bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ViPErLEED package I: Calculation of
I(V)
curves and structural optimization
Authors: Kraushofer Florian , Imre Alexander M. , Franceschi Giada , Kißlinger Tilman , Rheinfrank Erik , Schmid Michael , Diebold Ulrike , Hammer Lutz , Riva Michele
Published: January 2025

Low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) is a widely used technique in surface-science laboratories. Yet, it is rarely used to its full potential. The quantitative information about the surface structure, contained in the modulation of the intensities of the diffracted beams as a function of incident electron energy, LEED I(V), is underutilized. To acquire these data, only minor adjustments would be required in most experimental setups, but existing analysis software is cumbersome to use and often computationally inefficient. The ViPErLEED (Vienna package for Erlangen LEED) project lowers these barriers, introducing a combined solution for user-friendly data acquisition, extraction, and computational analysis. These parts are discussed in three separate publications. Here, the focus is on the computational part of ViPErLEED, which performs highly automated LEED-I(V) calculations and structural optimizations. Minimal user input is required, and the functionality is significantly enhanced compared to existing solutions. Computation is performed by embedding the existing Erlangen tensor-LEED package (). ViPErLEED manages additional parallelization, monitors convergence, and processes all input and output. This makes LEED I(V) more accessible to new users while minimizing the potential for errors and the manual labor. Added functionalities include intelligent structure-dependent defaults for most calculation parameters, automatic detection of bulk and surface symmetries and their relationship, automated search procedures that preserve the symmetry and speed up convergence, adjustments to the code to handle larger systems than before, as well as parallelization and optimization. Modern file formats are used as input and output, and there is a direct interface to the atomic simulation environment (ASE) package. The software is implemented primarily in (version ≥3.7) and provided as an open-source package (GNU GPLv3 or any later version). A structure determination of the α-Fe2O3(11¯02)−(1×1) surface is presented as an example for the application of the software.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
ViPErLEED package II: Spot tracking, extraction, and processing of
I(V)
curves
Authors: Schmid Michael , Kraushofer Florian , Imre Alexander M. , Kißlinger Tilman , Hammer Lutz , Diebold Ulrike , Riva Michele
Published: January 2025

As part of the Vienna package for Erlangen LEED, low-energy electron diffraction (ViPErLEED) project, computer programs have been developed for facile and user-friendly data extraction from movies of LEED images. The programs make use of some concepts from astronomical image processing and analysis. As a first step, flat-field and dark-frame corrections reduce the effects of inhomogeneities of the camera and screen. In a second step, for identifying all diffraction maxima (“spots”), it is sufficient to manually mark and label a single spot or very few spots. Then the program can automatically identify all other spots and determine the distortions of the image. This forms the basis for automatic spot tracking (i.e., following the spots as they move across the LEED screen) and intensity measurement. Even for complex structures with hundreds to a few thousand diffraction beams, this step takes less than a minute. The package also includes a program for further processing of these I(V) curves (averaging of equivalent beams, manual and/or automatic selection, smoothing) as well as several utilities. The software is implemented as a set of plugins for the public-domain image processing program and provided as an open-source package.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Pyridin-1-ium carboxyformate–2-chloroacetic acid (1/1)
Authors: Sadikhova Nurlana D. , Muradova Farida M. , Guliyeva Narmina A. , Hasanov Khudayar I. , Javadzade Tahir A. , Zangrando Ennio , Belay Alebel N.
Published: January 2025

The asymmetric unit of the title salt co-crystal, C5H6N+·C2HO4
−·C2H3ClO2, comprises a pyridinium cation, a carboxyformate anion and a 2-chloroacetic acid molecule. In the crystal, the components are connected by hydrogen bonds within a one-dimensional chain in the a-axis direction which incorporates rather short, charge-assisted O—H...O hydrogen bonds; the pyridinium-NH group forms bifurcated N—H...(O,O) hydrogen bonds of different strength.
Am I depleting from work or life? A nexus among work–life balance, self-efficacy, emotional exhaustion and performance
Authors: Imran Muhammad Kashif , Sarwar Ambreen , Fatima Tehreem , Shabeer Sobia
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Based on the cognitive perspective of self-regulation theory and role balance theory, this study examines the moderating effects of self-efficacy and emotional exhaustion on the indirect path between impaired work–life balance and job performance through psychological depletion.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptualized model was tested through a four-wave dyad data obtained from the employees and their supervisors of services sector organizations selected through stratified random sampling.

Findings

The results specify that psychological depletion partially mediates between impaired work–life balance and job performance. Further, self-efficacy acts as a buffering function to reduce the harmful effects of adverse impaired work–life balance on psychological depletion and emotional exhaustion provokes the injurious effects of psychological depletion on job performance.

Research limitations/implications

This research provides important theoretical implications for work–life balance and psychological domains with boundary-spanning roles of self-regulatory measures.

Originality/value

This research is a unique attempt to link the self-regulatory perspective with role balance theory to understand and buffer the issues of impaired work–life balance.
Supply chain risks in the dairy industry
Authors: Wang Michael , Islam Samsul , Yang Wei
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Supply chain risk (SCR) has been extensively explored in various sectors, yet there is a notable scarcity of SCR studies in the dairy industry. This study aims to identify the primary and distinctive risks in the dairy supply chain (DSC), propose a typological model for SCR, highlight challenges specific to the DSC and offer mitigation strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

We employ a systematic literature review to collect and review relevant research articles published between 2010 and 2019 to identify the main risks and mitigation strategies associated with the DSC, enabling the construction of a typological model of DSC risks.

Findings

Results of the systematic review of the SCR literature show that the main DSC risks include on-farm risk (e.g. risks originating from the farming system), off-farm risk (e.g. supply risk, demand risk and manufacturing risk) and inherent SCR (e.g. logistics risk, information risk and financial risk). Notably, we find that the farming system plays a key role in today’s agricultural supply chain operations, indicating the importance of considering on-farm risk in the entire DSC. Additionally, mitigation strategies are located in response to the identified DSC risks by the typology of DSC risks.

Originality/value

This paper is the first attempt to develop a typological model of SCR for the dairy industry by a systematic literature review. The findings contribute to providing a comprehensive understanding of DSC risks by bridging the gap of ignoring the on-farm risks of the DSC in the existing literature. The typology may serve as a guide in practice to develop mitigation strategies in response to DSC risks.
Analysis of the gap between self-reported and actual pro-environmental behaviors of hotel customers
Authors: Sousa Natalina , Eusébio Celeste , Paço Arminda
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This paper aims to explore customers’ pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) adopted at hotels that implement green practices. A method to examine the gap between self-reported and actual PEBs is presented.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical study is divided in two parts. The first one comprised a survey questionnaire administered to 136 customers who stayed in Portuguese hotels (Sample 1). The second one consisted of 495 in-room consumer PEBs observations (Sample 2). A method was developed to compare self-reported and actual PEBs, combining the answers given to the questionnaire and the observed PEBs implemented by customers during their stay. The aggregate observations of in-room consumer’s PEBs enabled the development of an index to assess the actual PEBs (ACTUALPEBI). This index was then compared with the self-reported PEB index (REPORTEDPEBI).

Findings

The majority of guests indicated adopting environmentally friendly practices while at the hotel, and 50% of REPORTEDPEBI rank similarly to ACTUALPEBI.

Research limitations/implications

Understanding and measuring both actual and reported PEBs of guests offers valuable insights for hotel managers and marketers. This information can be used to target specific consumer segments with green marketing campaigns and develop educational programs that effectively encourage guest participation in hotel sustainability efforts. While the survey participants were international, the research itself was limited to hotels in Portugal. Therefore, future research should involve more participants and be conducted across different countries.

Practical implications

Understanding and measuring both actual and reported PEBs of guests offers valuable insights for hotel managers and marketers. This information can be used to target specific consumer segments with green marketing campaigns and develop educational programs that effectively encourage guest participation in hotel sustainability efforts.

Originality/value

This study proposes an alternative method for analyzing customers’ PEBs by observing actual PEBs during their stay and comparing them to self-reported PEBs, thereby reducing answer biases.
Enhancing information security compliance behavior through knowledge interventions: insights from EEG
Authors: Wang Zhiying , Deng Hangyu , Li Guiyun
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to explore the impact of information security knowledge on information security compliance behavior using neuroscience science.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses electroencephalography (EEG) equipment to collect brain cognitive data from participants under two specific conditions. The conditions are before and after information security knowledge interventions contextualized with the “Wannacry” ransomware incident.

Findings

Firstly, the information security knowledge interventions lead to differences in the participants’ behavioral data under the two conditions, with participants showing increased attention to security warnings after intervention. Secondly, the P300 waveform is observed in the decision-making process for information security compliance behavior both before and after intervention, suggesting that the cognitive processes of the brain are influenced by information security knowledge. Finally, the amplitude of the P300 waveform is larger after intervention compared to before, and the energy in the β frequency band induced by decision-making for information security compliance behavior is higher before intervention than after.

Originality/value

Few studies have focused on the corresponding research regarding how to enhance information security compliance behavior. This study confirms that information security knowledge can significantly improve information security compliance behavior encouraging users to proactively implement security measures to counter information security threats. The findings reveal the impact of EEG on the cognitive processes involved in decision-making for information security compliance behavior and offer a novel approach for improving information security behavior through information security knowledge interventions.
Competent to teach? Educators’ perceptions of entrepreneurship
Authors: Neergård Gunn-Berit , Roald Gunhild Marie
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This paper explores perceptions of entrepreneurship among educators from several disciplines, to understand the circumstances for embedded entrepreneurship education across the university.

Methodology

This qualitative study is based on eight online focus-group interviews with 44 university educators from different departments. Their experience with entrepreneurship ranged from being unfamiliar with entrepreneurship to being experienced entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship educators. We used social identity theory to analyse the data by theoretical thematic analysis.

Findings

The results show that educators may take the positions of “entrepreneurial outsiders” or “entrepreneurial insiders”, depending on their perceptions of entrepreneurship, as well as their ability to articulate and teach entrepreneurship. This study finds that educators often see themselves as “entrepreneurial outsiders”, lacking the competence to teach entrepreneurship. The findings highlight the importance of inclusive entrepreneurship discourse and innovation culture for educators to experience and acknowledge their “entrepreneurial insiderness”; the importance of contextual adaptation when teaching entrepreneurship in different disciplines and the importance of educators being contextualisation-bearers in entrepreneurship education for their students, bridging disciplines and showing that multiple social identities may co-exist.

Originality/value

This paper bridges a gap in the literature by looking at the educators’ perspective on entrepreneurship. The development of the two concepts of “entrepreneurial outsiderness” and “entrepreneurial insiderness” serves as an original contribution to social identity theory and the conversation of entrepreneurial identity, expanding our understanding of the complexity of enablers and barriers to embedded entrepreneurship education.
Unravelling the impact of COVID-19 on airline financial health in the world: insights from Chernoff faces technique
Authors: Ramlall Indranarain
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study proposes a novel approach to gauge the effects of COVID-19 on a large number of airline companies worldwide based on the employment of fifteen metrics at the cash flow, balance sheet, income statement and sustainability levels.

Design/methodology/approach

The study makes use of Chernoff faces where each facial feature, such as eyes or mouth, corresponds to a variable, with variations in their characteristics being captured in data values. Through this approach, complex data sets can be intuitively interpreted.

Findings

Robust quantitative evidence, derived from a comprehensive analysis of financial metrics, clearly demonstrates that US and Chinese airlines dominate the global airline industry. Findings also show that most airlines faced significant financial setbacks during the pandemic, as reflected in the marked decline in total operating expenses, passenger load factor, cash flow from operations, free cash flow and operating income. However, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. was an exception, maintaining resilience, largely due to its high-performing subsidiary, Air Hong Kong. Moreover, state-owned carriers fared better in maintaining liquidity and operational performance compared to their private counterparts.

Originality/value

This study introduces an innovative technique for assessing the impact of COVID-19 on airline companies globally, using Chernoff faces to visually represent key quantitative metrics. Sustainability metrics in the form of EQS and CO2 emissions have also been given due consideration.
An examination of website factors affecting branding of universities
Authors: Irshad Madeeha
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The aim of the present research is to examine a university’s website factors that influence the brand image of a university and behavioral intentions of students.

Design/methodology/approach

Convenience sampling was used to collect data through questionnaires distributed to students of different colleges and universities in Islamabad, and the research model was tested through variance-based structural equation modeling in smart PLS.

Findings

The results reveal that diversity information, excellence information, personal branding of professors and virtual tours on a university’s website have a positive impact on brand image as well as behavioral intentions of students. In addition, brand image mediates the relationship between all factors and students’ behavioral intentions.

Originality/value

The present study is the first of its kind to examine the impact of diversity information, excellence details, professors' personal branding, and virtual tours on a university's brand image and students’ behavioral intentions. The findings offer theoretical and practical implications for enhancing e-marketing strategies through a university's website.
Achieving employee green performance through green transformational leadership: a multilevel study of chemical organizations
Authors: Su Wei , Hahn Juhee
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study intends to explore whether green transformational leadership is effective in promoting employee green performance. What role do moral reflectiveness and green crafting play in the impact of green transformational leadership on employee green performance?

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected research data from a series of questionnaire surveys using a multisource and time-lagged design. We collected 582 completed questionnaires from 97 groups in chemical firms.

Findings

The analysis showed that (1) green transformational leadership positively affected employee green performance and (2) moral reflectiveness and green crafting sequentially mediated the relationship between green transformational leadership and employees’ green performance.

Originality/value

The 2-1-1 multilevel mediation model clarified how the perspectives of leaders and employees are associated, confirming that green transformational leadership successfully promotes the green performance of subordinates through value communication and resource provision. Chemical companies need green transformational leaders passionate about environmental issues to encourage employee engagement in sustainability initiatives, ultimately enhancing employees’ green performance and achieving sustainable development of the chemical organization.
To be adaptive or not? Investigating when and how illegitimate tasks promote versus inhibit employee adaptive performance
Authors: Cheng Bao , Chen Mengye , Dong Yun
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Illegitimate tasks are pervasive in organizations, presenting a challenge for employees to mitigate their impact. However, despite their significance, there has been limited research on when and how employees can adapt to these tasks successfully. To address this gap, this study aimed to discover the relationship between illegitimate tasks and adaptive performance, drawing upon the job demands-resources theory. Specifically, this study aimed to examine the moderating role of general self-efficacy and the mediating roles of employee problem-focused and emotion-focused coping.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine our hypotheses, we conducted a time-lagged survey, comprising 3 waves and involving 313 employees from twenty enterprises situated in Guangzhou and Sichuan, China. Ordinary least squares (OLS) was adopted to examine our hypotheses.

Findings

Our results suggested that general self-efficacy played a crucial role in determining how employees would cope with illegitimate tasks and their subsequent adaptive performance when confronted with illegitimate tasks. Notably, employees who possess high levels of general self-efficacy utilize problem-focused coping, improving adaptive performance in handling illegitimate tasks. Conversely, employees who possess low levels of general self-efficacy rely on emotion-focused coping, leading to lower levels of adaptive performance.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature on illegitimate tasks by uncovering when and how such tasks can either promote or hinder adaptive performance. These findings offer practical insights into ways to assist employees in managing illegitimate tasks effectively.
Design and calibration of a novel multiaxis sensor for measuring the wheel–terrain interaction forces of robotic vehicles
Authors: Jia Lixin , Shi Mujia , Shi Jiantao , Wang Dong , Song Aiguo , Su ChunYI , Feng Lihang
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a novel wheel-based multiaxis force sensor designed to detect the interaction forces and moments between the planetary rover’s wheel and the terrain, thereby assisting the rover in environmental perception.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors’ design approach encompasses the mechanical structure design, decoupling methods and component integration techniques, effectively incorporating multiaxis sensors into the forward-sensing wheel. This enables high-precision and high-reliability detection of wheel–terrain interaction forces and torques.

Findings

The designed wheel-based multiaxis force sensor exhibits a nonlinearity error of 0.45%, a hysteresis error of 0.56% and a repeatability error of 0.49%, meeting the requirements for practical applications. Furthermore, the effectiveness and stability of the designed wheel-based multidimensional force sensor have been validated through hardware-in-the-loop experiments and full-vehicle model testing.

Originality/value

Unlike previous methods that directly integrate multiaxis sensors into the forward-sensing wheel, the authors have designed the force sensing wheel with consideration of its limited design space and the need for high measurement accuracy. The effectiveness of the designed wheel-based multidimensional force sensor was ultimately validated through static calibration, hardware-in-the-loop experiments and full-vehicle model experiments.
INFORMALITY AS THE UR‐FORM OF URBANITY: Keeping the Ur‐ in Urban Studies
Authors: Dovey Kim
Published: January 2025

After 50 years of research on urban informality, why is it that we seem unable to either clearly define this concept or move beyond it? On the one hand, urban informality is identified with ‘slums’ and substandard outcomes, on the other, with deregulated markets and neoliberal urbanism. Yet it is also identified as a self‐organized urbanism that adds vitality, affordability, diversity, creativity and adaptability to the city—a form of urbanity that embodies the ‘right to the city’ and urban commoning. How are we to understand this paradox and move beyond the informal/formal as a binary distinction? If informality is more than a lack of formality, then what is informality‐in‐itself? The key argument here is that urban informality is the original form of urbanity—the ur‐form—while formal urbanism is its necessary counterpart. Informal urbanism is not a lack of formality, but the ground from which the formal emerges. This inversion changes the way we understand the city as an in/formal assemblage. While rampant informality may seem the very antithesis of urban planning, to erase it is to kill urbanity itself. The challenge is to engage this paradox—planning for the unplanned, keeping the ur‐ in urban studies.
Enhancement of soy protein functionality by conjugation or complexation with polysaccharides or polyphenols: A review
Authors: Qiu Chao , Meng Yaxu , Zhang Zhiheng , Li Xiaojing , McClements David Julian , Li Guanghua , Jiang Liming , Wen Jinsheng , Jin Zhengyu , Ji Hangyan
Published: January 2025

Soy proteins have good nutritional quality and exhibit a range of useful functional attributes, making them a viable option for replacing animal proteins in the development of more sustainable and eco‐friendly plant‐based food products. Nevertheless, soy proteins are prone to denaturation and/or aggregation under conditions they encounter in some food and beverage products (including certain pH, ionic, and thermal conditions), which adversely impact their functional performance. This problem can often be overcome by covalently (conjugation) or noncovalently (complexation) linking the soy proteins to polysaccharides or polyphenols, thereby expanding their application scope. Compared to soy proteins alone, these conjugates or complexes exhibit enhanced technofunctional performance, including improved solubility, emulsification, foaming, gelling, antimicrobial properties, and antioxidant capacities. Conjugates are typically more stable than complexes, which may be an advantage for some food applications. However, complexes do not require additional regulatory approval, which makes them more suitable for most food applications. This review aims to comprehensively examine the enhancement of soy protein functionality through conjugation or complexation with polysaccharides or polyphenols. The research focuses on how these modifications enhance solubility, emulsification potential, foaming, gelling, and antioxidant properties, reduce the allergenicity of soy proteins, and enable their potential applications in plant‐based food development, 3D food printing, fat substitutes, functional food carriers, and hypoallergenic foods.
Sorghum starch: Composition, structure, functionality, and strategies for its improvement
Authors: Zahid Muhammad Khubaib , Ahmad Daraz , Amin Raheela , Bao Jinsong
Published: January 2025

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) is increasingly recognized as a resilient and climate‐adaptable crop that holds significant potential to enhance global food security sustainably. Compared to other common cereal grains, sorghum boasts a more diverse nutritional profile. The starch component accounts for more than 80% of total sorghum grain weight. Sorghum starch functionality and diverse industrial applications are determined by its physiochemical properties, including pasting, gelatinization, retrogradation, texture, and digestion kinetics. This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of the morphology, minor composition, crystalline structure, fine molecular structure, and structure–function relationships of sorghum starch. It further explores how these properties can be optimized through chemical, physical and enzymatic modifications to extend the applications of sorghum starch. Additionally, the review highlights the role of key enzymes in the biosynthesis of sorghum starch and discusses how biological modifications, enabled by advanced genetic and molecular breeding strategies, can modify starch quality. This review also provides a foundation for developing tailored sorghum varieties with enhanced starch properties that can expand applications of sorghum both in food and non‐food industries, potentially contributing to global food security and sustainable agriculture.
Rate and yield of imaging for acute pyelonephritis in the emergency department: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Yu Jessica , Koolstra Christine , Smit De Villiers , Mitra Biswadev
Published: January 2025

Objectives

The role of imaging in acute pyelonephritis (APN) in the ED is poorly understood, with variability among clinical guidelines for when patients should be imaged, and the modality of imaging. The objective of this study was to identify the proportion of patients with APN being imaged, the proportion abnormal findings, and the association between abnormal imaging and discharge disposition.

Methods

A single‐centre retrospective review of patients with a discharge diagnosis of APN at an adult tertiary referral hospital over a 5‐year period (2018–2022) was conducted. The proportion of patients with APN investigated with imaging, and abnormalities on imaging were reported. Logistic regression analyses were performed to assess whether imaging was associated with change in disposition from the ED.

Results

There were 778 patients included for analysis. Among these, 210 (27%) were investigated with ultrasound (US) and/or computed tomography (CT) in the ED. Of the 214 imaging reports available, 112 (52%) were abnormal. Imaging was associated with hospital ward admission (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.28; 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.35–8.31) as was abnormal imaging (aOR 4.51; 95% CI 2.62–7.75). Other variables associated with hospital ward admission were higher temperature and heart rate, higher C‐reactive protein levels and poorer renal function.

Conclusions

Among patients with APN, abnormalities on imaging were common and both imaging and abnormalities on imaging were associated with hospital ward admission. This suggests that there is possible utility of early and routine imaging for patients with APN to allow clinicians to efficiently make decisions about patient disposition.
The publication rate and performance of the Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery of Great Britain and Ireland (AUGIS) surgical conference abstracts
Authors: Fan Ka Siu , Ko Tsz Ki , Kwok Hiu Tat , Han Seung Min
Published: January 2025

Objective

Conference abstracts and peer‐reviewed publications form the basis for research dissemination. We evaluated the abstract publication rates following their presentation at the Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery of Great Britain and Ireland (AUGIS) meetings between 2013 and 2019.

Methodology

A systematic search and analysis was conducted in 2021 and 2023. Using abstract titles, keywords, and first and senior authors, AUGIS abstracts were queried on PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Google. Abstract, authors, journal, and time of publication were extracted and analysed.

Results

A total of 1220 abstracts were presented over 6 years of conferences, 388 of which were subsequently published. The overall publication rate was 32%, with 47% of oral publications and 29% of posters being published. Oral presentations were significantly more likely than posters to be published (P <.001). Publications spanned 134 journals, with mean and median publication times of 14 and 15 months, respectively.

Conclusions

The publication of AUGIS meeting abstracts was comparable to other surgical scientific meetings. These can serve as judging standards for projects worthy of presentations as conferences remain a crucial forum for learning and collaboration. Regardless, authors and review panels should continue to strive for high‐quality abstracts to increase the impact of their work and scientific conferences.
Anaesthesia teams´ perception of mental wellbeing, the psychosocial work environment and patient safety culture
Authors: Østergaard D. , Madsen M. D. , Cedergreen P. , Mikkelsen K. L. , Treschow F. P. , Nielsen J.
Published: January 2025

Background

Mental health issues among healthcare professionals (HCPs) are rising, impacting individual wellbeing, healthcare systems, and patient safety. This exploratory study aimed to analyse the association between anaesthesia teams' perception of their mental wellbeing, psychosocial work environment, and patient safety culture in a university hospital's anaesthesiology department. Second, to identify types of stressors and strategies to overcome them. Third, to explore differences in perception by profession, gender, and years of experience. Finally, to evaluate the psychometric properties of the questionnaire.

Methods

A questionnaire covering mental wellbeing, teamwork, psychosocial work environment, and patient safety culture was sent to all HCPs in the department in May 2021 via e‐mail. The questionnaire consisted of 35 questions, 4 demographic questions, and 2 open text fields.

Results

293 HCPs responded (73% response rate); 60% agreed their work is emotionally challenging, and 30% experienced weekly emotional strain. Significant differences were seen between professions in terms of stressors. Clinical situations contributed most to doctors' emotional strain, while nurses scored higher on making compromises and being busy. A strong relationship was seen between weekly/daily emotional strain and making compromises in standards, clinical situations, and busyness.

Conclusion

In conclusion, all HCPs experienced emotional strain, with different causes and coping strategies across professions. Support was primarily found among colleagues and networks. Interestingly, low emotional strain correlated positively with coping, teamwork, psychological safety, and patient safety culture, suggesting an interrelation between these dimensions and HCPs' mental health. These findings may inform future conceptualisations of mental health, psychological safety, and safety culture.
Efferocytosis: The Janus‐Faced Gatekeeper of Aging and Tumor Fate
Authors: Liu Zaoqu , Li Yan , Ren Yuqing , Chen Jingqi , Weng Siyuan , Zhou Zhaokai , Luo Peng , Chen Quan , Xu Hui , Ba Yuhao , Zuo Anning , Liu Shutong , Zhang Yuyuan , Pan Teng , Han Xinwei
Published: January 2025

From embryogenesis to aging, billions of cells perish daily in mammals. The multistep process by which phagocytes engulf these deceased cells without eliciting an inflammatory response is called efferocytosis. Despite significant insights into the fundamental mechanisms of efferocytosis, its implications in disorders such as aging and cancer remain elusive. Upon summarizing and analyzing existing studies on efferocytosis, it becomes evident that efferocytosis is our friend in resolving inflammation, yet it transforms into our foe by facilitating tumor development and metastasis. This review illuminates recent discoveries regarding the emerging mechanisms of efferocytosis in clearing apoptotic cells, explores its connections with aging, examines its influence on tumor development and metastasis, and identifies the regulatory factors of efferocytosis within the tumor microenvironment. A comprehensive understanding of these efferocytosis facets offers insights into crucial physiological and pathophysiological processes, paving the way for innovative therapeutic approaches to combat aging and cancer.
Pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating polypeptide (PACAP)overexpression in the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus alters motivated and affective behavior in female rats
Authors: Carpenter Brody A. , Pirino Breanne E. , Jennings Malcolm C. , Samels Shanna B. , Shah Krisha S. , Maser Joya , Gupta Medha , Barson Jessica R.
Published: January 2025

Background

Pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating polypeptide (PACAP) has been found to be involved in a wide range of motivated and affective behaviors. While the PACAP‐38 isoform is more densely expressed than PACAP‐27 in most of the brain, PACAP‐27 is more highly expressed in the rodent paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT), where females also have greater expression than males. Notably, the role of PACAP‐27 expression in cells of the PVT has not been explored.

Methods

Adult, female Long‐Evans rats were injected in the PVT with an adeno‐associated virus (AAV) to increase expression of PACAP or a control AAV. They were then investigated for subsequent ethanol drinking and preference; sucrose drinking and preference; or locomotor activity in a novel chamber, behavior in a light–dark box, behavior in a novelty suppression of feeding test, locomotor activity in a familiar activity chamber, and behavior in a forced swim test.

Results

Injection with the PACAP AAV resulted in a specific increase in levels of PACAP‐27. Rats injected with the PACAP AAV demonstrated reduced drinking and preference for ethanol under the intermittent‐access procedure compared to those injected with the control AAV. In contrast, rats injected with the PACAP AAV showed no significant difference in drinking or preference for sucrose, or in any affective behavior tested, except that they spent less time swimming in the forced swim test.

Conclusions

In light of the low overall level of expression of PACAP‐27 in the brain, the ability of PACAP‐27 in the PVT to control ethanol drinking, with minimal effects on other motivated or affective behaviors, supports the idea that compounds related to PACAP‐27 should be investigated as potential therapeutics for the treatment of alcohol use disorder.
Organic Food Consumption Might Protect Against Sensitisation to Inhalant Allergens at School Age: The PARIS Cohort
Authors: Pernin‐Schneider Maëlys , Amazouz Hélène , Lezmi Guillaume , Bourgoin‐Heck Mélisande , Just Jocelyne , Momas Isabelle , Rancière Fanny
Published: January 2025

Background

Interest has grown recently in childhood diet's role in allergy development. However, the studies focusing on organic food consumption are scarce. We address the relationships between such consumption and respiratory/allergic morbidity at school age in the PARIS (Pollution and asthma risk: An infant study) cohort.

Methods

Diet was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire completed by the parents at 8 years. Dietary patterns were identified by cluster analysis based on the consumption frequency of 30 foods (either organic or conventional) and 19 organic foods. Associations between dietary patterns and respiratory/allergic morbidity (asthma, rhinitis, eczema and sensitisation) were studied using multivariable logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders, including family socioeconomic status and adherence to the Mediterranean diet as a proxy for dietary balance.

Results

Among 1258 children, three dietary patterns were identified, which differed significantly in terms of organic food consumption frequency: low frequency in G0 (51% of children), moderate in G1 (28%) and high in G2 (21%). No association was found between dietary patterns and asthma, eczema, rhinitis or sensitisation to food allergens. Children in G2 had lower likelihood of sensitisation to any allergen than those in G0 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.40–0.91), particularly to inhalant allergens (aOR = 0.64; 95% CI: 0.42–0.99).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that frequent organic food consumption may be protective against allergic sensitisation at school age, based on the assumption that organic food consumption at the age of eight reflects consumption at earlier ages. Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms for this association, including nutritional and environmental exposures.
A non‐hormonal reversible contraceptive targeting GSK3α, a protein kinase, essential for epididymal sperm maturation
Authors: Kabi Mustfa , Khamamkar Aditi , Kyei‐Baffour Kwaku , Weïwer Michel , Vijayaraghavan Srinivasan , Dey Souvik
Published: January 2025

Background and objectives

Epididymal transit renders key competence to mammalian spermatozoa for fertilizing eggs. Generally, the two paralogs of glycogen synthase kinase 3, GSK3α and GSK3β, functionally overlap except in testis and sperm. We showed that GSK3α is essential for epididymal sperm maturation and fertilization. Male infertility is the only phenotype of mice with a global or testis‐specific knockout (KO) of Gsk3α. Their sperm maturation is impaired, and sperm cannot fertilize eggs in vitro and in vivo. This suggests that GSK3α is a “male fertility kinase” in mammals and that GSK3α‐selective inhibitor is a potential male contraceptive.

Materials and methods

A set of eight heterozygous Gsk3α(±) male mice received daily intraperitoneal injections of BRD0705, an isoform‐selective GSK3α inhibitor, at 20 mg/kg body weight for 1 week. Five vehicle‐treated and BRD0705‐treated mice were tested for in vivo fertility and the remaining mice were sacrificed; their caudal spermatozoa were examined for motility and biochemical properties.

Results

The treated mice did not sire any pups while the control group sired 46 pups with a normal gestation period of 19–23 days. Continued fertility testing up to 6 weeks post‐treatment, showed that the treated mice regained fertility siring 56 pups, with 76 in the control group. Sperm motility was impaired, its abnormal morphology increased during epididymal transit, Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels were low, and tyrosine‐phosphorylation of hexokinase was absent: these phenotypes imitated those observed in Gsk3α KO mice. Tyrosine279‐phosphorylation of GSK3α was reduced in sperm from the treated mice showing that the GSK3α activity was inhibited. The altered sperm phenotypes returned to normal following recovery of fertility.

Conclusions

Complete infertility resulted after 1 week of BRD0705‐treatment and fertility recovered after cessation of the treatment. Work is ongoing to determine the minimum dose and treatment time and the testing of new compounds with increased selectivity and inhibitory activity against GSK3α.
Tolerance of homonegativity and transnegativity predicts negative evaluations of LGBT people and LGBT‐supportive policies among US‐based heterosexual, cisgender participants
Authors: Folberg Abigail M. , Hunt Jennifer S. , Riggle Ellen D. B.
Published: January 2025

Many people in the United States express anti‐LGBT attitudes and oppose LGBT rights. These views are perpetuated when others, including allies, tolerate expressions of anti‐LGBT bias. In this study, we adapted and validated a measure of tolerance of homonegativity and transnegativity (TOHT), and assessed its associations with evaluations of LGBT people, straight people, support for LGBT rights, and system‐justifying ideologies among heterosexual, straight, binary‐gendered/non‐trans (i.e., cisgender) women and men who identified as liberal, moderate, or conservative (N = 295). Participants completed measures of TOHT, evaluations of LGBT people, support for LGBT rights, authoritarianism, religiosity, and contact with LGBT people. Analyses by gender and political ideology indicated that all groups tolerated anti‐LGBT bias to some degree. Among conservatives, women (vs. men) endorsed TOHT more and exhibited less support for LGBT rights; the opposite was true of liberals. As expected, higher TOHT scores were associated with cooler evaluations of LGBT people and less support for LGBT rights. However, after controlling for system justifying motives, that was only significant for conservatives and moderates potentially suggesting that conservatives and liberals may endorse TOHT for different reasons. Overall, findings suggest that groups traditionally regarded as allies (e.g., women, liberals) tolerate attitudes that disadvantage LGBT people.
Taiwan's digital divide during the COVID‐19 pandemic and its implications for e‐public services
Authors: Chang Carol Chiao‐Han , Wong Natalie W. M.
Published: January 2025

With the outbreak of COVID‐19, many elderly people have experienced unfavorable difficulties accompanying e‐public services during the epidemic. This study takes Village (Li) A in Xinyi District, Taipei City, as a case study, using in‐depth interviews to understand the experiences of e‐public services usage among residents aged 60 years and above, as well as local chief of village (Li Chang) and council members. In conclusion, street‐level bureaucrats proactively take on the role of “information agents” for elderly adults, assisting in listening to their real needs and facilitating the matching of them with the services they need. It points out that even though Taiwanese society is moving toward an aging and digital future, with many public services transitioning to digital forms, the abilities of street‐level bureaucrats in terms of “responsive listening” and “situational adaptation,” especially for elderly people, remain crucial and cannot be replaced by AI and information systems.
Influence of Previous Coppice Management on Stand Structure and Vegetation Diversity of 9210* Habitat Beech Forests in the Central Apennines (Italy)
Authors: Vitali Alessandro , Tesei Giulio , Allegrezza Marina , Garbarino Matteo , Iorio Giorgio , Urbinati Carlo
Published: January 2025

Aims

Forests classified as Natura 2000 priority Habitat 9210* (Apennine beech forests with Taxus baccata and Ilex aquifolium) cover most of the European beech distribution along the Italian peninsula. Most of these forests have been coppiced for centuries until 60–70 years ago, and today, some are lapsed coppices and others in conversion to high forests. In both cases there is a lack of knowledge on the ongoing ecological dynamics, especially with regard of species composition changes, that is a base for their sustainable management.

Location

Central Apennines (Italy).

Methods

We analyzed forest structure and their impact on plant diversity from 50 plots in three sites where forests have been differently managed also in relation to their private, common or public ownership. We assessed the relationships between forest structure and understory plant diversity, applying multivariate statistical analysis and running regression models for estimating the influence of forest structure variables on species richness.

Results

We appraised the heterogeneity of the 9210* Apennines beech forests featuring five floristic‐vegetation groups with cluster analysis in four structure stand types: lapsed coppices (LPC), coppices in conversion (CCO), two‐layer coppices (TLC) and recolonized stored coppices (RSC). The Non‐metric multidimensional scaling ordination shows that CCO, the most common structural type investigated, is not clearly related to any specific variable. The best models suggested that the mean cambial age and tree height can positively predict all dependent richness variables.

Conclusions

The structural and compositional diversities of these forests require an innovative management approach integrating silvicultural options commonly considered divergent (coppice vs. high forests) for providing new ecosystem services and socioeconomic opportunities for local mountain communities, to support biodiversity, and to increase forest resilience to natural disturbances.
Environmental Actions and Leadership Integrity: Unpacking Symbolic and Substantive Pro‐Environmental Behavior Impact on Organizational Perception
Authors: Nawaz Asif , Soomro Shuaib Ahmed , Talpur Qurat‐ul‐ain
Published: January 2025

This study applies signaling theory to investigate how an organization's environmental actions, in the form of symbolic (Sym) and substantive (Sub) pro‐environmental behavior (PEB), impact the perceptions of organizational hypocrisy and perceived integrity of its leaders. The authors collected data from a sample of 211 employees working in various industries at three different points with a 1‐month interval and used AMOS‐SEM for data analysis. We found a positive relationship between Sym‐PEB and organizational hypocrisy, while Sub‐PEB was negatively associated with organizational hypocrisy. Findings for mediation analyses revealed that organizational hypocrisy mediated between (a) Sym‐PEB and leaders' integrity, and (b) Sub‐PEB and leaders’ integrity. We contribute to the leadership and workplace ethics literature by highlighting important paths through which organizational environmental action impacts perceptions of organizational hypocrisy and leaders' integrity. The study reveals the multifaceted nature of organizational pro‐environmental behavior and its impact on the integrity of leaders. Our study has important implications for theory and practice.