bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From catalyst to burden: shopping malls and franchising in Brazil
Authors: Grünhagen Marko , Jell-Ojobor Maria , Hess Julia E. , da Silva Filho Haroldo Monteiro
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This research links the global advance of the franchise model to the geohistorical foray of shopping malls through an empirical longitudinal study in the largest emerging market in Latin America, Brazil.

Design/methodology/approach

We conducted an analysis of a multi-year set of qualitative interviews with the same franchised mall tenants (23 interviews in 2017 and 12 follow-up interviews in 2022) via an iterative procedure of transcript data coding and theme identification.

Findings

Shopping malls were key catalysts in the pre-pandemic growth of franchising in Brazil, yet during the pandemic, malls became liabilities. Attitudes towards malls as franchise hosts changed, flipping the mall perception from catalytic host to burdensome trap. Mall management companies, as key gatekeepers, deserve more research attention.

Originality/value

Our study reveals the detrimental role shopping malls, with their static rules and high cost structures, have played as franchise businesses struggled to survive during the global pandemic. While franchising represents one of the most influential retail business models today, shopping malls have been among the most important brick-and-mortar retail institutions since the 1950s. Jointly, they constitute a unique retail symbiosis with little attention in the academic literature.
Increasing digitalization of the workplace: is the workforce ready?
Authors: Khatri Muskaan , Duggal Harshleen Kaur , Thomas Asha , Varma Arup
Published: December 2024

Purpose

With a host of changes being driven by automation, digitalization and robotization, every business today comprises some digital aspect. Possessing digital skills is key for staying employable. Because digital skill requirements of employers are constantly being redefined, an alignment between industry and academia is necessary to develop a workforce that can promote economic growth and societal welfare. This study aims to analyse the differences in employer expectations as compared to management graduates’ perceptions regarding the digital skills and abilities necessary for human resources to be employable.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative content analysis techniques have been used to demonstrate the thematic convergence of data collected using focus groups. A series of seven focus groups were conducted with two respondent groups – HR professionals (n = 26) and final-year postgraduate management students (n = 32). NVivo was used to analyze the transcripts.

Findings

The findings establish a qualitative hierarchy of 15 digital skills necessary for management graduates to be employable. These have been mapped onto the typology of managerial skills (technical, human and conceptual) given by Katz (1955). The salience of the themes identified varies significantly across the two respondent groups.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study lies in establishing a qualitative hierarchy of digital skills essential to be employable. By mapping the differences in management graduates’ understanding of employability and HR expectations regarding digital skills, the study generates new insights for examining the student-job fit.
Paying your debt makes you happy: insights during the COVID-19 period
Authors: Mamatzakis Emmanuel C. , Ongena S.
Published: December 2024

Purpose

Utilizing a Bayesian vector autoregressive (BVAR) model with time-varying conditional mean equations, we treat our n-dimensional model as a collection of n univariate estimation problems. Cross-dependence is addressed using a student-t skewed distribution with latent autoregressive factors.

Design/methodology/approach

This study investigates the relationship between happiness and household debt repayments during the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK.

Findings

Our findings suggest that the pandemic has led to a decline in happiness, but an increase in household debt repayments appears to have a positive effect on happiness. Interestingly, various government interventions, including lockdown measures, pharmaceutical interventions such as vaccination policies and financial support measures like income support and debt relief, are associated with increased happiness and life satisfaction. However, stay-at-home policies are linked to heightened anxiety.

Originality/value

Inspired by the framework proposed by Kahneman and Krueger (2006), which emphasizes the importance of assessing well-being through happiness as a lens to unveil household financial preferences, our analysis delves into the intricate interplay between individual happiness, household debt repayments and the dynamics of the pandemic. Acknowledging the complex and evolving dynamics among these variables, we adopt a unique BVAR model, incorporating a student-t, time-varying, skewed copula. This modelling approach offers the necessary flexibility to accurately capture the dynamics of diverse data series, while its estimation techniques remain accessible. Given the dynamic nature of happiness, debt repayments and COVID-19 infections and deaths, the incorporation of a time-varying copula within the BVAR framework is deemed appropriate, treating these variables as endogenous. The subsequent section details our methodology in Section 2. Section 3 presents the data, while Section 4 showcases the results, and Section 5 concludes with insights and policy implications.
Using MCDA to select countermeasures against fake news
Authors: Varela da Costa João , Dongo Daniel Filipe , Mira da Silva Miguel
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the applicability of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) through a systematic approach using M-Macbeth to present alternatives for mitigating high-impact instances of disinformation in a community and measure the attractiveness of the options.

Design/methodology/approach

The recent advent of Fake News (FN) and disinformation poses a significant threat to a community, organisation or individual, contributing to the erosion of public trust in institutions and democracy. This is aggravated should the authors consider the multiplicity of FN and, thus, the multitude of risk and their impact on the community. This research proposes tackling FN as a digital risk by applying an MCDA to select the appropriate countermeasures for Law Enforcement Agencies to tackle disinformation and FN crimes.

Findings

Results indicate that to mitigate risk effectively, prioritising risk using adequate strategies and appropriate courses of action is crucial.

Originality/value

Nevertheless, the contributions of this research work allowed us to comprehend the best option to mitigate the risk of FN and provide a realistic approach to support Law Enforcement in decision analysis.
Institutional pressures and risk governance: evidence from Uganda’s financial institutions
Authors: Kakooza JohnBosco , Bagire Vicent , Abaho Ernest , Munene John , Tumwine Sulait , Mwesigwa Rogers
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to examine the impact of institutional pressures on risk governance, and second, to examine the contribution of the specific elements of institutional pressures on risk governance in financial institutions (FIs) in Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a cross-sectional design where data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 112 FIs. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS).

Findings

The results indicate that institutional pressures are significantly associated with risk governance. The study also found that coercive pressures and normative pressures have a positive and significant effect on risk governance, while mimetic pressures do not have a significant effect.

Originality/value

This study offers initial evidence on the association between institutional pressures and risk governance using evidence from Uganda’s FIs. The results also show the impact of the individual elements of institutional pressure on risk governance in FIs. The study also further adds theoretical foundations to the risk governance literature.
Australian public universities’ response to COVID-19
Authors: Hossain Md Moazzem , Rahaman Md Mustafizur , Rahman Md Jahidur , Lema Aklema Choudhury , Hassan Abeer
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the COVID-19 responses of Australian public universities, specifically the actions and measures taken to assist staff, students and the wider community.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses widely used content analysis to investigate the measures taken by these universities to support staff, students and the broader community, based on data from 37 Australian public universities’ published websites.

Findings

The findings show that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Australian public universities provided immediate assistance to students, faculty and the community. As part of their unanticipated COVID pandemic, they implemented online teaching, financial assistance, mental health support and COVID-19-related initiatives. In comparison to non-Go8 universities, the Group of Eight (Go8) universities demonstrated greater resources in delivering these initiatives.

Practical implications

Given the integral role of universities in the Australian economy and society, this research contributes to our understanding of how these institutions navigate unprecedented COVID-19 situations while considering the needs of staff, students and the broader community.

Originality/value

Universities in Australia have played an important role in the economy and society of the country. This paper is one of the first to look at how Australian universities were dealing with the unprecedented COVID-19 situation while taking into account all stakeholders, including staff, students and society.
An analysis of the extent of integrated thinking reflected in key performance indicators: evidence from South Africa
Authors: Ferreira Claudia , Ecim Dusan , Maroun Warren
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study aims to develop an index to evaluate the extent to which key performance indicators (KPIs) align with the principles of integrated thinking.

Design/methodology/approach

Prior academic research, complemented by reporting and governance standards, is used to develop an index to gauge the extent to which KPIs take an integrated approach to performance evaluation. A mixed methods approach is adopted. A qualitative content analysis of organisations’ extra-financial reports is used to gain insights into the level of integrated thinking in performance evaluation structures using the index. Results are then calibrated using well-established integrated thinking proxies.

Findings

Ten indicators are identified, which point to an integrated approach to performance evaluation or the application of an underlying integrated thinking logic. The index is applied to a sample of companies from 2013 to 2021. The results point to companies increasingly incorporating integrated thinking into their KPIs. KPIs, which used to address only financial dimensions, are becoming more pluralistic and may be better described as “integrated performance indicators” (IPIs).

Research limitations/implications

The index is applied to KPI disclosures of a sample of companies in a single jurisdiction only.

Practical implications

Those charged with governance and management can use the index to structure, implement and evaluate IPIs. Investors can use the index to gauge the operationalisation of integrated thinking. Assurance providers may find the index useful when conducting risk assessments, particularly given the increased focus on the assurance of extra-financial information.

Social implications

Regulators can use the index for benchmarking organisations, compliance monitoring and identifying gaps between regulatory expectations and corporate behaviour. More broadly, the index could be used to promote alignment with sustainability frameworks and sustainable development goals at the national level.

Originality/value

This study outlines the dimensions of integrated thinking, which can be applied in the context of performance evaluation structures.
Does Access to Patent Information Help Technological Acquisitions? Evidence from Patent Library Openings
Authors: MAO CONNIE X. , QIN YUERU , TIAN XUAN , ZHANG CHI
Published: December 2024

Technology acquirers face significant information asymmetry when identifying appropriate acquisition targets. We exploit plausibly exogenous variation in the costs of gathering technological information as the result of patent library openings. We find that, after local patent libraries open, firms become more active in technological acquisitions, acquirers prefer targets that are geographically or technologically close to a lesser extent, completion rates for technology M&A increase, and performance improves. Post‐merger innovation output is enhanced through more collaboration between inventors of acquirers and their targets. Overall, our study sheds new light on the importance of information‐gathering costs in corporate takeovers and on the search for human capital synergies.
Optimizing conditions for microwave‐assisted solvent extraction of polar compounds from Carissa carandas
Authors: Kumar Ankit , Gehlot Rakesh , Saini Aadisha , Phogat Rekha
Published: December 2024

The present investigation aimed to optimize the solvent combination and microwave‐assisted extraction (MAE) conditions for extracting polar phyto‐components from Carissa carandas, which is an underutilized fruit rich in various bioactive compounds. Initially, an augmented simplex centroid design was used to investigate the influence of four polar solvents (methanol, ethanol, acetone, and water) on the extraction of phyto‐compounds, including total sugars, reducing sugars, total polyphenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity of the extract. The desirability function determined that a solvent combination of ethanol–water (49:51, v/v) was the most effective for extracting polar components from C. carandas, and this combination was used for further MAE optimization. During MAE, the effects of different microwave powers (180, 360, and 450 W), time intervals (3 and 6 min), and acidity levels (0% and 1% HCl, w/v) were studied for the phyto‐compounds. The results showed that microwave treatment at a low power level (180 W), shorter treatment time (3 min), and acidified solvents promoted the extraction of total and reducing sugars, as well as enhanced total polyphenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). The extraction solvent's acidity positively impacts TPC and TFC in reflux systems but negatively affects extraction yields in MAE. The antioxidant activities were also significantly influenced by the extraction solvent's microwave power, treatment time, and acidity. These findings emphasize the importance of MAE for efficiently extracting polar phyto‐components from C. carandas, which can be further utilized in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Practical Application

Optimized MAE conditions enhance bioactive compound extraction from C. carandas, benefiting nutraceuticals, functional foods, and the development of functional packaging materials. Owing to their rich profile of bioactive compounds, it can be utilized in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. The extracts can also be used to synthesize various nano‐compounds aiding in green and sustainable chemistry principles.
Improvement of yoghurt gel syneresis by trehalose: Effect on rheological properties, water distribution, and microstructure
Authors: Zhao Xiao , An Jing‐jing
Published: December 2024

Three low molecular weight (LMW) sweeteners (D‐tagatose, erythritol, and trehalose) were studied in yoghurt formulations to investigate their effects on syneresis, rheological properties, water distribution, and microstructural characteristics. The results indicated that trehalose improved syneresis, the fermentation process, and rheological properties compared to yoghurt fortified with sucrose, while D‐tagatose and erythritol demonstrated the opposite effects on fermentation. With the addition of LMW sweeteners, the apparent viscosity and frequency sweep of yoghurt increased, with trehalose showing a better effect than sucrose or the other two LMW sweeteners. The water distribution, as indicated by T2 relaxation time, was also significantly improved with trehalose. Electron microscopy results showed that the three LMW sweeteners decreased the porous structure of the yoghurt gel and enhanced protein aggregation, leading to a denser network. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy results demonstrated that trehalose increased the disorder of hydrocarbon chains, the vibrations of N–H and C–N groups, and the C–O stretching, promoting the formation of casein/trehalose complexes, which improved the gel syneresis of yoghurt containing trehalose. Those results suggest that trehalose could be used as a novel sweetener to replace sucrose in dairy products.

Practical Application

This study investigated the rheological, gel syneresis, water distribution, and microstructural properties of yoghurt with three LMW sweeteners and found that yoghurt supplemented with trehalose significantly improved syneresis and the structure of casein micelles through increased hydroxyl groups. Trehalose can potentially be used trehalose as a yoghurt stabilizer for dairy production, enhancing gel syneresis properties.
Characterising high‐risk plaque on cardiac CT
Authors: Ihdayhid Abdul Rahman , Sehly Amro , Lan Nick S R , Denston Nadia , Chow Benjamin J W , Newby David E , Williams Michelle C , Dwivedi Girish
Published: December 2024

Coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) is a well‐established and reliable non‐invasive imaging modality that provides a comprehensive assessment of coronary artery anatomy and luminal stenosis due to atherosclerosis. Owing to advances in CCTA software and technology, the composition and morphology of coronary plaque can be accurately evaluated. Adverse features which identify plaque as being high‐risk or ‘vulnerable’ can provide a personalised cardiovascular risk assessment over and above stenosis severity. High‐risk plaque features on CCTA include spotty calcification, low attenuation plaque, positive remodelling and the napkin ring sign. However, it can be challenging to characterise high‐risk plaque accurately on CCTA, and as such, education and experience are required. In this pictorial essay, a comprehensive visual guide to high‐risk plaque features on CCTA is provided, with clear examples and challenging cases that highlight common pitfalls. It is important for expert readers to properly identify these features given their association with adverse outcomes and potential future implications on intensive goal‐directed medical therapy.
The association between state cannabis policies and cannabis use among adults and youth, United States, 2002–2019
Authors: Pessar Seema Choksy , Smart Rosanna , Naimi Tim , Lira Marlene , Blanchette Jason , Boustead Anne , Pacula Rosalie Liccardo
Published: December 2024

Aims

To measure the association between state cannabis policies and use among adults and youth in the United States from 2002 to 2019, given rapid policy liberalization and complex state cannabis policy environments.

Design

Repeated cross‐sectional time series analysis. Three sets of models assessed the linear association between the Cannabis Policy Scale (CPS), an aggregate measure of 17 state cannabis policy areas that weights each policy by its efficacy and implementation rating, and prevalence of cannabis use. The first included year and state fixed effects; the second added state‐level controls; the third replaced state fixed effects with state random effects. Standard errors were clustered at the state level in all models.

Setting and participants

United States.

Measurements

Past‐month prevalence of cannabis use is from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health Small Area Estimates, a nationally and state‐representative cross‐sectional survey of household population ages 12 and older for years 2002–2003 to 2018–2019. Exposure data include the CPS.

Findings

A 10 percentage‐point increase in the CPS (i.e. greater cannabis policy restrictiveness) was associated with lower past‐month use prevalence by 0.81 (95% confidence interval [CI] = ‐1.05 to −0.56) to 0.97 (95% CI = ‐1.19 to −0.75) percentage‐points for the population ages 12 years and older. When models were stratified by age, a 10 percentage‐point increase in the CPS was associated with a 0.87 (95% CI = ‐1.13 to −0.61) to 1.04 percentage‐point (95% CI = ‐1.03 to −0.84) reduction in past‐month use prevalence for adults ages 18 years and older, and a 0.17 (95% CI = ‐0.24 to −0.09) to 0.21 percentage‐point (95% CI = ‐0.35 to −0.07) reduction for youth ages 12–17 years.

Conclusions

More restrictive US cannabis policies appear to be associated with reduced cannabis use for both adults and youth.
Effects of AZFc (b2/b4, b1/b3, b2/b3, and gr/gr) deletions and primary duplications on the outcomes of the first intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment cycle: A single‐center retrospective cohort study
Authors: Li Linlin , Liu Xiangyin , Wang Xinying , Zhang Hongguo , Liu Ruizhi
Published: December 2024

Background

Current advances in high‐throughput sequencing technology enable the precise identification of Y chromosome microdeletion and primary duplication in infertile couples, but the mechanism and clinical significance of these mutations in assisted reproductive techniques remain unclear.

Objectives

To investigate the effects of AZFc (b2/b4, b1/b3, b2/b3, and gr/gr) deletions and primary duplications on the outcomes of the first intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment cycle.

Methods

Y chromosome microdeletions and primary duplications in infertile men were detected using next‐generation sequencing (NGS) technology. A total of 813 patients undergoing their first ICSI treatment were divided into six groups: b2/b4 deletion group (n = 28), three partial AZFc subdeletion groups (b1/b3, n = 13; b2/b3, n = 72; gr/gr, n = 71), primary AZFc duplication group (n = 54), and control group with a normal Y chromosome (n = 575). The multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess and compare the embryologic and cumulative reproductive outcomes of ICSI treatment across these groups.

Results

Compared with the control group, the b2/b4 deletion group showed a poor ICSI embryologic outcome after ICSI treatment, with a significantly lower fertilization rate per oocytes retrieval (72.22% vs.79.89%; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.45–0.88, p < 0.01) and 2 pronuclear (2PN) fertilization rate (66.37% vs. 74.80%; adjusted OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.47–0.89, p < 0.01) either before or after adjustment for confounding factors. Nevertheless, three partial AZFc deletion groups showed no effect on the ICSI fertilization rate after ICSI treatment. The primary AZFc duplication group had a significantly lower clinical pregnancy rate per transferred embryo (56.25% vs. 65.97%; adjusted OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.41–0.99, p < 0.05), and the semen characteristics varied from azoospermia to normozoospermia. In addition, all indicators related to embryo quality, clinical pregnancy, and live birth outcomes in the primary duplication group were inferior to those in the control group.

Conclusion

This study indicates that b2/b4 deletion has a negative effect on ICSI outcomes, particularly the fertilization rates. Partial AZFc deletions have no significant effect on the fertilization rate after ICSI treatment. Primary AZFc duplication can lead to varying seminal phenotypes and has a negative effect on ICSI embryologic and pregnancy outcomes, particularly showing a significant association with low birth weight in newborns after ICSI treatment.
CaMKIIα hub ligands are unable to reverse known phenotypes in Angelman syndrome mice
Authors: Gauger Stine J. , Lie Maria E. K. , Wallaard Ilse , Tian Yongsong , Marek Aleš , Frølund Bente , van Woerden Geeske M. , Elgersma Ype , Kornum Birgitte R. , Wellendorph Petrine
Published: December 2024

Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by the loss of function of ubiquitin‐protein ligase E3A (UBE3A), resulting in marked changes in synaptic plasticity. In AS mice, a dysregulation of Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II alpha (CaMKIIα) was previously described. This has been convincingly validated through genetic rescue of prominent phenotypes in mouse cross‐breeding experiments. Selective ligands that specifically stabilize the CaMKIIα central association (hub) domain and affect different conformational states in vitro are now available. Two of these ligands, 3‐hydroxycyclopent‐1‐enecarboxylic acid (HOCPCA) and (E)‐2‐(5‐hydroxy‐2‐phenyl‐5,7,8,9‐tetrahydro‐6H‐benzo[7]annulen‐6‐ylidene)acetic acid (Ph‐HTBA), confer neuroprotection after ischemic stroke in mice where CaMKIIα is known to be dysregulated. Here, we sought to investigate whether pharmacological modulation with these prototypical CaMKIIα hub ligands presents a viable approach to alleviate AS symptoms. We performed an in vivo functional evaluation of AS mice treated for a total of 14 days with either HOCPCA or Ph‐HTBA (7 days pre‐treatment and 7 days of behavioural assessment). Both compounds were well‐tolerated but unable to revert robust phenotypes of motor performance, anxiety, repetitive behaviour or seizures in AS mice. Biochemical experiments subsequently assessed CaMKIIα autophosphorylation in AS mouse brain tissue. Taken together our results indicate that pharmacological modulation of CaMKIIα via the selective hub ligands used here is not a viable treatment strategy in AS.
How Media Technology Affects the Team's Market and the Competitive Balance of Sports League
Authors: Cheah Hon Foong , Qi Chao
Published: December 2024

Better broadcasting and sports globalization allow sports fans to watch televised matches from the comfort of home, which means that local geography becomes less of a deciding factor in constraining the professional sports market. In our model, utility‐maximizing fans’ decision to watch a game dictates a team's broadcast revenue and allows teams to monetize from non‐home fans. When fans watch a series of televised matches, teams’ markets overlap as they are not solely reliant on their home fan base, meaning that the actual difference in market size between teams is smaller, allowing teams with smaller home fan bases to narrow their performance gap against stronger teams.
Bridging Innovation Management and Circular Economy: An Empirical Assessment of Green Innovation and Open Innovation
Authors: Perotti Francesco Antonio , Troise Ciro , Ferraris Alberto , Hirwani Wan Hussain Wan Mohd
Published: December 2024

Seeking a successful balance between economic growth and the natural environment, more and more companies are attempting to embrace circular economy (CE). Yet, how to take the first step towards the circular transition? This study answers such a meaningful question by delving into innovation management to support the implementation of CE in businesses. In detail, the present research addresses the nexus between green innovation and CE in economic organisations, besides observing the adoption of open innovation strategies. Green innovation, understood as a learning process through adopting novel practices, technologies or products, has been associated with CE implementation, although their effective relationship has typically been overlooked or assumed. On the other hand, open innovation may further accelerate circular‐oriented innovation, encompassing a collaborative approach where companies leverage external ideas and technologies. Using covariance‐based structural equation modelling on a sample of 318 European companies, our study examines the interplay between such phenomena. We find that green product and process innovation enable companies to acquire essential resources to implement CE practices, especially when relying upon open innovation mechanisms. As a result, this study demonstrated the synergic adoption of these innovation strategies, offering new insights based on generalisable claims. Building on the resource‐based view of the firm, we substantiate the importance of environmental awareness and stakeholders' engagement in innovation processes, as a strategic approach to acquire critical resources and knowledge that facilitate the CE implementation. Accordingly, the article delivers practical recommendations for managerial figures by underlining how to harness innovation management to move their first steps towards the CE transition.
Clinical and Genetic Analysis of Digenic Muscular Dystrophy due to SRPK3 and TTN Variants in Two Siblings
Authors: Sharkova Inna , Borovikov Artem , Konovalov Fedor , Nefedova Maria , Shchagina Olga , Kutsev Sergey , Murtazina Aysylu
Published: December 2024

We present a family with two male siblings diagnosed with a newly described digenic myopathy, involving likely pathogenic loss‐of‐function variants in the SRPK3 and TTN genes: hemizygous p.(Pro68ArgfsTer55) and heterozygous p.(Trp14174Ter), respectively. Both siblings experienced prenatal disease onset, characterized by weak fetal movements, but showed significant clinical improvement over two last years of our follow‐up. Key features included early onset, delayed motor development, and prominent axial and proximal weakness, while adult variants' carriers remained asymptomatic, without any myopathic or cardiac manifestations. Lower limb MRI revealed distinctive abnormalities, with different patterns between the siblings: the older brother showed more pronounced involvement of the thigh muscles, while the younger brother exhibited greater changes in the lower leg muscles. Given the early stage of the disease in our patients and the initial changes observed on MRI, we suggest that the semitendinosus and vastus lateralis muscles are primarily involved at the thigh level in SRPK3/TTN‐myopathy. This case highlights the importance of considering digenic inheritance in neuromuscular disorders and underscores the necessity of comprehensive genetic analysis in similar cases.
Primary Stability of Dental Implants in Human Jawbones: Experiments & FE Analyses
Authors: Wili Patrik , Rauber Cedric , Saade Amal , Bliggenstorfer Salomé , Ramirez‐Garmendia Valentina , Schweizer Ramon , Irastorza‐Landa Ainara , Chappuis Vivianne , Zysset Philippe
Published: December 2024

Objectives

Primary stability (PS) is a key factor for promoting osseointegration and long‐term success of dental implants particularly for immediate loading protocols. Beyond the current assessments of PS, an accurate pre‐operative evaluation of PS would contribute to the improvement of surgical planning and treatment outcome. This study used biomechanical testing and homogenized finite element (hFE) analysis to objectively measure PS in the laboratory, and digitally estimate PS from prior μCT reconstructions.

Material and Methods

Thirty‐five bone samples extracted from the jaws of two donors were examined. Twenty‐two were finally evaluated for PS. After scanning of the samples with μCT, implants were inserted by two experienced surgeons, and various metrics such as μCT‐based bone volume fraction (BV/TV), insertion torque (IT), and resonance frequency analysis (RFA) were assessed to determine PS. Mechanical tests were conducted to measure ultimate force (UFexp) as an objective indicator of PS while the hFE simulations were performed to estimate this same ultimate force (UFsim).

Results

Higher correlation was found between UFsim and UFexp (R2 = 0.85) than between BV/TV and UFexp (R2 = 0.61), IT and UFexp (R2 = 0.50), and RFA and UFexp (R2 = 0.38). All variables demonstrated a statistically significant linear correlation with UFexp (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

UFsim turns out to be a more reliable and objective indicator of PS than IT and RFA. The hFE analysis requires prior μCT reconstructions and is currently limited by numerical convergence problems. Despite these limitations, pre‐operative hFE analysis emerges as a promising tool with a higher accuracy for estimation of PS than state of care techniques.
Reproductive Toxicity Induced by Serotonin‐Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors: A Pharmacovigilance Analysis From 2004 to 2023 Based on the FAERS Database
Authors: Xi Yujia , Bao Zhuocheng , Guo Qiang , Wang Jingqi , Jing Zhinan , Di Jingkai , Yang Ke
Published: December 2024

Aim

Serotonin‐norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) have been extensively utilized for the treatment of depression and anxiety disorders. Clinical trials and real‐world data suggest that SNRIs may cause reproductive toxicity. To comprehensively assess this association, we conducted a pharmacovigilance study.

Methods

We utilized various disproportionality analysis algorithms, including reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), bayesian confidence propagation neural network (BCPNN), and multi‐item gamma poisson shrinker (MGPS), to assess the significance of reproductive toxicity‐related adverse events (AEs) reported to FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) from January 2004 to December 2023, with subgroup analysis conducted by sex and age.

Results

Duloxetine and venlafaxine were associated with 14 and 25 AE signals related to reproductive toxicity, respectively, with erectile dysfunction (ED) and retrograde ejaculation identified as shared important medical events (IMEs). ED had the highest reporting frequency, strongest in venlafaxine‐treated patients under 45 years (ROR 4.34, PRR 4.33, IC 2.09, EBGM 4.25). Retrograde ejaculation was newly identified. With decreasing incidence, venlafaxine's median ED onset was 122.5 days and duloxetine's 38 days.

Conclusion

Our study provides evidence through an extensive analysis of the large‐scale real‐world FAERS database, aiding healthcare professionals in mitigating, and prioritizing SNRI‐related reproductive toxicity AEs.
Consumer reactions to multiple and single health warnings on static alcohol ads: A factorial survey experiment with a convenience sample of adults in Ireland
Authors: Filipova Vania , Hooper Daire , Kenny Patrick
Published: December 2024

Introduction

As part of several measures to inform consumers about the health risks of alcohol, the Irish Government signed into law the Public Health (Alcohol) Act 2018, with Section 13 requiring the implementation of multiple health warnings in all alcohol ads. Although health warnings on product labels have been subject to intensive political discussion and academic research, health warnings in alcohol ads have received little attention.

Methods

A between‐subject factorial survey experiment was conducted with a convenience sample of adults in Ireland (n = 932) to compare single‐text, multiple‐text and shocking image‐and‐text health warnings displayed on two types of static alcohol ads—an ad with social imagery featuring people drinking alcohol and an ad featuring only the alcohol product. Believability of health warnings, negative emotions, perceived risks of alcohol use and self‐efficacy to drink less were measured after viewing each alcohol ad with or without health warnings.

Results

Single‐text health warnings, with and without shocking imagery, were more effective in increasing negative emotions than multiple‐text health warnings (p ≤ 0.001), whereas multiple‐text warnings were found to be more believable than single‐text warnings (p ≤ 0.001). No significant effects were found on perceived risks of alcohol use and self‐efficacy to drink less (p > 0.05). The warnings did not differ across demographic groups and the type of alcohol ads on all outcomes (p > 0.05).

Discussions and Conclusions

A single health warning emphasising cancer risk could be a useful starting point for policymakers when implementing health warnings in alcohol ads.
Alcohol consumption and mortality among Canadian drinkers: A national population‐based survival analysis (2000–2017)
Authors: Clay James M. , Callaghan Russell C. , Sherk Adam , Naimi Timothy S. , Stockwell Tim , Asbridge Mark
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Alcohol contributes significantly to global disease burden. Over 50 countries, including Canada, have established low‐risk drinking guidelines to reduce alcohol‐related harm. Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health (CGAH) was released in 2023. This study examines the relationship between weekly alcohol consumption, CGAH risk zones and mortality patterns among Canadian drinkers aged 15 and older.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from three cycles of the national, population‐based Canadian Community Health Survey (2000–2006) linked to mortality data up to 2017. The sample included 145,760 respondents aged 15 and older who reported alcohol consumption in the past week. Average weekly alcohol consumption was assessed using the Timeline Followback method (i.e., 7‐day recall). Outcomes included all‐cause mortality, alcohol‐related mortality and mortality from conditions with an alcohol‐attributable fraction ≥15%.

Results

Alcohol consumption was significantly positively associated with increased risks of all‐cause (hazard ratio = 1.01, p < 0.001), alcohol‐related (hazard ratio = 1.01, p = 0.001) and alcohol‐attributable fraction‐related mortality (hazard ratio = 1.02, p < 0.001). Each additional standard drink per week raised mortality risk, with women experiencing a greater increase in risk compared to men.

Discussion and Conclusion

The findings support the CGAH recommendations, highlighting the importance of lower alcohol consumption limits to reduce health risks. Public health efforts should focus on increasing awareness and adherence to these guidelines, particularly among women who face greater mortality risks at higher consumption levels. Ongoing monitoring of alcohol consumption is critical for tracking and evaluating low‐risk drinking guideline effectiveness in reducing alcohol‐related harm.
Task‐specific and seasonal differences in individual nutritional status of red wood ant workers
Authors: Iakovlev Ivan K. , Reznikova Zhanna I. , Tiunov Alexei V.
Published: December 2024

Diet plays a crucial role in caste differentiation and division of labour in ants, but relationships between behavioural specialization and the nutritional status of workers in monomorphic species remain understudied.

We used the red wood ant Formica aquilonia, a key species of forest communities in North Eurasia, to examine whether (i) nurses are fatter than foragers; (ii) task groups collected on the nest surface, ground surface and trees have different fat reserves; and (iii) task groups differ in the diet and trophic level.

Higher fat content in nurses including sunbathing workers compared to foragers was shown by abdomen: thorax dry mass, C:N ratio and δ13C values in the abdomen and thorax. Colony fat reserves were minimal in summer and maximum in autumn, especially in nurses.

Ground foragers restoring the foraging territory in spring showed signs of starvation according to the thoracic δ15N values. Nest guards and foragers were similarly lean in summer. Tree foragers collecting honeydew were leaner than ground foragers (hunters) in autumn.

Workers were of similar trophic level. Differences in crop content between nurses and foragers were indicated by the δ15N value in the abdomen.

Our study suggests that the seasonal dynamics of energy reserves and nutritional differences between task groups are linked to the annual life cycle of the colony, contributing to its reproductive success.
Contribution of Interventionist Dynamic Assessment to the Acquisition of Modal Verbs: The Moderating Role of Field (In)dependence and Working Memory
Authors: Karimpour Sedigheh , Kargar Behbahani Hossein
Published: December 2024

As an alternative to conventional instruction and evaluation methods, dynamic assessment aims to promote language learning by utilising an interactive approach. As a subset of dynamic assessment, the interventionist approach to dynamic assessment focuses on mediation from implicit to explicit. In spite of its central role in language learning and assessment, the interventionist dynamic assessment has received less attention in empirical research. To fill part of the gap, this study examined the contributions of interventionist dynamic assessment to the acquisition of modal verbs treating working memory and field (in)dependence as two moderating variables. Two intact classes of experimental and control groups, each with 30 subjects, took part in this quantitative quasi‐experimental research. The experimental group received an interventionist dynamic assessment based on the target linguistic feature, while the control group received a traditional presentation‐practice‐production mode of instruction. The findings of the study revealed that while at the onset, both groups performed similarly, the experimental group outperformed the control group on the posttest, as determined by the between‐subjects ANOVA. The difference between pretest and delayed posttest scores was also significant, corroborating the effectiveness of the treatment on the acquisition of the linguistic form. The study findings highlighted how interventionist dynamic assessment along with a high working memory and a field‐independence trait influence the acquisition of linguistic features. The study has multiple implications for EFL learners and teachers.
Warm Temperature is Associated With Reduced Body Mass and Diversification Rates While Increasing Extinction Risks in Cold‐Adapted Seabirds
Authors: Xiong Ying , Fan Liqing , Chang Yongbin , Xiao Hongtao , Lei Fumin
Published: December 2024

Anthropogenic rapid warming has caused decreases in richness and body mass of birds following the metabolic theory of ecology; yet, the pervasiveness of these shifts remains controversial among different taxa. Here, by combining phylogenetic methods and fossil data, we synthesized spatial patterns of richness and body mass for 328 seabird species belonging to two groups: Procellariimorphae (PM) and non‐Procellariimorphae (NPM). We found that the relationship between body mass and richness, as well as diversification rate, exhibits distinct patterns in these two groups. Ancestral state reconstruction analyses indicate that smaller PM, as opposed to NPM seabirds, evolved in warmer waters from larger ancestors and exhibited a slower diversification rate. Different ancestral climatic origins explain the reduced influence of environmental factors on richness patterns among PM compared to NPM seabirds. Furthermore, whereas NPM seabirds in high latitudes face a high extinction risk, warmer sea temperatures positively correlate with a high extinction risk among PM seabirds. Our results indicate that PM seabirds, evolving from cold waters, have reduced body mass and diversification rate, making them more vulnerable to warmer temperature.
Does Resource Industry Dependence Undermine Urban Resilience? Evidence From China
Authors: Wang Qingxi , Xin Yueji , Tian Zhihua , Hu An , Liu Ye
Published: December 2024

This study empirically investigates the causal relationship between resource industry dependence and urban resilience from three perspectives: ecological, economic, and social, contributing to the resource curse theory and the sustainable development of resource‐dependent cities. We use the entropy method to establish an urban resilience index system to measure the resilience of 269 Chinese cities from 2000 to 2019, and construct a two‐way fixed‐effects model to test the impact of resource industry dependence on urban resilience. The results show that resource industry dependence impairs urban resilience, and this finding remains robust to the estimation using an instrumental variable approach. Moreover, mechanism tests show that resource industry dependence undermines urban resilience by inhibiting industrial structural upgrading and hindering green technological innovation. We further categorize urban resilience into ecological resilience, economic resilience, and social resilience, and find that resource industry dependence has a more significant negative impact on urban ecological resilience and social resilience than on economic resilience. Our investigations suggest that cities should develop strategies based on their unique endowments to reduce resource dependence, improve urban resilience by strengthening industrial systems and promoting innovation, and achieve sustainable economic development.
“It's like it's the old boys club”—the age‐related experiences of diverse older women living with HIV: A scoping review and consultative exercise
Authors: Kokorelias Kristina M. , Su Esther , Brown Paige , McKinlay Stuart , Flanagan Ashley , Walmsley Sharon , Zhabokritsky Alice , Lee Katie , Sirisegaram Luxey
Published: December 2024

Objectives

HIV is often under‐recognized in older individuals, particularly women, despite a significant number of new cases being diagnosed in those aged >50 years. This review aimed to understand the age‐related experiences and challenges faced by women aged ≥50 years living with HIV through an intersectional perspective.

Methods

We conducted a systematic scoping review using the framework by Arksey and O'Malley, refined by Levac, Colquhoun, and Peters, and informed by a Sex‐ and Gender‐Based Analysis Plus (SGBA+) approach. The research questions were developed in consultation with community advisory stakeholders. A comprehensive search strategy was used, targeting categories related to ‘aged,’ ‘HIV,’ and ‘women’ based on scoping review and Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies guidelines. We included peer‐reviewed studies where at least 50% of participants were women aged ≥50 years and living with HIV, focusing on their age‐related experiences in health or social contexts. Two independent reviewers applied inclusion criteria through a two‐level screening process. Data extraction included details on publication type, study characteristics, participant recruitment, and results. Findings were synthesized and presented to a stakeholder advisory committee for additional insights. Stakeholder input from an advisory committee was incorporated into the findings, providing additional context and enhancing the interpretation of the results.

Results

The review included 21 articles. Key findings revealed the intersectional challenges faced by women aged ≥50 years living with HIV, such as stigma, emotional resilience, social support networks, and health management strategies. These findings highlight the complex interplay of factors influencing their lives, from concerns about sharing HIV status to strategies for managing health. The review also identified research gaps and underscored the need for comprehensive studies on the intersectional dynamics affecting health outcomes in this population.

Conclusions

This review underscores the complex challenges and strengths of women aged ≥50 years living with HIV, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions and support services that recognize their intersecting identities and unique needs. Addressing these issues is essential for ensuring equitable access to care and fostering resilience within this community.