bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes of Temporomandibular Joint Morphology and Symptoms in Class II Malocclusion Patients With Bilateral Sagittal Split Ramous Osteotomy
Authors: Luo Yang-Xin , Chen Zheng-Hao , Wang Jian-Ning
Published: August 2023

This study included 46 patients with class II malocclusion ranging in age from 19 to 39 years old treated with bilateral sagittal split ramous osteotomy (BSSRO). Left and right temporomandibular joints (TMJs) of each subject were evaluated independently with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) before operation (T1), 1 week after operation (T2), and 1 year after operation (T3) and assessed the effects of orthognathic surgery (OGS) on the temporomandibular joint disease (TMD) symptoms. Temporomandibular joint morphology evaluation included condylar volume, condylar area, cortical bone thickness, depth of the mandibular fossa, fossa thickness, joint nodule angle, joint space, and condyle-fossa relationship, which were calculated by using the Mimics software and 3-matic software. Data were statistically analyzed with SPSS software (P <0.05 means statistically significant). In our study, bilateral TMJs have no difference in T3. Bilateral sagittal split ramous osteotomy had no significant effect on the articular fossa. The condyle volume and surface area decreased from T1 to T3, but the cortical thickness of the bone did not change significantly. More anterior condyle positions in T1 and more posterior in T3.21 patients had at least 1 sign or symptom of TMD in T1 and 27 patients in T3. Four patients who were asymptomatic in T1 developed pain after surgery, 10 developed noises, 12 showed limited mouth opening, and 8 had abnormal opening patterns. It is concluded that more condylar posterior position after BSSRO and the reduction of condyle may be related to the enlargement of anterior space. The number of patients with joint symptoms increased postoperative, and the impact of BSSRO on TMD may be negative.
Anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorders in patients with chronic respiratory diseases
Authors: Yohannes Abebaw M.
Published: August 2023

Purpose of review

This brief critical review evaluates recent research on the impact of anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) on patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. In these patients, untreated anxiety and PTSD exacerbate acute symptoms, increase disability and impair quality of life. Therefore, effective interventions are also reviewed.

Recent findings

Anxiety disorders and PTSD are prevalent in COPD and asthma, worsen symptoms in acute exacerbations, and increase morbidity and healthcare utilization. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), cognitive behavioural therapy and pharmacological therapy are each effective in COPD patients with anxiety or PTSD. However, very little work examined therapy for combined anxiety and PTSD in patients with either COPD or asthma.

Despite the high prevalence of anxiety disorder or PTSD in patients with chronic respiratory diseases, a paucity of literature remains demonstrating the efficacy of pharmacological therapies for these conditions. This review highlights the promising benefits of PR on anxiety, but prospective trials are needed to demonstrate the efficacy of interventions with PTSD alone, or with concomitant anxiety.
Impaired Emotion Recognition: A Potential Marker for Social Behavioral Problems in Patients With Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early Alzheimer Disease?
Authors: Strijkert Fijanne , Huitema Rients B. , van Munster Barbara C. , Spikman Jacoba M.
Published: August 2023

Objective:

Emotion recognition, an important aspect of social cognition, can be impaired already in early Alzheimer disease dementia and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and may underly social behavioral changes, which can increase caregiver burden. However, social behavior is difficult to assess in outpatient settings. We evaluated whether impaired emotion recognition is related to proxy-rated social behavioral problems and thus can serve as a marker of these changes.

Patients and Method:

Emotion recognition was assessed with Ekman 60 Faces Test (EFT-total, 6 separate emotions) in patients (n = 31 AD; n = 37 aMCI) and healthy controls (n = 60 HCs). Social behavioral problems were rated by proxies with the neuropsychiatric inventory (agitation, apathy, irritability, disinhibition, and a sum score). It tested whether EFT scores differed between patients with and without behavioral problems.

Results:

AD had worse EFT-total (P <0.001), disgust (P = 0.02), and fear (P = 0.001) than HC, but not than aMCI, who did not differ from HC. AD displayed more disinhibition (P < 0.05). EFT and neuropsychiatric inventory sum scores were not significantly correlated. Patients with apathy had lower EFT-total (P = 0.02).

Conclusions:

Measuring emotion recognition adds value: it is impaired in early neurodegeneration and associated with apathy but not necessarily related to overall changes in social behavior in this population.
Meta-Analysis of Animal Fluency Performance in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults
Authors: Sharma Vivek , Malek-Ahmadi Michael
Published: August 2023

Animal fluency is a commonly used neuropsychological measure that is used in the diagnosis of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and Alzheimer disease. Although most individuals with aMCI have clinically normal scores on this test, several studies have shown that aMCI individuals’ performance is significantly lower than that of cognitively unimpaired (CU) individuals. The aim of this meta-analysis was to characterize the effect size of animal fluency performance differences between aMCI and CU individuals. Literature search with search terms used were: “animal fluency and mild cognitive impairment,” “semantic fluency and mild cognitive impairment,” “category fluency and mild cognitive impairment.” Both the standardized mean difference and the raw mean difference were derived from random effects analyses. Demographically adjusted z-scores for animal fluency performance for the aMCI groups were obtained to determine normative performance. Nineteen studies were included in the analysis. The standardized mean difference for animal fluency performance between CU and aMCI was 0.89 (95% confidence interval: [0.73; 1.04], P<0.001), I
2=70.3% [52.7%; 81.4%], which reflects a large effect size with moderate heterogeneity. The raw mean difference was −4.08 [−4.75; −3.38], P<0.001. The mean animal fluency z-score for aMCI groups was in the Low Average range (z=−0.77). This study found a substantial difference in animal fluency performance between aMCI and CU individuals. The aMCI groups’ normative performance did not fall into the impaired range, indicating that there are important subclinical differences in animal fluency performance that may inform the design of cognitive end points for Alzheimer’s disease prevention trials.
Education as a Moderator of Help Seeking Behavior in Subjective Cognitive Decline
Authors: Azar Martina , Chapman Silvia , Joyce Jillian , Schultheis Maria , Zhang Zoe , Waltrip Leah , Shagalow Shaina , Zeiger Peter , Sunderaraman Preeti , Cosentino Stephanie
Published: August 2023

Objective:

Disparities in Alzheimer disease (AD) and differences in help seeking (HS) across sociodemographic groups warrant public health concern. Research addressing such disparities must shift toward the earliest clinical manifestations of AD to optimize diagnosis, intervention and care planning. Subjective cognitive decline (SCD), a risk state for AD, provides an important context in which to examine sociodemographic-related disparities in HS.

Participants and Methods:

One hundred sixty-seven cognitively healthy older adults (Mage=73, Meducation=16) (26.4% Black, Asian, or “Other”) completed SCD questionnaire, HS questions, and mood measures (depression and anxiety). Binary logistic adjusted regressions examined: (a) the association between SCD and HS; and (b) the extent to which education moderated the relationship between SCD and HS. SCD [b = 0.06, SE=0.13, P<0.001, odds ratio=1.06, 95% CI (1.03, 1.08)] and education [b=0.32, SE=0.09, P<0.001, odds ratio=1.37, 95% CI (1.15, 1.64)] were independently associated with HS, with significant interaction between education and SCD on HS [b=0.2, SE=0.01, P=0.01, odds ratio=1.02, 95% CI (1.00, 1.03)].

Conclusions:

Findings elucidate the importance of tailoring SCD-related psychoeducational resources depending on educational background as a preliminary stepping-stone in encouraging HS among older adults who may be at particular risk for developing dementia.
ccTCM: a quantitative component and compound platform for promoting the research of traditional Chinese medicine
Authors: Yang Dongqing , Zhu Zhu , Yao Qi , Chen Cuihua , Chen Feiyan , Gu Ling , Jiang Yucui , Chen Lin , Zhang Jingyuan , Wu Juan , Gao Xingsu , Wang Junqin , Li Guochun , Zhao Yunan
Published: August 2023

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) databases play a vital role in bridging the gap between TCM and modern medicine, as well as in promoting the popularity of TCM. Elucidating the bioactive ingredients of Chinese medicinal materials is key to TCM modernization and new drug discovery. However, one drawback of current TCM databases is the lack of quantitative data on the constituents of Chinese medicinal materials. Herein, we present ccTCM, a web-based platform designed to provide a component and compound-content-based resource on TCM and analysis services for medical experts. In terms of design features, ccTCM combines resource distribution, similarity analysis, and molecular-mechanism analysis to accelerate the discovery of bioactive ingredients in TCM. ccTCM contains 273 Chinese medicinal materials commonly used in clinical settings, covering 29 functional classifications. By searching and comparing, we finally adopted 2043 studies, from which we collected the compounds contained in each TCM with content greater than 0.001%, and a total of 1 449 were extracted. Subsequently, we collected 40767 compound-target pairs by integrating multiple databases. Taken together, ccTCM is a versatile platform for that can be used by TCM scientists to perform scientific and clinical TCM studies based on quantified ingredients of Chinese medicinal materials. ccTCM is freely accessible athttp://www.cctcm.org.cn.
Pharmacology of Berberine and its Metabolites, is it the natures Ozempic or Imatinib?
Authors: Singh Naresh Kumar , Dhanasekaran Muralikrishnan , Kumar Arun HS
Published: August 2023

Background

Berberine, which is a naturally occurring alkaloid is widely explored for several health benefits including for weight management and metabolic disorders. The major pharmacological action of berberine is reported to be by activation of AMP-activated protein kinase, while its other clinical outcomes are devoid of clear mechanism of action/s. Hence in this study a detailed pharmacology of berberine and its two major metabolites (berberrubine, and jatrorrhizine) in humans was evaluated using well established Insilco tools.

Materials and Methods

The targets of berberine and its metabolites were identified in SwissTargetPrediction server and their affinity was assed using AutoDock vina 1.2.0. The binding pockets of the highest ligand receptor combinations was assessed using the PrankWeb: Ligand Binding Site Prediction tool.

Results

Kinases, enzymes and family A GPCR’s were identified as the top three target category of berberine and its metabolites. ROCK2, PIK3CD, KCNMA1, CSF1R and KIT were observed to be the high affinity targets of berberine and its metabolites with affinity values of <4 uM. The affinity of berberine and its metabolites against all AMPKs and lipid/glucose regulator targets (LDLR, DDP4 and PCSK9) were > 10 uM. The IC50 value of berberine and its metabolites against ROCK2 was the least (<1 uM), while their other high affinity targets (PIK3CD, KCNMA1, CSF1R and KIT) showed IC50 values < 5 uM.

Conclusion

The diverse range of protein targets and the observed novel high affinity targets (ROCK2, PIK3CD, KCNMA1, CSF1R and KIT) offer valuable insights into the potential mechanisms of action and therapeutic effects of berberine and its metabolites in various disease conditions, which warrants validation in suitable efficacy analysis studies.
Molecular dissection of the soluble photosynthetic antenna from a cryptophyte alga
Authors: Rathbone Harry W. , Laos Alistair J. , Michie Katharine A. , Iranmanesh Hasti , Biazik Joanna , Goodchild Sophia , Thordarson Pall , Green Beverley R. , Curmi Paul M. G.
Published: August 2023

Cryptophyte algae have a unique phycobiliprotein light-harvesting antenna that fills a spectral gap in chlorophyll absorption, however, it is unclear how it transfers energy efficiently to photosystems. We show that the cryptophyteHemiselmis anderseniiexpresses an energetically complex antenna comprising three distinct spectrotypes of phycobiliprotein with different quaternary structures arising from a diverse α subunit family. The bulk of the antenna consists ofopenquaternary form phycobiliproteins acting as primary photon acceptors, supplemented by novelopen-bracedforms. The final components areclosedforms with a long wavelength spectral feature due to substitution of a single chromophore. We propose that the macromolecular organization of the cryptophyte antennas consists of bulkopenandopen-bracedforms that transfer excitations to photosystems via this bridgingclosedform phycobiliprotein.

One-Sentence Summary

Algae generate a rainbow of antenna proteins by combining a conserved subunit with different members of a multigene family.
Prosaposin maintains adult neural stem cells in a state associated with deep quiescence
Authors: Labusch Miriam , Thetiot Melina , Than-Trong Emmanuel , Morizet David , Coolen Marion , Varet Hugo , Legendre Rachel , Ortica Sara , Mancini Laure , Bally-Cuif Laure
Published: August 2023

In most vertebrates, adult neural stem cells (NSCs) continuously give rise to neurons in discrete brain regions. A critical process for maintaining NSC pools over long periods of time in the adult brain is NSC quiescence, a reversible and tightly regulated state of cell cycle arrest. Recently, lysosomes were identified to regulate the NSC quiescence-proliferation balance. However, it remains controversial whether lysosomal activity promotes NSC proliferation or quiescence, and a finer influence of lysosomal activity on NSC quiescence duration or depth remains unexplored. Using RNA-sequencing and pharmacological manipulations, we show that lysosomes are necessary for NSC quiescence maintenance. Additionally, we reveal that expression ofpsap, encoding the lysosomal regulator Prosaposin, is enriched in quiescent NSCs (qNSCs) that reside upstream in the NSC lineage and display a deep/long quiescence phase in the adult zebrafish telencephalon. We show that shRNA-mediatedpsapknock-down increases the proportion of activated NSCs (aNSCs) as well as NSCs that reside in shallower quiescence states (signed byascl1aanddeltaAexpression). Collectively, our results identify the lysosomal protein Psap as a (direct or indirect) quiescence regulator and unfold the interplay between lysosomal function and NSC quiescence heterogeneities.
BirT: a novel primer pair for avian environmental DNA metabarcoding
Authors: Thalinger B. , Empey R , Cowperthwaite M. , Coveny K , Steinke D.
Published: August 2023

Environmental DNA metabarcoding has become a widely used technique to detect animals from environmental samples and is on the brink of being implemented into routine species monitoring. Surprisingly, birds are among the taxonomic groups which until recently, received comparably little attention in eDNA research, a fact that is changing rapidly, with the growing number of air eDNA analyses. Since birds are hardly ever the most abundant species in aquatic or terrestrial habitats, a high specificity of the employed metabarcoding primers is key to limit non-target amplifications and enable reliable detection from environmental samples.

Here, we present a novel primer pair (BirT) for metabarcoding of avian environmental DNA. We optimized specificity and fragment length regarding taxonomic resolution and available sequencing technology. Additionally, we evaluated the availability of 12S reference sequences for birds and filled database gaps by generating novel 12S barcodes. Finally, we tested the applicability of this approach using field-collected eDNA samples obtained with three different filter types. These results were compared to visual observations uploaded to eBird (www.eBird.org) during the sampling period.

Our results confirm the suitability of the BirT primer pair for bird eDNA metabarcoding with optimized fragment length, no amplification of key non-target groups, and taxonomic resolution provided by the amplified fragment. Albeit there are still substantial gaps in the 12S reference sequence database, the analysis of bird eDNA from water samples resulted in species-level taxonomic resolution for 92% of the detected taxa. All tested filter/filtration combinations delivered similar results for total read numbers per sample (mean: 613,972 ± 340,088 SD) and species detected per sample (mean: 5.5 ± 2.3 SD). Ninety-five percent of the bird detections were highly plausible and 58% confirmed by visual observations. The majority of the detected bird species was closely associated with aquatic habitats confirming the suitability of water samples for the detection of waterfowl and species inhabiting similar ecological niches via eDNA.
Impact of Ebola virus nucleoprotein on VP40 virus-like particle production: a computational approach
Authors: Liu Xiao , Stahelin Robert V. , Pienaar Elsje
Published: August 2023

Ebola virus (EBOV) protein VP40 can assemble and bud in the form of virus-like particles (VLPs) when expressed in the absence of other EBOV proteins in mammalian cells. When nucleoprotein (NP) is co-expressed, VLPs will contain inclusion-body (IB) cores, and VLP production can be increased. However, the mechanism of how NP impacts VLP production remains unclear. Here, we use a computational approach to study NP-VP40 interactions. We find that NP may enhance VLP production through stabilizing VP40 filaments and accelerating the VLP budding step. Also, both the relative timing and amount of NP expression compared to VP40 are important for the effective production of IB-containing VLPs. We further find that there exists an optimum NP/VP40 expression ratio, and that earlier expression of NP compared to VP40 will produce IB-containing VLPs more efficiently. We conclude that disrupting the relative timing and amount of NP and VP40 expression could provide new avenues to treat EBOV infection. This work provides quantitative insights into how EBOV proteins interact and how those interactions could impact virion generation and drug efficacy.
Phagocyte-expressed glycosaminoglycans promote capture of alphaviruses from the blood circulation in a host species-specific manner
Authors: Ander Stephanie E. , Parks M. Guston , Davenport Bennett J. , Li Frances S. , Bosco-Lauth Angela , Carpentier Kathryn S. , Sun Chengqun , Lucas Cormac J. , Klimstra William B. , Ebel Gregory D. , Morrison Thomas E.
Published: August 2023

The magnitude and duration of vertebrate viremia are critical determinants of arbovirus transmission, geographic spread, and disease severity—yet, mechanisms determining arbovirus viremia levels are poorly defined. Previous studies have drawn associations between in vitro virion-glycosaminoglycan (GAG) interactions and in vivo clearance kinetics of virions from blood circulation. From these observations, it is commonly hypothesized that GAG-binding virions are rapidly removed from circulation due to ubiquitous expression of GAGs by vascular endothelial cells, thereby limiting viremia. Using an in vivo model for viremia, we compared the vascular clearance of low and enhanced GAG-binding viral variants of chikungunya (CHIKV), eastern-(EEEV), and Venezuelan-(VEEV) equine encephalitis viruses. We find GAG-binding virions are more quickly removed from circulation than their non-GAG-binding variant; however individual clearance kinetics vary between GAG-binding viruses, from swift (VEEV) to slow removal from circulation (EEEV). Remarkably, we find phagocytes are required for efficient vascular clearance of some enhanced GAG-binding virions. Moreover, transient depletion of vascular heparan sulfate (HS) impedes vascular clearance of only some GAG-binding viral variants and in a phagocyte-dependent manner, implying phagocytes can mediate vascular GAG-virion interactions. Finally, in direct contrast to mice, we find enhanced GAG-binding EEEV is resistant to vascular clearance in avian hosts, suggesting the existence of species-specificity in virion-GAG interactions. In summary, these data support a role for GAG-mediated clearance of some viral particles from the blood circulation, illuminate the potential of blood-contacting phagocytes as a site for GAG-virion binding, and suggest a role for species-specific GAG structures in arbovirus ecology.

Significance Statement

Previously, evidence of arbovirus-GAG interactions in vivo has been limited to associations between viral residues shown to promote enhanced GAG-binding phenotypes in vitro and in vivo phenotypes of viral dissemination and pathogenesis. By directly manipulating host GAG expression, we identified virion-GAG interactions in vivo and discovered a role for phagocyte-expressed GAGs in viral vascular clearance. Moreover, we observe species-specific differences in viral vascular clearance of enhanced GAG-binding virions between murine and avian hosts. These data suggest species-specific variation in GAG structure is a mechanism to distinguish amplifying from dead-end hosts for arbovirus transmission.
Boardroom gender diversity and risk-taking in the insurance industry: do organizational form and ownership structure matter?
Authors: Jouber Habib
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the relationship between boardroom gender diversity (BoGD) and risk-taking by property-liability (P-L) stock insurers from an analytical framework that control for organizational form and ownership structure. It relies on the behavioral agency model, the resource dependency theory and the concept of socioemotional wealth (SEW).

Design/methodology/approach

This study builds on an unbalanced panel of 2,285 firm-year observations from 232 European and US P-L stock insurers covering the period 2010–2019 and measure risk-taking by using four proxies: total risk (TR), upside risk (UpR), downside risk (DwR) and default risk (DR). Reverse causality and endogeneity concerns are treated by applying different approaches.

Findings

Findings suggest that BoGD mitigates the TR, DwR and DR but does not interfere with the UpR, which conceptualizes firm expectations to enhance patrimony and safeguard SEW for heirs, especially in family-owned insurers. The findings hold in various robustness checks including endogeneity and alternative specifications of BoGD and risk-taking.

Practical implications

This study contributes to practice by contrasting the role of female directors’ bevahior when assuming risk, which seems significantly different depending on the risk-taking specification and the organizational form. The author advises policyholders and policymakers to look at closely on BoGD and ownership structure as they affect insurance company risk-taking.

Originality/value

This study takes a more direct approach to highlight the BoGD’s effect on corporate risk-taking by focusing on the insurance sector which is characterized by risk and uncertainty bearing. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to consider the full range of the stock organizational forms and the degree of family control in displaying this effect in both widely traded and closely traded insurers and to assess risk-taking from both market-based and accounting-based aspects.
Critical success factors for implementing 3D printing technology in construction projects: academics and construction practitioners’ perspectives
Authors: Chang Ruifan , Antwi-Afari Maxwell Fordjour
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The application of three-dimensional (3D) printing technology in construction projects is of increasing interest to researchers and construction practitioners. Although the application of 3D printing technology at various stages of the project lifecycle has been explored, few studies have identified the relative importance of critical success factors (CSFs) for implementing 3D printing technology in construction projects. To address this research gap, this study aims to explore the academics (i.e. researchers) and construction practitioners’ perspectives on CSFs for implementing 3D printing technology in construction projects.

Design/methodology/approach

To do this, a questionnaire was administered to participants (i.e. academics and construction practitioners) with knowledge and expertise in 3D printing technology in construction projects. The collected data were analysed using mean score ranking, normalization and rank agreement analysis to identify CSFs and determine the consistency of the ranking of CSFs between academics and construction practitioners. In addition, exploratory factor analysis was used to identify the relationships and underlying constructs of the measured CSFs.

Findings

Through a rank agreement analysis of the collected data, 11 CSFs for implementing 3D printing technology were retrieved (i.e. 17% agreement), indicating a diverse agreement in the ranking of the CSFs between academics and construction practitioners. In addition, the results show three key components of CSFs including “production demand enabling CSFs”, “optimize the construction process enabling CSFs” and “optimized design enabling CSFs”.

Originality/value

This study highlights the feasibility of implementing the identified CSFs for 3D printing technology in construction projects, which not only serves as a reference for other researchers but also increases construction practitioners’ awareness of the practical benefits of implementing 3D printing technology in construction projects. Specifically, it would optimize the construction lifecycle processes, enhance digital transformation and promote sustainable construction projects.
Developing a framework to achieve resilience in the oil and gas supply chain during logistics disruptions: an empirical study
Authors: Ekram Amr , Elmesmary Hebatallah , Sakr Amal Lotfy
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Oil and gas sector has more disruptions regarding its logistics management than any other industry. It is critical to understand which external security threats disrupt the oil and gas supply chain (OGSC). Recently, the time interval between these disruptions became frequent. the purpose of this paper is to identify key logistics elements that lead to such disruptions which would greatly benefit the oil and gas industry in developing more effective mitigation measures and resilient practices in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

This research develops the theoretical framework through a critical review of all theories related to resilience, logistics disruptions and mitigation methods in the oil and gas industry. Afterward, semi-structured interviews were conducted with executives in the Egyptian oil and gas industry to develop a conceptual framework. Finally, an empirical study was conducted through questionnaires with managers in the Egyptian oil and gas sector to develop the applied framework.

Findings

This research revealed that achieving an elevated level of flexibility, redundancy, visibility and collaboration in the Egyptian OGSC will significantly increase the level of resilience in the sector and consequently help in mitigating probable logistics disruptions.

Practical implications

This research contributes to academia by providing a conceptual framework for the most common logistics disruptions in the Egyptian OGSC and providing practitioners with the best resilience practices that are feasible and effective in mitigating logistics disruptions.

Originality/value

Previous research studied disruptions in OGSC from different perspectives: economic, social, political, technical, safety, legal and environmental perspectives, but no research highlighted the logistics perspective in the Egyptian context, to the best of the authors’ knowledge.
Port supply chain integration and sustainability: a resource-based view
Authors: Hussein Khaled , Song Dong-Wook
Published: August 2023

Purpose

It is claimed that port supply chain integration (PSCI), thanks to its attributes, holds a potential to trigger a port to strategically sustain performance- and competitiveness-measures through strengthening and/or reinforcing an array of port sustainability aspects. This paper aims to empirically investigate the existent influence of PSCI on economic and environmental pillars of port sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a resource-based view, this paper hypothesises that PSCI has a certain impact on port “economic” sustainability (PECS) and port “environmental” sustainability (PENS). Measures of PSCI, PECS and PENS are refined and validated using data collected from the maritime logistics industry in Egypt, and structural equation modelling is employed to test the hypothetical relationships.

Findings

The results indicate that a port having adopted an integrative strategy into supply chains could enhance its cost and operational efficiency, financial and investment situation, while offering high-quality services to its customers. Similarly, PSCI is emphatically correlated with water and air pollution management, energy efficiency and green port management practices.

Research limitations/implications

Having identified the acute potential of PSCI for sustainable development in maritime logistics and supply chains, this line of research allows port operators and/or authorities to better understand strategic options with which they are able to improve their sustainability practices. This paper is, however, limited only to two dimensions of sustainability by not exploring the “social” aspect of port sustainability due to data-related issues.

Originality/value

This line of research could be regarded as an extended application from other industrial sectors to the port industry in a way to empirically examine the inclusive relationship of PSCI with economic and environmental parameters. The findings from this research make a due contribution to the field of port sustainability in general and Egyptian ports in particular.
Clinician and academic perspectives on expressive arts therapy for refugee children and families: a qualitative study
Authors: Knettel Brandon A. , Oliver-Steinberg Anna , Lee M.J. , Rubesin Hillary , Duke Naomi N. , Esmaili Emily , Puffer Eve
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The refugee journey is fraught with challenges before, during and after resettlement. There is a critical need for mental health support upon arrival, and refugees face language, cultural and logistical barriers. Arts-based therapies are a promising approach to mitigating such barriers. The purpose of this study was to elicit professional stakeholder perspectives on mental health challenges among refugees, the value of arts-based programs and future directions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted three 90-min focus groups with 19 professional stakeholders in North Carolina, USA. This included mental health professionals, professors and community services/resettlement workers. Participants were identified from professional networks and snowball sampling. Each group was held by videoconference, audio recorded and transcribed. Data were analyzed through a team-based approach using applied thematic qualitative analysis.

Findings

Interviewees described a need for targeted, culturally compatible mental health services for refugee families, including trauma-informed, family-focused services with language interpretation. Arts-based therapies were viewed as highly acceptable and culturally responsive approaches for understanding distress and building resilience and less stigmatizing than traditional mental health services. Services in schools and community settings would further reduce stigma and minimize logistical barriers. Participants identified needing strong, culturally sensitive assessment tools to measure treatment progress as a key future direction.

Originality/value

The study offers novel insights into the value of arts-based approaches and considerations for program development. The next phase of the project will obtain the perspectives of refugee parents and children to understand client preferences for arts-based therapies.
Investigating factors that influence students’ ability to seek online bilingual scientific information
Authors: Archila Pablo Antonio , Ortiz Brigithe Tatiana , Truscott de Mejía Anne-Marie , Restrepo Silvia
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Seeking online bilingual scientific information is a key aspect of bilingual scientific Web literacy – abilities to engage critically with science on the Web using two languages. This study aims to determine whether factors such as age, education major, gender and type of school attended at secondary level (monolingual, bilingual, trilingual) influence undergraduates’ ability to search online Spanish-English bilingual scientific information.

Design/methodology/approach

The participants in this study were 60 students (43 females and 17 males, 18–25 years old) enrolled in a university bilingual science course at a high-ranked Colombian university. They were asked to complete two tasks in which they had to seek online scientific information in Spanish and in English and post their responses on the Web application, Padlet® (padlet.com).

Findings

Results indicate that students’ gender and age influence their academic performance in both tasks and level of originality in using information obtained via the Web, respectively. Moreover, the “scientific journal” was the top source of online information from which participants sought most information to complete both tasks.

Originality/value

People are becoming increasingly accustomed to seeking and sharing online scientific information to support points of view and make decisions. However, it is not known which factors influence students’ ability to seek online first language-English bilingual scientific information in countries where English is the second or foreign language.
Technology adoption by smallholder farmers: the case of drying technology in the Indonesian seaweed industry
Authors: Stone Serafina , Langford Zannie , Arsyi Risya , Lapong Imran , Zach Zulung , Ruhon Radhiyah , Julianto Boedi , Siradjuddin Irsyadi , Wong Annie , Waldron Scott
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Poor post-harvest handling practices by seaweed farmers are a key issue in seaweed value chains, contributing to low-quality seaweed being supplied to processors. To address this, a range of advanced drying technologies and methods have been developed, yet uptake by farmers remains low. This study examines factors affecting drying technology uptake by seaweed farmers to identify opportunities to incentivise improved drying practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws on a quantitative survey of 273 seaweed farmers in two villages in South Sulawesi, 16 months of ethnographic fieldwork and 166 semi-structured interviews.

Findings

Farmers engage in limited adoption of improved drying technologies and practices as they don't receive higher prices for higher quality products, instead aiming to meet only the minimum acceptable standards to avoid a price discount or rejection of their product. Technologies and techniques that have been adopted are often used in ways that differ from their original purpose, such as to reduce drying times and labour input, rather than to produce products of low moisture and dirt contents. Similarly, local traders mix high- and low-quality seaweed in order to supply warehouses with seaweed which on average meets minimum quality standards.

Originality/value

This study reveals that improved drying practices are unlikely to be adopted unless incentivised by more targeted price-grade differentials.
Struggling toward symmetry: leadership for restorative justice and deeper learning at an urban charter school
Authors: Fine Sarah
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper features a narrative case study of a leadership team engaged in an effort to transform both culture and instructional practice at an urban charter school. The paper describes the team's effort to align their decision-making with two frameworks selected to anchor the school's institutional change process: restorative justice and deeper learning. Interweaving rich case data with analysis, the paper explores the dilemmas that emerged as leaders struggled to “walk the talk” of these two frameworks, using this to theorize about the synergies between them and to explore the broader leadership challenges involved in transforming schools from authoritarian to humanizing institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The researcher employed an ethnographic approach with the goal of generating a thickly-textured single case study. Data-gathering activities included more than 400 h of participant-observation, in-depth interviewing and artifact collection, conducted over the course of a ten-month academic year. Data analysis was iterative and included frequent member checks with participants.

Findings

The paper finds that restorative justice and deeper learning have powerful epistemological connections that school leaders can harness in order to ensure a coherent approach to change processes. The paper also illuminates several of the core dilemmas that school leaders should anticipate facing when embracing these two frameworks: the dilemma of responding to feedback, the dilemma of power-sharing and the dilemma of balancing expectations with support.

Research limitations/implications

The case study approach employed in this paper allows for rich understandings of specific phenomena while also providing a platform for exploring the general qualities that these phenomena might illustrate. This approach does not allow for statistical generalizability.

Practical implications

The paper suggests that it is imperative for school leaders to explore what it means to lead in ways that are coherent with their vision for change, e.g. to cultivate symmetry. Moreover, the paper demonstrates that the value of such explorations lies in the process of grappling with the tensions that arise when humanizing frameworks are implemented within systems that uphold traditional power hierarchies. Additionally, the paper affirms the value of de-siloing the transformation of school culture from the transformation of instructional practice.

Originality/value

This paper offers an unusually textured account of the messy and uncertain processes that constitute the work of school change. This paper also draws together two educational paradigms which are rarely brought into conversation with each other despite their epistemological synergy.
Ethical consideration dilemma: systematic review of ethics in qualitative data collection through interviews
Authors: Nii Laryeafio Michael , Ogbewe Omoruyi Courage
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Qualitative research that involves the use of human participants calls for the need to protect those participants to give their honest view during data collection. This is an important part of every primary data collection in qualitative studies using interviews. This paper aims to investigate all available ethical considerations that need to be observed by the researcher when conducting primary data collection through interview and to explore the theories that underpin the ethics in qualitative studies.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper systemically reviewed existing qualitative data on ethics and gathered information that were analysed and presented on the topic area.

Findings

The findings show that ethical considerations deal with the various approaches adopted by the researcher to make the participants feel safe to participate in any given researcher. During an interview process in qualitative research, the findings show that anonymity, voluntary participation, privacy, confidentiality, option to opt out and avoiding misuse of findings are ethical considerations that must be observed by the researcher. The outcome of the investigation also shows that deontology and utilitarianism, rights and virtue are the main theories that underpin ethical considerations in research.

Originality/value

The rights of the research participants need to be respected in qualitative research to assist in gathering accurate information to achieve the objectives of study. This and other ethical principles such as anonymity, privacy, confidentiality, voluntary participation and option to opt out guide the researcher to systematically adhere to data collection approaches that yield valid results in qualitative data collection using interviews.
Impediments during the execution of a search and seizure warrant for digital information by forensic investigators in South Africa
Authors: Nortje Jacobus Gerhardus J. , Myburgh Daniel Christoffel
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to identify impediments, discuss impediments and make recommendations for the impediments during the execution of a search and seizure warrant for digital evidence in South African criminal cases.

Design/methodology/approach

The discussion of this article, the second article of two, focuses on a literature review of international and local impediments identified in case law and published research literature and how it is approached in various jurisdictions.

Findings

This study found that impediments identified and addressed internationally during the execution of a search and seizure warrant for digital evidence are relevant to South African criminal cases and still need to be addressed during the execution of a search and seizure warrant for digital evidence in South African criminal cases.

Research limitations/implications

Although searches and seizures for digital evidence are relevant to civil, regulatory and criminal investigations, this study focuses on the search and seizure for digital evidence in criminal matters with an emphasis on the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 and the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper lies in the procedures followed during the physical search and seizure of digital information during the execution of search and seizure warrants for digital information in South Africa. If the South African Police Service follows the recommended procedures, it will contribute to the success of the South African Police Service, which would result in the improved quality of investigations and successful prosecution of crime in South Africa.
The perceived credibility of human-like social robots: virtual influencers in a luxury and multicultural context
Authors: de Boissieu Elodie , Baudier Patricia
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Social robots are invading our daily lives. Recently, thanks to artificial intelligence, humanoid social robots have been developed and influence individuals on social media. This paper aims to understand the perception of luxury consumers regarding human-like virtual influencers (VI) in a multicultural context.

Design/methodology/approach

Conducting a qualitative method, the authors interviewed 32 Chinese and French consumers of luxury products from the Gen-Z and millennial generation about their perception of human influencers and human-like VI after following them on social media specific platforms.

Findings

Using source credibility theory, this research unveils the different ways in which consumers perceive human-like VI according to their physical or content attractiveness, expertise, similarities and trustworthiness. The results suggest that the perception of human-like VI by millennials and Gen-Z is closely related to their cultural setting and their familiarity of the technology in a luxury context.

Originality/value

Considering Gen-Z and millennials' willing for para-social interactions and given the importance to the credibility of the source or the emotions displayed by VI, the intercultural empirical setting of this study introduces the ambivalence of the perception of social robots versus human-like influencers in a luxury digital context.
An empirical study on the imbalance phenomenon of data from recommendation questionnaires in the tourism sector
Authors: Martin-Duque Clara , Fernández-Muñoz Juan José , Moguerza Javier M. , Ruiz-Rua Aurora
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Recommendation systems are a fundamental tool for hotels to adopt a differentiating competitive strategy. The main purpose of this work is to use machine learning techniques to treat imbalanced data sets, not applied until now in the tourism field. These techniques have allowed the authors to analyse the influence of imbalance data on hotel recommendation models and how this phenomenon affects client dissatisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

An opinion survey was conducted among hotel customers of different categories in 120 different countries. A total of 135.102 surveys were collected over eleven quarters. A longitudinal design was conducted during this period. A binary logistic model was applied using the function generalized lineal model (GLM).

Findings

Through the analysis of a representative amount of data, the authors empirically demonstrate that the imbalance phenomenon is systematically present in hotel recommendation surveys. In addition, the authors show that the imbalance exists independently of the period in which the survey is done, which means that it is intrinsic to recommendation surveys on this topic. The authors demonstrate the improvement of recommendation systems highlighting the presence of imbalance data and consequences for marketing strategies.

Originality/value

The main contribution of the current work is to apply to the tourism sector the framework for imbalanced data, typically used in the machine learning, improving predictive models.