantitative and qualitative in nature, consisting of a survey, focus groups and in-depth interviews. It was conducted in public and private elementary schools in central Mexico (five states), during 2023.

Findings

It was identified that parents are aware of the benefits of drinking water for their children’s health. However, various factors in the sociocultural environment, perceptions, customs and habits were noted as barriers to water consumption. Consequently, children’s behaviors are influenced by their family context as the strongest environment. Likewise, the school environment and the social environment are identified as other influential factors. Each system acts as a motivator or barrier in the child’s behavior, creating and supporting consumption behaviors learned from an early age.

Originality/value

Interventions on water consumption should target the most influential SET systems; the microsystem and the mesosystem, achieving the participation and co-responsibility of stakeholders in changing the environment and thus behavior.
Age-friendly cities enhancing ageing: accelerating digital inclusion for India’s elderly
Authors: Ghosh Munmun
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This exploration begins with understanding the concept of age-friendly cities and communities as guided by the World Health Organisation. The purpose of this study is to assesses the potential of the concept of age-friendly cities and how these initiatives are driven by commitments to create an environment that promotes active ageing, leveraging digital tools and technologies to enhance connectivity, accessibility and overall well-being of the older.

Design/methodology/approach

The viewpoint discussed the diverse ways in which the unique concept of age-friendly cities or living areas can be explored in India. Such concepts will create a more inclusive society for the older people around us.

Findings

The viewpoint highlighted a few global cases of age-friendly cities. It emphasised their innovative approaches, lessons learned, best practices and challenges. These real-time examples inspire, showing us the potential and success of such initiatives. They also help us understand the areas we must work on to create such environments for our older people. The chapter also evaluates the initiatives and projects undertaken in India so far to enhance the living experience of the older, integrating digital technologies. By analysing India’s journey towards age-friendly initiatives, the discussion provides detailed insights for policymakers and other societal stakeholders to broaden the development framework that holistically incorporates the ageing population’s needs.

Originality/value

The concept of age-friendly cities in India is not just a new approach but a crucial one in the near future. Owing to the existing diversity in our country, this discussion presented in this viewpoint will help to emphasise the need to create separate policies and implement the same at various levels. Ageing is inevitable, and this study’s reflections will also allow families and society to prioritise the needs of older adults in their families and around them. This work will also create an opportunity for all society’s stakeholders to look at older adults’ needs differently and more practically, underlining the urgency and importance of this issue.
Instagram live-streamings: how does influencer–follower congruence affect Gen Z trust, attitudes and intentions?
Authors: Maghraoui Souad , Khrouf Lilia
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Influencer marketing is nowadays an essential practice for companies wishing to establish a rapprochement with its customers and gain their trust. Building close relationships can be fulfilled through Instagram live-streamings. Drawing upon equilibrium theory and brand extension theory, this paper aims to determine the effect of influencer–follower congruence on trust, attitudes and intentions in Instagram live-streamings.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was carried out on a sample of 330 Generation Z Instagram users exposed to a live-streaming of an influencer promoting a clothing brand on Instagram. A PLS analysis was performed to validate the proposed model.

Findings

Results revealed that influencer–follower congruence in a live-streaming promotes followers’ trust toward the brand. In addition, influencer reputation is found to reinforce this relationship. Moreover, results showed that brand trust mediates the effect of influencer–follower congruence on brand attitude. Besides, the latter turns out be a mediator of the relationship between brand trust and followers’ intentional reactions.

Research limitations/implications

The study has focused on one particular live-streaming as well as a particular influencer which reduces the generalizability of the results. Future research should therefore replicate the study with different stimuli. Furthermore, it would be interesting to manipulate influencer–follower congruence in an experiment to explore the effect of varying congruence levels on trust.

Practical implications

This paper highlights the importance of using live-streamings for brands, especially when Gen Z is targeted. This tool can be considered as very useful to establish a trust relationship with young consumers. Moreover, the study emphasizes on the importance of choosing influencers whose image is in line with that of their followers to establish close relationships with them and gain their trust. The findings also suggest that to further strengthen trust toward the influencer, the latter should benefit from a prior good reputation.

Originality/value

Despite abundance of research on communication strategies on Instagram, little has focused on live-streamings. Particularly, research on influencer–follower congruence is relatively rare. Thus, this study contributes to the understanding of the effects of influencer–follower congruence on followers of Instagram live-streamings and offers valuable theoretical and practical implications in this field.
Landscape and local factors drive pesticide distribution in perennial agroecosystems
Authors: Michalko Radek , Purchart Luboš , Košulič Ondřej
Published: October 2024

Pesticides constitute a major threat to biodiversity, but our understanding of the complex interactions between local and landscape factors influencing their distribution in agroecosystems remains limited.

We conducted a pioneering study where we screened spiders, rodents, plants and soils for multiple pesticide residues in perennial crops (orchards and vineyards) managed under organic (N = 8) and integrated pest management (N = 8) systems. We then quantified the proportional representation of major habitat types in surrounding landscapes. Additionally, we conducted interviews with farmers to gain precise insights into pesticide applications. We expected that landscape factors would be more important for mobile entities (i.e. spiders and rodents), while management type would be relatively more important for the sedentary entities (i.e. soils and plants).

We detected various pesticides within studied crop types, including several forbidden in the European Union. We found that pesticide distribution in spiders was influenced by the proportion of semi‐natural habitats in the landscape, with pesticide concentration decreasing as the proportion of semi‐natural habitats increased. Additionally, we observed that the spectrum of pesticides in spiders increased with the dominance of web‐building spiders. In contrast, pesticide levels in rodents were not affected by either landscape composition or local management type. For plants, pesticide distribution was affected by the proportion of forests and shrublands and, to some extent, by local management practices. In the case of soil, pesticide distribution was primarily determined by local management.

This study marks an effort in demonstrating that both local and landscape factors play crucial roles in shaping pesticide distribution within perennial crops. Importantly, the relative importance of these factors varied across the four matrices investigated.

Synthesis and applications: To comprehend the factors that determine pesticide distribution in crops, it is crucial to monitor diverse ecosystem components rather than focusing on a few model species. This approach underscores the necessity for ecologically sensitive management at landscape scale. Such management should involve the preservation and enhancement of (semi)natural habitats around crops. These combined insights can form the foundation for conservation and management initiatives aimed at mitigating the impact of pesticides on biodiversity within crops.
Care of late intrauterine fetal death and stillbirth
Authors: Burden Christy , Merriel Abi , Bakhbakhi Danya , Heazell Alexander , Siassakos Dimitrios ,   the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Published: October 2024

Key recommendations

A combination of mifepristone and a prostaglandin preparation should usually be recommended as the first‐line intervention for induction of labour (Grade B).

A single 200 milligram dose of mifepristone is appropriate for this indication, followed by:

24+0–24+6 weeks of gestation – 400 micrograms buccal/sublingual/vaginal/oral of misoprostol every 3 hours;

25+0–27+6 weeks of gestation – 200 micrograms buccal/sublingual/vaginal/oral of misoprostol every 4 hours;

from 28+0 weeks of gestation – 25–50 micrograms vaginal every 4 hours, or 50–100 micrograms oral every 2 hours [Grade C].

There is insufficient evidence available to recommend a specific regimen of misoprostol for use at more than 28+0 weeks of gestation in women who have had a previous caesarean birth or transmural uterine scar [Grade D].

Women with more than two lower segment caesarean births or atypical scars should be advised that the safety of induction of labour is unknown [Grade D].

Staff should be educated in discussing mode of birth with bereaved parents. Vaginal birth is recommended for most women, but caesarean birth will need to be considered for some [Grade D].

A detailed informed discussion should be undertaken with parents of both physical and psychological aspects of a vaginal birth versus a caesarean birth [Grade C].

Parents should be cared for in an environment that provides adequate safety according to individual clinical circumstance, while meeting their needs to grieve and feel supported in doing so (GPP).

Clinical and laboratory tests should be recommended to assess maternal wellbeing (including coagulopathy) and to determine the cause of fetal death, the chance of recurrence and possible means of avoiding future pregnancy complications [Grade D].

Parents should be advised that with full investigation (including postmortem and placental histology) a possible or probable cause can be found in up to three‐quarters of late intrauterine fetal deaths [Grade B].

All parents should be offered cytogenetic testing of their baby, which should be performed after written consent is given (GPP).

Parents should be advised that postmortem examination can provide information that can sometimes be crucial to the management of future pregnancy [Grade B].
Overlapping markets and quality competition among community health centers
Authors: Li Kun , Dor Avi
Published: October 2024

Objective

To examine the response of community health center (CHC) quality to quality levels at neighboring CHCs in the presence of non‐price competition.

Data Setting and Design

A quasi‐experimental study of US community health centers. Outcome variables were indices that measured overall quality of CHC care. Using patient flow data, we constructed CHC‐specific Hirschman–Herfindahl index (HHI) and competitors' composite quality measure. The plausibly exogenous change in characteristics of “competitors' competitors” was exploited to identify the relationship between competition and quality of care, using a generalized two‐stage least square model with instrumental variables.

Data Sources and Analytic Sample

Using the Health Center Program Uniform Data System (2014–2018), linked with American Community Survey and Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, we analyzed 1098 unique federally funded CHCs in 50 states and District of Columbia which had at least one neighboring CHC and had non‐missing data for 2015–2018 (4226 CHC‐years).

Principal Findings

Most of CHCs served populations in overlapping geographic markets, with median market concentration decreasing during the study period. A one‐percent increase in competitors' quality was associated with a 0.71‐percent increase in an index CHC's composite quality (p < 0.01), consisting of a 0.59‐percent increase in chronic condition control rates (p < 0.01); a 0.68‐percent increase in the screening and assessment rates (p < 0.01); and a 0.78‐percent increase in medication management rates (p < 0.01). The association was stronger at CHCs serving a smaller proportion of uninsured patients. No significant quality reaction was observed at CHCs with a percentage of uninsured patients larger than the 75th percentile. We observed no significant associations between HHI and quality.

Conclusions

Increasing competition does not harm quality of care at CHCs. A CHC appears to improve its quality if its competitors improved quality. The beneficial quality effect was less pronounced in CHCs providing a significant proportion of care to uninsured patients, suggesting lack of incentives faced by these CHCs.
Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrates for monitoring antibiotics in dairy products: Mechanisms, advances, and prospects
Authors: Jiang Wenshan , Wang Qinzhi , Chang Kuan , Zhao Yijian
Published: October 2024

Antibiotic residues in dairy products have become an undeniable threat to human health. Surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been widely used in efficiently detecting antibiotics because of its characteristics including fast response, high resolution, and strong resistance to moisture interference. However, as a core part of SERS technology, the design principle and detection performance of enhanced substrates used in monitoring antibiotics in dairy products have not yet received enough attention. Thus, it is necessary to give a critical review of the recent developments of SERS substrates for monitoring antibiotics in dairy products, which can be expected to provide inspiration for the efficient utilization of SERS technology. In this work, advances in various SERS substrates applied in sensing antibiotics in dairy products were comprehensively reviewed. First, the enhancement mechanisms were introduced in detail. Significantly, the types of enhanced materials (plasmonic metal particles [PMPs], PMPs/semiconductor composite materials) and biometric design strategies including immunoassay, aptamer, and molecularly imprinted polymers‐based SERS biosensors applied in dairy products were systematically summarized for the first time. Meanwhile, the performance of SERS substrates used for the detection of antibiotics in dairy products was addressed from the aspects of dynamic linear range and detection restriction strategy. Finally, the conclusions, challenges, and future prospects of SERS substrates for antibiotic monitoring in dairy products were deeply discussed, which also provide new opinions and key points for constructing SERS substrates applied in complex food matrix in the future.
Influence of Magmatic Intrusion on Abnormal Hydrocarbon Generation and Expulsion of Source Rock: A Case Study of the Dongying Sag, Bohai Bay Basin
Authors: LI Chuanming , ZENG Jianhui , WANG Maoyun , LONG Hui , LIU Shuning
Published: October 2024

How gabbro affects the generation and expulsion of hydrocarbons in muddy surrounding rocks is clarified by analyzing thin section, major and trace elements, total organic carbon (TOC), pyrolysis, extracts and vitrinite reflectance data from source rocks in the Chunxi area the Dongying Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, eastern China. The results show that a magma intrusion brings copious heat to the source rocks, which promotes abnormal maturation of organic matter (OM) and rapid hydrocarbon generation. The CH4 and H2 produced by gabbro alteration play a role in hydrocarbon generation of source rocks. The hydrothermal process during magma intrusion provides many different minerals to the source rock, resulting in carbonate‐rich surrounding mudstone. The carbonate and clay minerals produced by volcanic mineral alteration jointly catalyze the hydrocarbon generation of the source rock. The high‐temperature baking of the intrusion results in hydrothermal pressurization and hydrocarbon generation pressurization, causing many fractures in the surrounding rock. The generated oil and gas are discharged through the fractures under diffusion and pressure. Mantle‐derived CO2 is also conducive to the expulsion of hydrocarbons because of its strong enrichment capacity for hydrocarbons.
Occurrence of Mafic Rocks within Ediacaran Strata in the Aksu Region, NW Tarim Craton, and its Geological Implications
Authors: XIE Hongzhe , ZHU Xiangkun , WANG Xun , HE Yuan , SHEN Weibing
Published: October 2024

The Tarim Craton is an ancient Precambrian continental block, and detailed knowledge of its thermo‐tectonic history is crucial for understanding the early history of continental evolution. Abundant layered mafic rocks, which have commonly been regarded as basalts, occur within the Ediacaran Sugetbrak Formation (Fm.) in the Aksu region of the northwestern Tarim Craton. Clear intrusive features have now been discovered, including mafic rocks truncating Ediacaran sedimentary layers, exhibiting an intrusion‐baked margin where they interact with both the overlying and bottom wall rocks, and displaying a fine‐grained transition zone from their interior to their margins. The new findings demonstrate that these mafic rocks within the Aksu Ediacaran strata were not erupted basalts but instead are intrusive diabase dykes. Therefore, these mafic rocks cannot be used to constrain the timing of the Sugetbrak Fm. in the Aksu area, nor as marker layers for regional stratigraphic correlation. Furthermore, the Ediacaran thermo‐tectonic evolution in this region, deduced from the assumption that the mafic rocks are lavas, needs to be revised.
Voluntary disclosure of verifiable information with general preferences and information endowment uncertainty
Authors: Hummel Patrick , Morgan John , Stocken Phillip C.
Published: October 2024

We study a voluntary disclosure model with verifiable information, a range of sender and receiver preferences, and uncertainty about whether the sender is informed. When a sender's preferences are insensitive to the state relative to the receiver's, a sender discloses moderate news and suppresses extreme news. We also find a partial revelation equilibrium where the sender's message is an interval containing the realized state. When a sender's preferences are sensitive to the state relative to the receiver's, the sender withholds moderate news and discloses extreme news. The latter disclosure is more consistent with extant empirical findings about voluntary managerial disclosure.
Social sustainability: Viability analysis of social firms
Authors: Segovia‐Vargas María Jesús , Camacho‐Miñano María del Mar , Gelashvili Vera
Published: October 2024

Social enterprises are firms that actively create jobs for people with disabilities and reduce social and labour inequalities, thereby participating in the social economy. Due to their importance to society and the work they do towards diversity integration and social sustainability, they have recently attracted much attention in academic literature. For this reason, the main objective of this study was to analyse the survival of social enterprises, identifying key variables that condition their continuity in the market or their failure. The initial sample consisted of 999 social enterprises for the year 2022. The Altman Z‐score and artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms were used to obtain the basic survival patterns. The main findings were that, on average, social enterprises are highly experienced companies and only one‐third of them are at risk of bankruptcy. This means that most of these enterprises can continue their social function. Moreover, the results of return on assets (ROA), equity and debt turnover can predict being at risk of bankruptcy of social enterprises. This study contributes to the scarce academic literature on social enterprises and promotes the existence of such enterprises for social and economic sustainability.
BATS: Bat‐aggregated time series—A python‐based toolkit for landscape‐level monitoring of free‐tailed bats via weather radar
Authors: Lee Brian , Rich Alex , Diehl Robert H. , Larsen Ashley
Published: October 2024

The US operates a system of 160 S‐band Doppler weather radars known as NEXRAD (NEXt generation weather RADar) that continuously monitors the airspace around the majority of the United States and outlying territories. These radars detect and track birds, insects, and bats. Free‐tailed bats (Genus Tadarida) provide considerable ecosystem services through their voracious insect consumption; but their movements and ecosystem service provision have historically been difficult to track/study in space and time.

We introduce ‘BATS’, a Python toolkit that streamlines the process of downloading, classifying, and aggregating time series of free‐tailed bats across large landscapes. BATS retrieves data from NOAA's weather radar data repositories and classifies the processed radar data using a pre‐trained ML trained to detect and classify radar echoes associated with free‐tailed bats.

We trained various machine learning approaches at classifying pixels containing free‐tailed bats and compared the effectiveness across approaches. With an AUC of 0.963, the neural network approach is highly effective in identifying free‐tailed bats in NEXRAD data over our study sites in California and Texas. Furthermore, BATS is capable of quickly distilling 6 months of radar data from a single tower (3.5 Tb) into a single 15 Mb‐sized map of bat occurrence, contingent on available computing resources.

BATS will help scientists and stakeholders identify areas of high bat occupancy at the landscape level over long periods of time. This ability has the potential to increase our understanding of the economic and agricultural value of these species.
Knowledge shortfalls on amphibian diets in Colombia: Future trends and challenges
Authors: López‐Bedoya Pablo A. , Gutiérrez‐Cárdenas Paul David Alfonso , Cardona‐Galvis Erika Alejandra , Edwards Felicity A. , Edwards David P. , Blanco‐Torres Argelina , Urbina‐Cardona J. Nicolás
Published: October 2024

Amphibians are increasingly threatened, leading to growing concern about their key role in natural ecosystems globally as predators and essential consumers in food webs. Effective conservation plans are linked to up‐to‐date distributional and ecological information, but dietary knowledge is often underrepresented. This information is essential for understanding ecological requirements, changes in the species and populations, impacts of habitat modification, and developing conservation strategies. Here, we present the current knowledge on amphibian diets in Colombia, to determine (a) the number of species studied and their distribution across families and genera; (b) the temporal and regional patterns in number of articles on amphibian diets; and (c) the trends in topics studied associated with amphibian diets; and to offer (d) a qualitative description of amphibian diets and the methods used for stomach contents collection. We found 70 published studies on the diet of Colombian amphibians between the years 1914 and 2022, including 100 species (11.6% of Colombian species). The Andean region is the best represented, and the Amazon and Orinoco the least. The topics most frequently studied were prey items consumed and ontogeny, followed by systematics and taxonomy, and land‐use change impacts. Forty‐one prey items were consumed, where Coleoptera and Hymenoptera were the most common prey items. While the development of information on amphibian diets has recently increased, knowledge remains limited, with a significant information gap for many Colombian species in different regions. Conducting studies in little‐explored areas of the country, especially the Amazon, Orinoco, and Pacific regions, should have high priority. Investigations should be focused on Caudata and Gymnophiona, plus the anurans of the Hemiphractidae and Pipidae families that do not have diet records in Colombia. Indeed, we evidence the necessity to perform trophic network analysis to understand better the energy flow between species and the associated spatial, temporal, or functional trait changes.
How large felids of South America are influenced by environmental and anthropogenic variables in the most degraded portion of the Amazon
Authors: Carvalho André das Neves , Wiig Øystein , de Oliveira Geovana Linhares , Celeste Halicia , Sena Leonardo , Morato Ronaldo Gonçalves , de Ferraz Katia Maria Paschoaletto Micchi Barros , Mendes‐Oliveira Ana Cristina
Published: October 2024

We evaluated the most relevant natural and anthropogenic factors for the occurrence and co‐occurrence of jaguars (Panthera onca) and pumas (Puma concolor) in the eastern Amazon, the most degraded portion of this tropical rainforest in Brazil. We found that in a context of high human pressure, a more significant amount of primary forest and more significant annual rainfall most positively influence the occurrence of jaguars. In contrast, pumas are negatively influenced by proximity to roads and positively by slope. Additionally, the presence of primary forest areas and high annual rainfall also favour the co‐occurrence of jaguars and pumas in the same areas. In contrast, open areas more related to anthropogenic zones disfavour the co‐occurrence of these two species in this degraded portion of the Amazon. Our results support landscape management for conserving big cat species in the Amazon and reinforce the importance of forest conservation for maintaining big cats in altered landscapes. Although these animals occur in open habitats, in the Amazon, these species are dependent on primary forests, as they are better‐structured habitats that maintain the capacity to support prey and shelter.
Patient‐reported outcomes, postoperative pain and pain relief after day case surgery (POPPY): methodology for a prospective, multicentre observational study*
Authors: Hare William M. , Belete Martha , Brayne Adam B. , Daykin Harriet , Everson Matthew , Ratcliffe Anna , Samuel Katie , Sorrell Lexy , Rockett Mark
Published: October 2024

Background

In the UK, approximately 70% of surgical procedures are undertaken as day‐cases. Little information exists about recovery from day‐case surgery, yet international data highlights patients are at risk of developing significant longer‐term health problems including chronic post‐surgical pain and persistent postoperative opioid use. The Patient‐reported Outcomes, Postoperative Pain and pain relief after daY case surgery (POPPY) study was a national prospective multicentre observational study, measuring short‐ and longer‐term patient‐reported outcomes, postoperative pain and pain relief after day‐case surgery.

Methods

This was a collaborative project led by resident anaesthetists under the Research and Audit Federation of Trainees umbrella. Adult day‐case surgical patients were recruited on the day of surgery. Baseline data including patient characteristics; procedure details; pre‐operative analgesic use; pre‐existing pain; and quality of life scores were recorded. Patients were followed up through automated short message service messages. Short‐term (postoperative days 1, 3 and 7) outcomes included: quality of recovery; pain severity; impact of pain on function; and analgesic use. Longer‐term outcomes (postoperative day 97) included: quality of life; analgesic use; incidence of chronic post‐surgical pain; and incidence persistent postoperative opioid use. Additional outcomes were completed by those patients with chronic post‐surgical pain and persistent postoperative opioid use, with 30 patients recruited to a qualitative semi‐structured interview study exploring postoperative expectations, recovery, postoperative pain and opioid use.

Results

An embedded pilot study at four sites recruited 129 patients. Responses to the automated short message service were gained from 129 patients (100%) at day 1; 116 (89.9%) at day 3; 108 (83.7%) at day 7; and 77 (59.7%) at day 97 postoperatively. The pilot enabled refinement of the methods and processes before the national roll out.

Conclusion

This paper outlines the methods for the POPPY study, the largest UK multicentre prospective observational study considering short‐ and longer‐term outcomes following day‐case surgery.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness and Safety of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Treatment in Fistulising Crohn's Disease: An International Real‐Life Retrospective Multicentre Cohort Study
Authors: Bacsur Péter , Shaham Daniel , Serclova Zuzana , Resál Tamás , Farkas Bernadett , Sarlós Patrícia , Miheller Pál , Maharshak Nitsan , Zemel Meir , Shitrit Ariella Bar‐Gil , Yellinek Shlomo , Bálint Anita , Fábián Anna , Bor Renáta , Bősze Zsófia , Ivány Emese , Szepes Zoltán , Farkas Klaudia , Tóth Illés , Lázár György , Vlkova Katerina , Tremerova Aneta , Zuskova Petra , Ábrahám Szabolcs , Molnár Tamás
Published: October 2024

Background

Perianal fistulas of Crohn's disease (CD) create a significant burden on patients' lives. However, the efficacy and safety of adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cell treatment are contradicting, and real‐world evidence is lacking.

Aims

To examine the usability of darvadstrocel therapy in managing perianal CD.

Methods

We enrolled patients with CD and perianal fistulas in this retrospective multicenter study. The primary outcome was perianal clinical remission (defined as all treated fistulas closed) at weeks 26 and 52. Secondary outcomes were clinical response rates (≥ 1 fistulas closed), perianal activity (PDAI), patient satisfaction, and adverse events. Data were recorded at baseline and weeks 12, 26 and 52. Prediction of primary outcomes was performed by logistic regression.

Results

Overall, among 223 patients (male/female ratio: 0.48), perianal clinical remission was achieved in 78.2% and 62.3% until weeks 26 and 52. Baseline PDAI score (OR 0.75), number of fistulas (OR 0.28) and the number of weeks after preparation for surgery (OR 0.98) were associated with treatment failure. The clinical response rates were 84.8% and 79.8% at weeks 26 and 52. Improvement of subjective perianal symptoms was achieved in 77.8% and 78.4% of patients, respectively. Adverse events occurred in 13.5% of patients; perianal abscesses and proctalgia were the most frequently reported.

Conclusion

Effectiveness data were higher than in clinical trials. The safety profile was reassuring, and patients' satisfaction was high. Appropriate patient selection, fistula preparation and expertise may help to achieve treatment success.
Design and Synthesis of 1,4‐Diformyl‐Piperazine Ferrostatin‐1 Derivatives as Novel Ferroptosis Inhibitors
Authors: Zhang Yi‐Fan , Guo Wei , Zheng Hui , Zhang Nai‐Yu , Ji Hua‐Long , Meng Ning , Zhang Juan , Jiang Cheng‐Shi
Published: October 2024

The present study focuses on the design and synthesis of novel 1,4‐diformyl‐piperazine‐based ferrostatin‐1 (Fer‐1) derivatives, and their evaluation against ferroptosis activity. The synthesized compounds demonstrated significant anti‐ferroptosis activity in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs), with Compound 24 showing the highest potency. Mechanistic studies revealed that Compound 24 effectively reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, mitigated mitochondrial damage, and enhanced glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) expression. Additionally, Compound 24 exhibited improved solubility and plasma stability compared to control compounds, Fer‐1 and JHL‐12. These findings suggest that 1,4‐diformyl‐piperazine‐based Fer‐1 derivatives hold promise as therapeutic agents for ferroptosis‐associated cardiovascular diseases.
Stress‐Aligned Hexahedral Lattice Structures
Authors: Bukenberger D. R. , Wang J. , Wu J. , Westermann R.
Published: October 2024

Maintaining the maximum stiffness of components with as little material as possible is an overarching objective in computational design and engineering. It is well‐established that in stiffness‐optimal designs, material is aligned with orthogonal principal stress directions. In the limit of material volume, this alignment forms micro‐structures resembling quads or hexahedra. Achieving a globally consistent layout of such orthogonal micro‐structures presents a significant challenge, particularly in three‐dimensional settings. In this paper, we propose a novel geometric algorithm for compiling stress‐aligned hexahedral lattice structures. Our method involves deforming an input mesh under load to align the resulting stress field along an orthogonal basis. The deformed object is filled with a hexahedral grid, and the deformation is reverted to recover the original shape. The resulting stress‐aligned mesh is used as basis for a final hollowing procedure, generating a volume‐reduced stiff infill composed of hexahedral micro‐structures. We perform quantitative comparisons with structural optimization and hexahedral meshing approaches and demonstrate the superior mechanical performance of our designs with finite element simulation experiments.
Public and professional stakeholders’ perceptions of alcohol advertising and availability policies: A qualitative study
Authors: Dimova Elena D. , Shortt Niamh K. , Smith Matt , Mitchell Richard J. , Lekkas Peter , Pearce Jamie R. , Clemens Tom L. , Emslie Carol
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Reducing alcohol availability and restricting alcohol advertising are effective ways to reduce harm from alcohol. Implementation of public health policies involves collaboration between different stakeholders, and is influenced by public opinion. This paper explores public and professional stakeholders' perceptions of alcohol advertising and availability policies. It is the first to capture consensus and divergence in narratives of these stakeholders.

Methods

We conducted semi‐structured interviews with 14 stakeholders from third sector organisations, government, public health and alcohol licensing in Scotland. We conducted 11 online focus groups with 45 participants, living in neighbourhoods in Scotland characterised by varying levels of urbanity, deprivation and retail density change. We gave participants a list of policies and discussed their views on acceptability, feasibility and likely success.

Results

Despite general consensus that regulation of alcohol advertising is an important priority, public stakeholders were concerned about the feasibility of advertising interventions and potential unintended consequences. While professional stakeholders were in favour of regulating alcohol availability, public stakeholders had misgivings about feasibility and effectiveness. When prompted to discuss specific interventions, similar views about protecting children and achieving cultural change emerged.

Discussion and Conclusions

This study highlights the importance of policy makers and other stakeholders to consider public stakeholders' opinions on alcohol policy and understanding that their views may be influenced by competing framings of alcohol problems. Attempts to increase support for alcohol control policies need to consider people's concerns about the effectiveness and potential unintended consequences of these policies, and the wider social context of alcohol consumption.
Effect of spironolactone wash‐out on albuminuria after long‐term treatment in individuals with type 2 diabetes and high risk of kidney disease—An observational follow‐up of the PRIORITY study
Authors: Wasehuus Victor , Rotbain Curovic Viktor , Tofte Nete , Lindhardt Morten , Currie Gemma , Delles Christian , Frimodt‐Møller Marie , Mischak Harald , von der Leyen Heiko , Hansen Tine Willum , Kümler Thomas , Persson Frederik , Rossing Peter ,   the PRIORITY Study group
Published: October 2024

Aims

This study aimed to explore the effect of discontinuation of long‐term spironolactone treatment on markers of kidney function in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) at high risk of kidney disease enrolled in the Proteomic prediction and Renin angiotensin aldosterone system Inhibition prevention Of early diabetic nephRopathy In TYpe 2 diabetic patients with normoalbuminuria (PRIORITY) study.

Materials and Methods

An observational study following the nested randomised part of the PRIORITY study was conducted. A total of 115 individuals with T2D and normoalbuminuria but high risk for progression based on urinary proteomics, randomised to daily spironolactone (n = 50) or placebo (n = 65) for a median of 2.5 years, were re‐examined approximately 6 weeks after the final visit in the PRIORITY study. Primary endpoint was relative change in geometric mean of urinary albumin‐creatinine ratio (UACR) between the final visit in PRIORITY (baseline) and follow‐up. Secondary endpoints were change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and serum potassium.

Results

No change in UACR was observed in neither the spironolactone (geometric mean change: 17%; 95% CI −12, 55; p = 0.28) nor the placebo (5%; 95% CI −13, 26; p = 0.63) group at follow‐up. No difference in UACR between the groups was observed at follow‐up (relative difference in geometric mean: 11%, 95% CI −26, 67; p = 0.60). For eGFR and SBP, an increase after discontinuation of spironolactone was observed, as well as for SBP after placebo discontinuation. Potassium levels were lower after discontinuation of spironolactone, but higher after placebo discontinuation (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

UACR did not change after discontinuation of long‐term treatment with spironolactone. However, an increase in eGFR was observed supporting a haemodynamic effect of spironolactone in the kidneys.
Acclimation Unifies the Scaling of Carbon Assimilation Across Climate Gradients and Levels of Organisation
Authors: Garen Josef C. , Michaletz Sean T.
Published: October 2024

The temperature dependence of carbon assimilation—from leaf photosynthesis to ecosystem productivity—is hypothesised to be driven by the kinetics of Rubisco‐catalysed carboxylation and electron transport. However, photosynthetic physiology acclimates to changes in temperature, which may decouple temperature dependencies at higher levels of organisation from the acute temperature sensitivity of photosynthesis. Here, we integrate relative growth rate theory, metabolic theory and biochemical photosynthesis theory to develop a carbon budget model of plant growth that accounts for photosynthetic acclimation to temperature. We test its predictions using a novel experimental approach enabling concurrent measurement of the temperature sensitivity of acute photosynthesis, acclimated photosynthesis and growth rate. We demonstrate for the first time that photosynthetic acclimation mediates how carbon assimilation kinetics ‘scale up’ from leaf photosynthesis to whole‐plant growth. We also find that existing models of photosynthetic acclimation are unable to predict features of growth rate responses to temperature in our system.
The politics of integration in retrospect and the supranational mega‐politics of governance and design in prospect: A roadmap
Authors: Koncewicz Tomasz Tadeusz
Published: October 2024

The article argues that the ever‐closer Union among peoples of Europe finds itself at a critical juncture: the unstated and implicit assumption of a community made up of liberal democracies is being challenged and pitted against the rival rebirth of the nationalistic narrative of uniqueness and self‐sufficiency. The readiness to live, or paddle together, is on the line as the once sacrosanct ‘ever closer union among the peoples of Europe’ seems to be the focal point of the principled disagreement that calls into question the very belonging to the community and its continued existence. Faced with these challenges, this article charts an interdisciplinary and holistic road map to grapple with the big supranational questions of the day. It argues that the traditional European discourse moves beyond the technical dichotomy of ‘market regulation versus deregulation’ and ‘Union competence versus Member State competence’ and instead zeroes in on the more fundamental questions pertaining to mega‐politics centred on the identity of the common legal order. While the analysis appreciates the critical interaction between the legal dimension of European supranational integration—the search for optimal tools to safeguard the integrity of the supranational order—it stresses the importance of the ethical face—the narrative and justification that would explain in the name of whom the supranational governance and design acts when it defines and then defends its narrative and First Principles of the common legal order today in flux more than ever.
SGLT2 inhibitors: Exploring the effects in humans and horses
Authors: Sundra T. , Matthews V. , Harris P. , Rendle D.
Published: October 2024

Sodium‐glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are human antidiabetic drugs that are increasingly used in equine practice for the management of hyperinsulinaemia and hyperinsulinaemia‐associated laminitis. However, the understanding of SGLT2i use in horses is in its infancy compared to human medicine. This review article aims to briefly examine the literature in both species, highlighting current knowledge gaps, potential similarities in therapeutic outcomes and possible adverse effects.