bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Highly polarized energetic electrons via intense laser-irradiated tailored targets
Authors: Shen Xiaofei , Gong Zheng , Hatsagortsyan Karen Z. , Keitel Christoph H.
Published: September 2024

A method for the generation of ultrarelativistic electron beams with high spin polarization is put forward, where a tightly focused linearly polarized ultraintense laser pulse interacts with a nonprepolarized transverse-size-tailored solid target. The radiative spin polarization and angular separation is facilitated by the standing wave formed via the incident and reflected laser pulses at the overdense plasma surface. Strong electron heating caused by transverse instability enhances photon emission in the density spikes injected into the standing wave near the surface. Two groups of electrons with opposite transverse polarization emerge, antialigned to the magnetic field, which are angularly separated in the standing wave due to the phase-matched oscillation of the magnetic field and the vector potential. The polarized electrons propelled into the plasma slab are focused at the exit by the self-generated quasistatic fields. Our particle-in-cell simulations demonstrate the feasibility of highly polarized electrons with a single 10 PW laser beam, e.g., with polarization of 60% and charge of 8 pC selected at energy of 200 MeV within 15 mrad angle and 10% energy spread.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Coprecipitation of Ce(III) oxide with UO2
Authors: Saleh M. , Hedberg M. , Tam P. L. , Spahiu K. , Persson I. , Ekberg C.
Published: September 2024

The neutralization of acidic solutions containing U (IV) and Ce (III) at room temperature in glove box atmosphere and in the presence of dithionite results in coprecipitation of these elements as amorphous solid solutions Ce
x
U1–x
O2±y
. The solubilities of the precipitates with different mole fractions (x) of Ce(OH)3 (x = 0.01 or 0.1) were determined in 1 M NaClO4 solutions between pH 2.2 and 12.8 under reducing conditions. The solids were investigated by a variety of methods (chemical analysis, SEM-EDX, XRD, XPS, XAS) to determine the nature of the solid solutions formed, their composition and the valence state of Ce and U. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the oxidation states of the solids both before and after the equilibration as Ce (III) and U (IV). The amorphous coprecipitates reached equilibrium relatively fast (∼1 week). The release of Ce from the coprecipitates was totally dominated by the release of uranium over the whole pH range. The Ce concentrations decrease slightly with the decrease of Ce content in the solid, suggesting that Ce
x
U1–x
O2±y
solids behave thermodynamically as solid solutions. The concentrations of U in equilibrium with the coprecipitate were in excellent agreement with the solubility of UO2(s) under reducing conditions reported in the literature. The conditional solubility product of Ce(OH)3 from the coprecipitate was several orders of magnitude (∼4 in the near neutral pH range and ∼18 in the acidic range) lower than that of pure Ce(OH)3(s). The activities and activity coefficients of Ce(OH)3(s) in the coprecipitate were also estimated. Activity coefficients are much less than 1, indicating that the mixing of Ce(OH)3 with UO2 is highly favorable.
Analysis on dynamic characteristics of dam material and seismic response of embankment dam in Longyang Reservoir
Authors: Guo Peng-fei , Hou Tian-shun , Wang Ya-chuan
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The geological conditions of Longyang Reservoir are complex and it is located in strong earthquake area. In order to determine its seismic characteristics, the seismic response and residual deformation of embankment dam should be studied to provide calculation basis for dam design and construction.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the geological survey data of Longyang Reservoir, the dam filling materials are tested by dynamic deformation tests, and the equivalent linear constitutive model parameters of the filling materials are obtained. Based on Duncan-Chang E-B model, the stress state of embankment dam in Longyang Reservoir before earthquake is calculated, and the dynamic response and earthquake residual deformation of embankment dam in Longyang Reservoir under earthquake condition are calculated by using equivalent linear model and Shen Zhu-jiang’s residual deformation model.

Findings

The results show that with the increase of dynamic shear strain, the dynamic shear modulus decreases and the damping ratio increases. The scatter plot between dynamic shear modulus and dynamic shear strain, and the scatter plot between damping ratio and dynamic shear strain under different confining pressures show strips. The calculation results shows that the acceleration of embankment dam in Longyang Reservoir increases with the increase of dam height, and the acceleration distribution has obvious amplification effect. Combined with the maximum dynamic shear strain during the earthquake and the state before the earthquake, the maximum vertical residual deformation of embankment dam in Longyang Reservoir is 2.98 cm which occurs at the top of the dam, calculated by the Shen Zhu-jiang’s residual deformation model.

Originality/value

Finite element calculation model parameters of embankment dam are obtained by dynamic triaxial tests. Seismic dynamic responses and residual deformation of embankment dam are analyzed. With the increase of dam height, the acceleration distribution shows an obvious amplification effect. The vertical displacement of embankment dam is larger along the dam axis and decreases in the upstream and downstream direction. The maximum horizontal displacement of embankment dam occurs in the middle of upstream and downstream dam slopes.

Highlights

(1)

Finite element calculation model parameters of embankment dam are obtained by dynamic triaxial tests.

(2)

Seismic dynamic responses and residual deformation of embankment dam are analyzed.

(3)

With the increase of dam height, the acceleration distribution shows an obvious amplification effect.

(4)

The vertical displacement of embankment dam is larger along the dam axis and decreases in the upstream and downstream direction.

(5)

The maximum horizontal displacement of embankment dam occurs in the middle of upstream and downstream dam slopes.
Examining the impact of online service convenience on user engagement and intention to continuously use e-resources: mediating role of attitude
Authors: Vandana Vandana , Kumar Sachin , Kumar Vinod
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study aims to analyze the mediating role of attitude in understanding the impact of online service convenience on user engagement and intention to continuously use e-resources. Five components of online service convenience have been adopted for the present study: These are access convenience, search convenience, evaluation convenience, transaction convenience and possession/ post-possession convenience.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 500 PhD scholars and faculty members from two different states of India were approached to provide their responses through a structured questionnaire, which resulted in 224 complete responses. These responses were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The statistical analysis has been performed with the help of Smart-PLS 3.

Findings

The study findings have proven the proposed conceptual model by showing a significant relationship between all the variables. Furthermore, it has been identified that the attitude of the users also positively impacts intention to continuously use e-resources.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on e-resources by providing implications for students, faculties, managers and society.
Constructing Ubudehe? Farmers’ perceptions of drought impacts and resilience capacities in Bugesera, Rwanda
Authors: Nzeyimana Lazare , Danielsson Åsa , Brodén-Gyberg Veronica , Andersson Lotta
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This paper analyses Rwandan farmers’ perceptions of historical drivers of landscape vulnerability (past), current livelihood assets (present) and existing or potential capacities (future) to increase resilience to drought. The specific focus is on linking experiences from the past and present with ideas for a drought-resilient future. It explores how farmers' perceptions of past droughts and future visioning can contribute to rural development policy and multi-level collaborations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted in Bugesera, a drought-prone district in south-eastern Rwanda. Empirical data was collected through participatory observation, semi-structured interviews and focus groups. The analytical points of departure are based on sustainable landscapes and livelihood approaches, combining spatial and temporal perspectives on challenges and opportunities identified by farmers’ communities in addressing droughts.

Findings

All respondents had a high awareness of the impact of droughts. Perceived drivers of landscape change include historical climate events, such as droughts and floods, immigration and agricultural expansion, which have led to demographic pressure on land, deforestation and infringement on natural resources. Factors enhancing resilience capacities include access to diversified sources of livelihood, knowledge of appropriate irrigation techniques and availability of safety nets and credits. Furthermore, farmers identified collaborative opportunities as important for resilience capacity, including peer learning, and sharing best practices through knowledge exchange and on-field training. In addition, farmers brought up the need for innovative institutions that can facilitate access to markets and enable collaboration between different agricultural sectors.

Originality/value

This study analyses farmers’ perceptions of resilience capacities to droughts through a spatiotemporal lens of past droughts, present capital and future challenges by linking scales, knowledge and human–environment nexus. This paper contributes to the knowledge of climate adaptation in Rwanda and to discussions about smallholder farming in the literature on climate change adaptation.
One style does not fit all: the relationship of mediator behavioral adaptivity to mediator empowerment, efficacy, and satisfaction
Authors: Kugler Katharina G. , Coleman Peter T.
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Prior research on the situated model of mediation has suggested that mediators’ abilities to be more flexible and adaptive in responding to potential derailers in mediation situations lead to better outcomes. The purpose if this paper is to build on this theory and research by developing a new scale of mediator behavioral adaptivity and investigating the hypothesized effects of mediator adaptivity on their sense of efficacy, empowerment and satisfaction when mediating.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents findings from two survey studies with currently active, experienced mediators.

Findings

The findings offer a new scale for the study of effective mediation – the mediator behavioral adaptivity scale – and offer support for the hypothesis that mediators reporting an ability to use more diverse behavioral tactics and strategies (both standard and specialized strategies) report higher levels of satisfaction with mediation outcomes as well as more self-efficacy and empowerment during mediations.

Research limitations/implications

These studies are both self-report and correlational and so should be supplemented by subsequent research using experimental methods and more objective measures of mediation outcomes.

Originality/value

The program of research extended in this paper offers a new integrative model of adaptive mediation, which aims to provide evidence-based guidelines for using different types of mediation strategies in categorically different conflict situations. The model can ultimately help the field transcend discussions of preferred or best mediation styles and focus instead on how distinct strategies offer different degrees of fit for different types of mediation challenges.
Investigate the distinctive link between a balanced scorecard and organizational performance in IT and non-IT sectors
Authors: Zairbani Abdulkader , Doddaullarthi Basavaraj Chetanraj , SriSai Velaga , Jaya Prakash Senthil Kumar , Anitha Kumari P.
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to examine how the implementation of a balanced scorecard (BSC) affects business outcomes in both information technology (IT) and non-IT sectors.

Design/methodology/approach

Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the hypothesis. A random sample was used to collect 170 responses from the IT companies and 166 from non-IT companies by using the questionnaire method. The questionnaire was distributed to the top- and middle-level managers in Bangalore city, and we used SmartPLS software to explore the relationship between our research constructs.

Findings

The results of this study indicate that a BSC has a significant and positive impact on organizational performance in IT and non-IT sectors. The main distinction in this study is that all BSC perspectives [learning and growth perspective, internal business process (IBP) perspective, customer perspective (CP) and financial perspective (FP)] have a significant, direct and indirect impact on IT companies. On the other hand, solely three BSC perspectives (IBP perspective, CP and FP) have a significant impact on non-IT companies, while learning and growth perspective has an insignificant impact on the FP.

Originality/value

This study provides a critical theoretical and practical contribution of a BSC on business performance in IT and non-IT industries.
Effect of repair patch nature on J-integral reduction in notched plates
Authors: Houari Amin , Kouider Madani , Polat Alper , Amroune Salah , Mohamad Barhm Abdullah , Chellil Ahmed , Campilho Raul
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of different repair patch materials in reducing the stresses at the crack tip of a 2024-T3 aluminum plate. This involves a numerical analysis using the finite element method (FEM) to estimate the reduction in the J-integral value, with the goal of identifying how various parameters related to the patch materials, adhesive properties and loading conditions influence the structural integrity of the repaired plate.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology of this research involves conducting a numerical analysis using the FEM to estimate the reduction in the J-integral value at the crack tip of a 2024-T3 aluminum plate. Three types of patches – metal, composite and functionally graded material (FGM) – were examined under tensile loading conditions, and Adekit-A140 adhesive was used to bond these repair patches to the aluminum plate.

Findings

The analysis considered various parameters, including crack length, the nature of fibers in the composite material, the gradation exponent for FGM patches and the nature of the face in contact with the adhesive for the FGM patch. Additionally, stress analysis was conducted, examining the J-integral values for the plate, shear stress in the adhesive layer and peel stress in the composite patch. The findings highlight that modifying the nature of the repair patch used can significantly enhance the structural integrity of the repaired plate.

Originality/value

The study analyzed J-integral values, shear stress in the adhesive and peel stress in the composite patch. Various parameters, including crack length, fiber type, gradation exponent and adhesive contact face nature, were considered. Results demonstrate that the J-integral value can be significantly reduced by altering the repair patch type, highlighting the effectiveness of customized patch materials in enhancing structural integrity.
Impact of behavioral factors on the investor’s intention in peer-to-peer lending
Authors: Ritika  , Khanna Ashu
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Peer-to-peer lending has emerged as a promising alternative investment avenue globally. This study explores the variables influencing investors' intention in peer-to-peer lending. Studying these factors is crucial for inspiring investor motivation, which leads to the growth of peer-to-peer lending platforms in India.

Design/methodology/approach

The research utilizes information gathered from 293 investors of the Rang de platform through a questionnaire. It employs ordinal logistic regression to assess how demographic characteristics, investor experience, social projects and investment factors influence the study’s outcomes.

Findings

The research indicates that the education qualification and income level of the investors are significant demographic variables in their investment decisions. Moreover, social projects, the experience of the investors and investment factors affect their intent to invest more in peer-to-peer lending projects.

Research limitations/implications

It helps stakeholders and borrowers of crowdfunding platforms think about these aspects when creating plans to bring in and keep investors. This approach also enhances the openness and dependability of lending processes.

Originality/value

This research sheds light on Indian investors' behavior toward peer-to-peer lending platforms and includes new investment factors like project categories and impact partners that other researchers did not identify.
How digital collaboration capability affects incremental and radical service innovation in manufacturing firms: the mediating role of organizational agility
Authors: Zhang Yao , Hao Shengbin
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Despite a growing number of manufacturing firms actively collaborating with ecosystem members aiming for advanced service solutions, it remains unclear how digital collaboration capability (DCC) affects incremental service innovation (ISI) and radical service innovation (RSI) in the context of ecosystems. Drawing on dynamic capabilities theory and resource orchestration theory, this study aims to investigate the impacts of DCC on ISI/RSI and examine the mediating role of organizational agility (OA).

Design/methodology/approach

In this empirical paper, the authors obtained questionnaire data from 238 Chinese manufacturing firms embedded in the ecosystems. Then, the authors examined all the hypotheses through hierarchical regression analyses.

Findings

The empirical evidence indicates that DCC has a distinct effect on ISI and RSI. DCC positively affects ISI, whereas DCC shows an inverted U-shaped effect on RSI. In addition, OA mediates the positive effect of DCC on ISI within a certain range, whereas OA always mediates the inverted U-shaped effect of DCC on RSI.

Originality/value

This study enriches and extends existing research on DCC and service innovation by elucidating the heterogeneous effects of DCC on ISI/RSI and the complicated mediating role of OA. This study also has practical implications for manufacturing firms to revisit their collaboration capability and agility to boost ISI/RSI in the context of ecosystems.
Entrepreneurial ecosystem pillars and performance of SMEs in the manufacturing sector of Uganda
Authors: Birungi Hajira , Mbidde Cathy Ikiror , Mutunzi Ahmed Kitunzi , Kiwaala Yusuf
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper was to determine which entrepreneurial ecosystem pillars matter most in enhancing the performance of SMEs in the manufacturing sector of Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

Descriptive cross-sectional survey of 310 SMEs in manufacturing sector were sampled. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were employed because of the population’s homogenous characteristics. Data was collected using a Self-Administered Questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS and AMOS version 23.

Findings

The results indicate both institutional arrangements and resource endowments significantly influence performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing sector of Uganda. However, institutional arrangements have a stronger predictive power on performance of SMEs in the manufacturing sector of Uganda as compared to resource endowments.

Research limitations/implications

The data was cross-sectional in nature thus limiting monitoring changes in the performance of SMEs in the manufacturing sector over a long period of time. Besides, the study concentrated on SMEs in the manufacturing sector which is just subset of the industrial sector leaving other sectors like trade and services.

Originality/value

An empirical study on entrepreneurial ecosystem pillars in a strategic and important sector – SMEs manufacturing sector, at a micro-level, and being done in Uganda is a contribution to existing literature. This is because, most entrepreneurial ecosystem studies are largely conceptual and are normally done at macro and meso-levels targeting SMEs generally and mostly in developed countries which have completely different business environment compared with developing countries.
How do knowledge-intensive business services improve innovation? A resource-based model for antecedents of innovation in a developing country
Authors: Bhatti Sabeen Hussain , Jabeen Fauzia , Ahmed Adeel , Romano Marco , Pascucci Federica
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Firms strive to find new ways of boosting value creation through integrating knowledge for innovation. Open innovation has altered this quest for excellence and, accordingly, this study aims to investigate the antecedents and enablers of innovation performance in firms belonging to a knowledge-intensive service sector of a developing country.

Design/methodology/approach

As such, data were gathered through a survey approach, targeting telecom service firms in Pakistan. Hypotheses were tested using the partial least squares technique. Measurement and structural models were assessed following the recommended two-stage procedure.

Findings

Results showed that knowledge sourcing and customer engagement impact the innovation performance of firms, whereas transformational leadership, knowledge sourcing and customer engagement are linked to innovation with the mediating effect of absorptive capacity.

Practical implications

This research helps to improve the innovation management practices of the firms belonging to this important sector and thus enables them to achieve sustainable competitive advantage through building their absorptive capabilities.

Originality/value

Knowledge-intensive business services are largely excluded from the great debate on open innovation so far, with a few exceptions. This research proposes and tests a model of enablers of open innovation that contributes toward improving the innovation performance of telecom firms in a developing country.
The dark side revealed: insights and implications from online brand communities
Authors: Behl Abhishek , Bhutani Chitrakshi , Jayawardena Nirma Sadamali , Balaji M.S.
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study aims to present a comprehensive review of the literature on the dark side of online brand communities, identifying the dominant themes [determinants of the dark side in online brand communities (OBCs)] in the literature and proposing ways to advance the literature in this area.

Design/methodology/approach

This study reviewed 72 scholarly articles published between 2009 and 2024 in peer-reviewed journals. A descriptive and thematic analysis of dark-side literature is presented.

Findings

The contribution of this scoping review lies in identifying the dominant themes in the literature on the determinants of the dark side of online brand communities, proposing management strategies and identifying future research directions for advancing the literature. Six main themes of the dark side of online communities were extracted: information dynamics, group dynamics, unethical practices and brand transgression, provocation and schadenfreude, brand activism and hate and disengagement.

Practical implications

Firstly, this study highlights the need for brands to engage in the active moderation of OBCs to maintain information credibility and manage information overload. Secondly, to ensure an inclusive community environment for all members, brands need to foster a balanced forum culture and moderation that discourages heterogeneity.

Originality/value

This study is unique in conducting an in-depth analysis of the literature on the dark side of online brand communities, an area that has received little attention. This review offers new insights that would help brands effectively manage negative aspects of customer behaviours in online brand communities. For managers, this review enables brands to improve their image, reputation and customer value.
The effect of service concept on customer acquisition: the moderating role of manager’s experience on Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies in Tanzania
Authors: Antony Flora , Makuya Victoria , Elias Ruth
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the influence of the service concept on customer acquisition and when the relationship is moderated with manager’s experience in Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOS) within Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopts a cross-sectional research design and utilizes simple random sampling to select 226 respondents, all of whom are managers of SACCOS in Tanzania. Data were collected through a questionnaire and analyzed using a partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The findings indicate that service concept have a highly statistically significant impact on customer acquisition, with a p-value of less than 0.05. Conversely, managers’ experience also influences customer acquisition by the p-value of less than 0.05. The result also confirms the significance influence of positive moderating effect of manager’s experience on the relationship between service concept and customer acquisition, with a p-value of less than 0.05, therefore it shows that manager’s experience facilitate the influence of service concept to customer acquisition.

Practical implications

The findings of this study provide valuable insights for SACCOS aiming to thrive and attract more customers. By understanding the nuances of service concepts, these institutions can refine their strategies for customer acquisition effectively.

Originality/value

The study’s insights into the composite effect of service concepts hold significance for SACCOS seeking to enhance their customer acquisition strategies enhanced by manager’s experience. These findings contribute new perspectives to the SACCOS and other related financial services sector, offering fresh insights into innovation and customer-centric approaches.
Analysis of good practices of social impact measurement: the social balance sheet developed by the Spanish network of the social and solidarity economy
Authors: Guzmán Carmen , Correa Irene , Valiente Lidia
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study aims to analyse the good practices developed by the Spanish Social and Solidarity Network (one of the leading networks in the country) regarding its social balance sheet, created under the perspective of social and solidarity principles. This social balance sheet is implemented by its members for their self-evaluation.

Design/methodology/approach

By using a qualitative methodology based on triangulation, which includes a semi-structured interview with the manager of the social audit commission, the main good practices associated with this initiative of social impact measurement are attained. Moreover, two organisations implementing the social balance sheet have been analysed to obtain a complete perspective of the tool and the process developed by the network.

Findings

The main findings include: the social balance sheet dimensions are based on the social and solidarity principles, which enable companies to analyse the compliance of their activity with their philosophy; cooperation is crucial for the success of the tool; the efforts made by the network involve a range of different behaviours, all shared and published on social networks and the internet for free to diffuse the good practices of social impact measurement.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature on social entrepreneurship and social impact measurement by analysing the good practices regarding a social balance sheet, designed under the social and solidarity philosophy, whose procedure can serve as a reference for any other representative institutions or practitioners. From this view, this initiative can be considered a social innovation itself since it constitutes a step towards transforming society through the quantification of business activity from a more social perspective and through a process of participative governance by all the stakeholders involved.
Lionel Munby, Marxism, and Local History
Authors: GOLDIE MARK
Published: September 2024

A member of the Communist Party for thirty‐four years, and a key participant in the post‐War Communist Party Historians’ Group, Lionel Munby (1918–2009) is not among that Group's best‐known historians. Yet arguably he was more typical of its membership and outlook. A prolific author, an extra‐mural department lecturer, he was committed to bringing history to a wide public, and helping ordinary people become architects of their own histories. He struggled to persuade the Group to take local and regional history seriously, and to overcome disdain for a type of history regarded as antiquarian and reactionary. Munby converted to socialism when he was a schoolboy and saw Nazi Germany at first hand. As an Oxford undergraduate, he organised the Oxford Left in the momentous appeasement by‐election of 1938. This article draws on interviews with Munby, on his writings, and on the archives of the Communist Party Historians’ Group. The investigation allows us to recalibrate the preoccupations of the Group, to explore its interface with what today we call ‘public history’, and to show how one historian fused socialist theory with histories of regions, landscapes, and local communities.
Intercolonial Cinnamon: Fashioning Connections from the Eighteenth to Mid‐Nineteenth Centuries
Authors: COSTA DANIEL
Published: September 2024

It is well known that the quest for spices fuelled navigational endeavours during early modern history, acting as a gateway to conquest. Historians from the field have often focused on the relations between the colonies and the colonised, but what role did this play in the forging of intercolonial connections? By delving into the allure of one spice, the current article argues that, more than merely a source of profit, a ceremonial means or an item of consumption, the quest for cinnamon revealed the pursuit of botanical knowledge, which reflected the use of alternative commercial routes. Rivalry between the colonisers prompted significant intercolonial connections rather than merely between them and the colonised, while prompting transimperial relations when these belonged to different empires. These connections resulted in nuanced practical outcomes that conveyed the intellectual stances and political hierarchy inherent in imperial networks.
When and Why Does Platform Leadership Drive Employee Intrapreneurship? Moderating Role of Innovation‐Oriented Human Resource Management
Authors: Zhou Shenbei , Zhang Guiqing , Liu Longjun , Li Yibin
Published: September 2024

Platform leadership, a new concept in leadership, along with intrapreneurship, has garnered considerable attention in China. Despite scholarly efforts to establish a theoretical link between leadership and employee intrapreneurship, gaps persist in understanding when and why platform leadership influences intrapreneurship. This study seeks to fill in these gaps by proposing a new model exploring the theoretical relationship between these concepts. Based on social exchange theory, this research examines how platform leadership enhances intrapreneurship by boosting employees' perceived insider status. Moreover, this study investigates how innovation‐oriented human resource management (HRM) moderates this effect. Analysis of two‐stage data from 471 employees in 57 Chinese platform organizations supports the proposed hypotheses, revealing that platform leadership positively influences intrapreneurship, predominantly by enhancing perceived insider status. The effect of platform leadership on perceived insider status and intrapreneurship is also strengthened in the context of superior innovation‐oriented HRM. This study enriches the theoretical understanding of platform leadership and intrapreneurship through social exchange theory and highlights innovation‐oriented HRM as a critical boundary condition. Insights gained from this study offer valuable guidance for advancing leadership and HRM practices within platform organizations.
The phenotypic and demographic response to the combination of copper and thermal stressors strongly varies within the ciliate species, Tetrahymena thermophila
Authors: Koné Doufoungognon Carine Estelle , Jacob Staffan , Huet Michèle , Philippe Hervé , Legrand Delphine
Published: September 2024

Copper pollution can alter biological and trophic functions. Organisms can utilise different tolerance strategies, including accumulation mechanisms (intracellular vacuoles, external chelation, etc.) to maintain themselves in copper‐polluted environments. Accumulation mechanisms can influence the expression of other phenotypic traits, allowing organisms to deal with copper stress. Whether copper effects on accumulation strategies interact with other environmental stressors such as temperature and how this may differ within species are still unsolved questions. Here, we tested experimentally whether the combined effect of copper and temperature modulates traits linked to demography, morphology, movement and accumulation in six strains of the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila. We also explored whether copper accumulation might modulate environmental copper concentration effects on phenotypic and demographic traits. Results showed high intraspecific variability in the phenotypic and demographic response to copper, with interactive effects between temperature and copper. In addition, they suggested an attenuation effect of copper accumulation on the sensitivity of traits to copper, but with great variation between strains, temperatures and copper concentrations. Diversity of responses among strains and their thermal dependencies pleads for the integration of intraspecific variability and multiple stressors approaches in ecotoxicological studies, thus improving the reliability of assessments of the effects of pollutants on biodiversity.
Remarkable pathological response to neoadjuvant tepotinib in lung adenocarcinoma with MET exon 14 skipping mutation: A case report
Authors: Li Rongzhen , Liu Xiaoyan , Xu Yan , Zhao Jing , Zhong Wei , Gao Xiaoxing , Chen Minjiang , Wang Mengzhao
Published: September 2024

Mesenchymal–epithelial transition (MET) exon 14 (METex14) skipping mutation is a rare (3%–4%) driver mutation in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Tepotinib, a selective MET inhibitor, has shown promise in treating METex14 skipping‐mutated NSCLC. However, its feasibility for perioperative application remains unclear. This report describes a 60‐year‐old man with stage IIIA (cT2N2M0) lung adenocarcinoma harboring a METex14 skipping mutation. After initial treatment with savolitinib was discontinued due to grade 4 transaminitis, the patient was switched to tepotinib, resulting in significant tumor regression. Six months later, further shrinkage was observed, and surgery revealed remarkable pathological response with no residual tumor in lymph nodes (ypT2N0M0, IB). Postoperative tepotinib continued, with no relapse at 6‐month follow‐up. This case highlights the potential of tepotinib as neoadjuvant therapy for resectable METex14 skipping‐mutated NSCLC, warranting further clinical trials.
Emerging signs of Alzheimer‐like tau hyperphosphorylation and neuroinflammation in the brain post recovery from COVID‐19
Authors: Qi Xuetao , Yuan Shulu , Ding Jiuyang , Sun Weiqi , Shi Yajiao , Xing Yuanwei , Liu Zilong , Yao Yun , Fu Su , Sun Baofei , Qi Xiaolan , Xia Bing , Liu Fengyu , Yi Ming , Mao Jian , Wan You , Zheng Jie
Published: September 2024

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has been suggested to increase the risk of memory decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD), the main cause of dementia in the elderly. However, direct evidence about whether COVID‐19 induces AD‐like neuropathological changes in the brain, especially post recovery from acute infection, is still lacking. Here, using postmortem human brain samples, we found abnormal accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein in the hippocampus and medial entorhinal cortex within 4–13 months post clinically recovery from acute COVID‐19, together with prolonged activation of glia cells and increases in inflammatory factors, even though no SARS‐COV‐2 invasion was detected in these regions. By contrast, COVID‐19 did not change beta‐amyloid deposition and hippocampal neuron number, and had limited effects on AD‐related pathological phenotypes in olfactory circuits including olfactory bulb, anterior olfactory nucleus, olfactory tubercle, piriform cortex and lateral entorhinal cortex. These results provide neuropathological evidences linking COVID‐19 with prognostic increase of risk for AD.
Single‐use vs. reusable flexible bronchoscopes for airway management and in critical care: a narrative review
Authors: Boyd Sean , Murphy Ciara J. , Snyman Lindi
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Flexible bronchoscopes have become essential in the operating theatre environment and in critical care. This narrative review compared single‐use and reusable flexible bronchoscopes with a focus on safety, efficacy, cost‐effectiveness and environmental impact.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, Embase and PubMed databases for studies related to flexible bronchoscopes for airway management or use in critical care. Human or animal studies of any design assessing single‐use and reusable flexible bronchoscopes were included and qualitatively synthesised. We also searched manufacturer websites for relevant data.

Results

We included 52 studies and data from six manufacturer websites. There was mixed evidence for safety, and data on usability also showed significant heterogeneity, with different parameters, manufacturers and models examined. Neither single‐use nor reusable flexible bronchoscopes appeared convincingly superior to the other for safety or usability. Cost analyses showed that the rate of use of flexible bronchoscopes per year, along with several other factors, affects cost‐effectiveness for each institution, though the risk of cross‐contamination is an advantage of single‐use devices. However, sufficient evidence on the rate of bronchoscopy‐induced infection in the operating theatre and critical care environment is lacking. Due to the risk of cross‐contamination, single‐use flexible bronchoscopes must be sterilised or incinerated after use, and completely recyclable single‐use models are not currently available.

Conclusions

Further research is required on safety, usability and life cycle assessment in the operating theatre and critical care environment, as well as on the rate of bronchoscopy‐induced infection. Future comparative studies, including new manufacturers and designs, may lend further insights.
Preemptive temporary right ventricular assist device implantation for severe biventricular heart failure: A case series
Authors: Miyamoto Takuma , Rahimov Daler , Ahmad Danial , Wood Chelsey T. , Leong Ron , Marek‐Iannucci Stefanie , Brailovsky Yevgeniy , Rajapreyar Indranee , Rame J. Eduardo , Alvarez Rene J. , Entwistle John W. , Tchantchaleishvili Vakhtang , Massey Howard T.
Published: September 2024

Purpose

We sought to investigate the clinical results of preemptive temporary right ventricular assist device (RVAD) placement with left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation for anticipated right ventricular failure.

Methods

Patients at risk for right ventricular failure were identified by the heart team. After median sternotomy, Protekduo (LivaNova, London, UK) dual‐stage cannula was inserted from the right internal jugular vein under fluoroscopy guidance, and advanced into the pulmonary artery to the bifurcation of the main pulmonary artery. This was then connected to the venous drainage from the right atrium for cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). After LVAD implantation, we connected the Protekduo cannula to the RVAD with oxygenator, and weaned CPB.

Results

A total of 17 patients have received BiVAD implantation with this technique. The median age of patients was 55 years [Interquartile range (IQR): 51–63.5] and 94% (16/17) patients were male. 63.6% (7/11) of the patients were INTERMACS profile 1 or 2. Preoperatively, the median pulmonary artery pulsatility index was 4.0 [1.5–4.9] and median right ventricular stroke work index was 454.1 g/m/beat/m2 [436.5–530.2]. Postoperatively, the oxygenators were removed on median postoperative day (POD) 3.5 [3 – 5]. Patients received mechanical ventilation for a median of 4 days [1.5–12] and RVADs were explanted on median POD 8 [7–19] at bedside with local anesthesia. Median ICU stay was 15 days [11.4–24]. Perioperative complications included delayed sternal closure [54.5% (6/11)], re‐exploration for bleeding [18% (2/11)], acute kidney injury [36% (4/11)], and heparin induced thrombocytopenia [18% (2/11)]. 30‐day mortality was 0% (0/11) and 1 year survival was 85.9%.

Conclusion

Preemptive temporary RVAD implantation strategy for right heart failure post‐LVAD showed acceptable clinical outcomes without any 30‐day mortality.
Response predictors of a topical corticosteroid‐based regimen for dry eyes: A real‐life study
Authors: Utheim Tor Paaske , Chen Xiangjun , Fineide Fredrik , Steinkjer Tore , Heegaard Steffen , Kolko Miriam , Dartt Darlene A. , Khan Ayyad Zartasht
Published: September 2024

Purpose

To examine the effectiveness and identify clinical response predictors of a short corticosteroid‐based regimen consisting of topical preservative‐free 0.1% dexamethasone (Monopex®, Théa Laboratories) in conjunction with artificial tears (AT) for dry eyes in a real‐life clinical setting.

Methods

Patients were recruited from the Norwegian Dry Eye Clinic and were allowed to use ATs of their own choice in addition to the prescribed 14‐day topical dexamethasone course. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ‐5), Schirmer test (ST), fluorescein tear film break‐up time (FBUT), ocular surface staining (OSS), meibum expressibility (ME), meibum quality (MQ), number of expressible meibomian glands among the central eight glands in the lower lids (NMG) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were measured at baseline and at 1‐month follow‐up. The average values of clinical parameters from both eyes were used for analyses. A paired t‐test and a significance value of p < 0.05 were used for statistical analyses. Associations between sex, age, baseline values and the changes after the intervention (Δ) were explored using linear regression.

Results

A total of 167 patients (124 women, mean age 54 years ±17 (standard deviation)) were included. One month after initiation of intervention, OSDI and DEQ5 scores improved from 39.5 ± 22.1 to 31.4 ± 21.3 (p < 0.001) and from 12.6 ± 4.2 to 11.0 ± 4.6 (p < 0.001), respectively. OSS improved from 2.2 ± 1.4 to 1.8 ± 1.5 (p < 0.001), NMG increased from 4.8 ± 2.2 to 5.1 ± 2.2 (p < 0.05), while IOP decreased from 12.9 ± 3.3 to 12.4 ± 3.5 mmHg (p < 0.05). Significant associations were found between the change in symptoms and objective measures of DED (ΔOSDI, ΔDEQ5, ΔOSS, ΔFBUT, ΔNMG, ΔMQ) and their respective baseline values (OSDI, DEQ5, OSS, FBUT, NMG, MQ). The remaining tests did not show statistically significant changes.

Conclusion

Improvement in dry eye symptoms and signs were observed following a short course of topical, preservative‐free 0.1% dexamethasone treatment in combination with AT. Individuals exhibiting more pronounced symptoms and signs witnessed the most profound improvements with the treatment regimen, suggesting that poor baseline parameters may serve as response predictors of the treatment regimen. While the real‐life data presented herein are valuable, the conclusions are limited by the inherent biases of a non‐controlled study.
A social identity approach to crisis leadership
Authors: Gleibs Ilka H.
Published: September 2024

This paper discusses the importance of a social identity approach to crisis leadership in the context of global crises such as the Covid‐19 pandemic and emphasizes the interconnected relationships between leaders and followers. I highlight the role of leaders in fostering unity and shaping citizens' responses especially during crises. I discuss the nature of crises and the significant role of political leaders in guiding societal responses and suggest that crisis leadership extends beyond individual competencies and behaviours and involves a shift from individual to collective responses. With this, I introduce the social identity approach to leadership that views leadership as a social influence process and emphasizes the importance of creating a sense of ‘we‐ness’ among followers. Following from that, crisis leadership involves leaders constructing defining features of collective identity and efficacy to address crises appropriately. However, the value of this approach depends on the careful definition of shared identity boundaries, consideration of diverse experiences within society, the evolving nature of crisis leadership over time and potential consequences of crisis leadership. The sustainability of identity leadership, the dynamics of intergroup and subgroup processes, and the complexities of various crises are identified as areas requiring further research.
Cochlear Synaptopathy Evaluation With Electrocochleography in Patients With Hearing Difficulty in Noise Despite Normal Hearing Levels
Authors: Yaşar Murat , Öner Fatih , Atalay Fatma , Anbar Sezai Sacid
Published: September 2024

Objective

This study examined patients with normal hearing thresholds who had trouble understanding speech in noise. We used electrocochleography (ECochG) to detect and compare SP/AP amplitude area ratios, a potential indicator of cochlear synaptopathy, and investigate speech perception disorder in noise.

Methods

The study included 68 people aged between 18 and 65 years, 35 patients and 33 healthy volunteers, who applied to the otorhinolaryngology clinic between November 2023 and March 2024 with a 2‐month history of difficulty understanding speech in noisy environments. Everyone was given a tiptrode electrode ECochG test, and the results were compared between groups. An ECochG test was recorded with tiptrode electrodes and was performed on all participants, and the results were compared between groups.

Results

In the ECochG test, the summation potential/action potential (SP/AP) amplitude and area ratios of patients who had difficulty understanding speech in a noisy environment were statistically higher than those of the control group.

Conclusion

ECochG testing may provide additional evidence to evaluate auditory nerve pathways.