bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systemic TRPV4 inhibition worsens retinal response to acute intraocular pressure elevation in older but not younger mice
Authors: Lee Pei Ying , Greferath Ursula , Zhao Da , Huang Jin Y. , Wang Anna Y. M. , Vessey Kirstan A. , Chrysostomou Vicki , Fletcher Erica L. , Crowston Jonathan G. , Bui Bang V.
Published: January 2025

SIGNIFICANCE

Previous evidence showed that transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) inhibition was protective of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) loss after chronic intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation in young animals. However, the role of TRPV4 in mechanosensing IOP changes in the aging eye is not well understood.

PURPOSE

This study compared the recovery of retinal function and structure after acute IOP elevation in 3- and 12-month-old mouse eyes with and without TRPV4 inhibition.

METHODS

We examined retinal TRPV4 expression in 2-month-old rodent eyes using immunohistochemistry and transcript analysis of isolated macroglia and RGCs. To modulate TRPV4, mice were treated daily with either vehicle or a TRPV4 antagonist (HC-067047 10 mg/kg) delivered intraperitoneally for 7 days before and 7 days after IOP elevation (50 mmHg for 30 minutes). Retinal function and structure were assessed using dark-adapted full-field electroretinography and optical coherence tomography, respectively.

RESULTS

We showed that Müller cells strongly expressed TRPV4. Seven days after IOP elevation, RGC functional recovery was significantly poorer in older mice treated with TRPV4 antagonist compared with age-matched vehicle controls (−54 ± 7% vs. −24 ± 10%, p=0.046) and their younger TRPV4 antagonist–treated counterparts (−5 ± 5%, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that there was an age-related deficit in RGC functional recovery from IOP elevation with TRPV4 inhibition.
Awaiting insurance coverage: Medicaid enrollment and post-acute care use after traumatic injury
Authors: Haddad Diane N. , Hatchimonji Justin S. , Eisinger Ella C. , Chen Angela T. , Chreiman Kristen M. , Ramadan Omar I. , Morgan Anna U. , Delgado M. Kit , Martin Niels D. , Seamon Mark J. , Knowlton Lisa M. , Kaufman Elinore J.
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND

Lack of insurance after traumatic injury is associated with decreased use of postacute care and poor outcomes. Insurance linkage programs enroll eligible patients in Medicaid at the time of an unplanned admission. We hypothesized that Medicaid enrollment would be associated with increased use of postacute care, but also with prolonged hospital length of stay (LOS) while awaiting insurance authorization.

METHODS

We linked trauma registry and EMR data to identify patients ages 18 years to 64 years admitted from 2017 to 2021 to a Level I trauma center. Patients admitted without insurance and retroactively insured (RI) during hospitalization were compared with patients with established Medicaid (MI) and those remaining uninsured (UI). We measured postacute care use including home health care, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing facilities. We tested the association between insurance status and discharge disposition and LOS (primary outcome) using multivariable negative binomial regression. Direct costs were compared between groups.

RESULTS

We compared 494 RI patients to 1706 MI and 148 UI patients. Retroactively insured patients had longer hospitalization (median LOS [interquartile range], 4 days [2–9 days]) than other groups (MI, 4 [2–8] and UI 2 [1–3]), p < 0.001). Retroactively insured patients were more likely to be discharged with home health care and to inpatient rehabilitation than UI patients (p < 0.001). After adjusting for injury and management characteristics, RI was associated with longer LOS compared with MI for patients discharged to inpatient facilities (p < 0.001). Median costs for RI patients discharged to a facility were $10,284 higher than MI patients, ranging from $8,582 for Injury Severity Score <9 to $51,883 for Injury Severity Score ≥25.

CONCLUSION

Enrollment in Medicaid after traumatic injury is associated with postacute care use, but the current enrollment process may delay discharge. Streamlining insurance enrollment and permitting discharge with pending application status could reduce unnecessary hospital days, saving costs and improving improve patient experience.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level IV.
Comparing the Use of Acupuncture as Adjunct Therapy to Usual Pain Control for Patients Presenting With Chronic Pain Exacerbations
Authors: Davis Philip , Evans Dian
Published: January 2025

The aim of the Research to Practice column is to enhance the research critique abilities of both advanced practice registered nurses and emergency nurses, while also aiding in the translation of research findings into clinical practice. Each column focuses on a specific topic and research study. In this article, we used a scenario of chronic pain exacerbation to explore the study by Eucker et al., titled “An Adaptive Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial of Emergency Department Acupuncture for Acute Musculoskeletal Pain Management”.
Survival of Patients at a Neurology Clinic
Authors: Steenland Kyle , Tan Youran , Mullins Shirley M. , Kidd Taylor E. , Gong Qiyun , Lah James J.
Published: January 2025

Introduction:

We previously followed Emory patients with neurodegenerative disease from 1993 to 2006. Here, we follow survivor and new patients for 2007 to 2018.

Methods:

We studied mortality from 10 different diagnostic groups among 4322 research volunteers, and compared mortality rates to controls with normal cognition, using Cox regression. We assessed mortality through the National Death Index, controlling for sex, education, race, comorbidities, and age. Supplemental analyses considered APOE and cognitive test scores.

Results:

Fifty-nine percent of patients died during follow-up. Mortality rate ratios, compared with controls (n=641) in descending order were 12.54, 6.61, 4.77, 4.92, 3.36, 2.25, 2.21 1.71, 1.39, and 1.17 for diagnostic groups ALS, (n=571), FTD (n=197), LBD (n=134), PD (n=584), AD (n=1118), MCI/dementia (n=82), dementia not specified (n=165), PD symptoms (n=256), vascular dementia (n=234), and MCI (n=340), respectively. Women, non-whites, those with higher education, with no comorbidities, and lower ages had lower mortality rates for most diagnostic groups. Mortality rates were higher in the presence of APOE4 variants for several diagnostic groups. Lower MMSEs predicted worse survival for most diseases. Overall, 41% of patients survived during 12 years of follow-up, compared with an expected 75% in the US population.

Conclusion:

Survival times for different diagnostic groups have changed little over several decades.
Human-inspired strategies for controlling swarm systems
Authors: Nalepka Patrick , Patil Gaurav , Kallen Rachel W. , Richardson Michael J.
Published: January 2025

The control of swarms has emerged as a paradigmatic example of human-autonomy teaming. This review focuses on understanding human coordination behaviours, while controlling evasive autonomous agents, to inform the design of human-compatible teammates. We summarize the solutions employed by human dyads, as well as the verbal communication and division of labour strategies observed in four-person teams using virtual simulations. Additionally, we provide an overview of the design of artificial agents that replicate human-like dynamics using task-dynamical models, and which can be integrated into human-autonomy teams. Finally, we conclude with open questions regarding the preservation of situation awareness and trust within human-autonomous swarming teams.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘The road forward with swarm systems’.
Unique immune and cytotoxic responses to SlpA and TcdB differentiate ST01 strains from other Clostridioides difficile Clade 2 Sequence Types
Authors: Badilla-Lobo Adriana , Quesada-Gomez Carlos , Chaves-Olarte Esteban , Rodriguez Cesar
Published: January 2025

Among the five MLST clades encompassing the known global population of the bacterial pathogen Clostridioides difficile, strains from Clade 2 have been given special attention due to the worldwide spread, disease presentation, and prevalence in hospital settings of ST01 strains. We aimed to compare multiple phenotypic properties of clinical Clade 2 ST01 and non-ST01 strains from ST41, ST47, ST67, ST154, and ST638 to identify factors contributing to the higher virulence and epidemic potential that has been historically attributed to the former group of strains. We did not find significant differences in virulence markers such as spore adherence, motility, biofilm formation, and spore disinfectant resistance. Instead, the tested ST01 strains exhibited distinctive surface layer protein A (SlpA) and toxin B (TcdB) profiles that triggered unique immune and cytotoxic responses. These insights challenge the prevailing notion that all Clade 2 strains are highly virulent and inform Public Health strategies for ST01 strain management.
Behavioural evidence of a humidistat: a temperature-compensating mechanism of hydroregulation
Authors: Giacometti Danilo , Tattersall Glenn J.
Published: January 2025

The ability to control hydration state essential for terrestrial species, especially amphibians, which are highly susceptible to dehydration. Here, we examined how temperature (17°C vs. 22°C) influenced behavioral hydroregulation in spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) using a laboratory humidity gradient. Salamanders defended a constant vapour pressure deficit (VPD) between temperatures by targeting higher RH at 22°C than at 17°C, possibly to compensate for increased evaporative demand at warmer temperatures. Individuals selecting higher VPDs experienced greater evaporative water loss (EWL), with larger salamanders losing more water than smaller ones after accounting for temperature. Together, these results highlight a trade-off among body size, humidity preference, and desiccation tolerance. Salamanders also rehydrated faster at 22°C than 17°C, highlighting temperature-dependent water uptake rates. Our finding that salamanders regulated a constant driving force of evaporation between temperatures suggests the ability to detect rates of EWL. Local cooling of the skin arising from evaporation is a plausible mechanism: if moist-skinned ectotherms allow for a specific, fixed decline in skin relative to core temperature, they can effectively detect the drive for evaporation. Ultimately, our study underscores the complexity of amphibian hydroregulation and emphasises the role of behaviour in maintaining hydration state.
Twist corrections to exclusive vector meson production in a saturation framework
Authors: Boussarie Renaud , Fucilla Michael , Szymanowski Lech , Wallon Samuel
Published: January 2025

We develop a framework combining the higher-twist formalism of exclusive processes in the s channel with the semiclassical effective description of small-x physics in the t channel. We apply it to transversely polarized light vector meson production, γ*p→V(ρ,φ,ω)p, which starts at the next-to-leading power and for which a purely collinear treatment leads to end-point singularities. The result is obtained in the most general kinematics, including both forward and nonforward cases by preserving the full impact parameter dependence in the nonperturbative correlators, in both momentum and coordinate space representations. A systematic expansion of the Wilson lines in terms of Reggeized gluon fields is performed in order to obtain the results in the weak-field BFKL approximation. These new results will allow for investigating the dilute-to-dense regime transition of quantum chromodynamics for a wide class of observables.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Dark matter from dark glueball dominance
Authors: McKeen David , Mizuta Riku , Morrissey David E. , Shamma Michael
Published: January 2025

New gauge forces can play an important role in the evolution of the early Universe. In this work we investigate the cosmological implications of a pure Yang-Mills dark sector that is dominantly populated after primordial inflation. Such a dark sector takes the form of a bath of dark gluons at high temperatures, but confines at lower temperatures to produce a spectrum of dark glueballs. These glueballs then undergo a freeze-out process such that the remnant population is nearly completely dominated by the lightest state. To reproduce the observed cosmology, this lightest glueball species must decay to the Standard Model to repopulate and reheat it. At leading order, this can occur through a connector operator of dimension six. In contrast, other glueballs can be parametrically long lived or stable, and remain as contributors to dark matter or modify the observed cosmology through their later decays. In this work we study the evolution of such dark sectors in detail. We demonstrate that stable remnant glueballs can produce the measured dark matter abundance. We also derive broad constraints on non-Abelian dark sectors from overproduction of remnant glueballs when they are stable or from their destructive impact when they are able to decay.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Current status of inert Higgs dark matter with dark fermions
Authors: Fan Yi-Zhong , Li Yao-Yu , Lu Chih-Ting , Luo Xiao-Yi , Tang Tian-Peng , Tran Van Que , Tsai Yue-Lin Sming
Published: January 2025

The precision measurements of the muon magnetic moment and the W boson mass have sparked interest in the potential deviations from standard model (SM) predictions. While it may be premature to attribute any excesses in these precision measurements to new physics, they do offer a valuable indication of potential directions for physics beyond the SM. Additionally, the particle nature of dark matter (DM) remains a crucial enigma. Despite the absence of any definitive DM signal in direct detection and collider experiments, the Galactic Center GeV γ-ray excess and the AMS-02 antiproton (p¯) excess could potentially offer hints related to the evidence of DM. Motivated by these observations, we propose a simple DM model that addresses all these issues. This model extends the SM by incorporating singlet and doublet Dirac fermion fields, along with a doublet complex scalar field. For the viable parameter regions in this model, we find that future upgrades of the Large Hadron Collider and DM direct detection experiments can only partially probe them, while future high-energy muon colliders hold promise for exploring the unexplored parameter space.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
More on unconstrained descriptions of higher spin massless particles
Authors: Bittencourt R. Schimidt , Dalmazi D. , Mendonça E. L.
Published: January 2025

Here we suggest a new local action describing arbitrary integer spin-s massless particles in terms of only two symmetric fields φ and α of rank-s and (s−3) respectively. It is an unconstrained version of the Fronsdal theory where the double traceless constraint on the physical field is evaded via a rank-(s−4) Weyl like symmetry. The constrained higher spin diffeomorphism is enlarged to full diffeomorphism via the Stueckelberg field α through an appropriate field redefinition. After a partial gauge fixing where the Weyl symmetry is broken while preserving diffeomorphisms, the field equations reproduce, for arbitrary integer spin-s, diffeomorphism invariant equations of motion previously obtained via a truncation of the spectrum of the open bosonic string field theory in the tensionless limit. In the s=4 case we show that the functional integration over α leads to a unique nonlocal Weyl and diffeomorphism invariant action given only in terms of the physical field φ whose spectrum is confirmed via an analysis of the analytic structure of the spin-4 propagator for which we introduce a complete basis of projection and transition nonlocal differential operators. We also show that the elimination of α after the Weyl gauge fixing leads to a nonlocal diffeomorphism invariant action previously obtained in the literature.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Realization of a spin-1/2 Kondo necklace model with magnetic field-induced coupling switch
Authors: Yamaguchi Hironori , Tominaga Yu , Kida Takanori , Araki Koji , Kawakami Takashi , Iwasaki Yoshiki , Kimura Kenta , Hagiwara Masayuki
Published: January 2025

The theoretical Kondo necklace model, which simplifies the Kondo lattice model by focusing on spin degrees of freedom, provides a valuable framework for understanding spin-related quantum phenomena. However, it has not been applied to real materials until now. We present a realization of a spin-1/2 anisotropic Kondo necklace model using a complex of radical and Co spins. Electron spin resonance reveals anisotropic g values and an Ising-type exchange interaction with Co spin. The specific heat measurements demonstrate Schottky-type behavior, suggesting a Kondo singlet state with an energy gap in the excitation spectrum. Our findings suggest that a magnetic field can decouple Kondo interactions, unveiling a different mechanism for controlling Kondo coupling. This offers other opportunities for quantum technologies, particularly in the development of tunable qubits for quantum computing and spintronic devices, where precise control over spin interactions is essential.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Positive Oscillating Magnetoresistance in a van der Waals Antiferromagnetic Semiconductor
Authors: Lin Xiaohanwen , Wu Fan , Ubrig Nicolas , Liao Menghan , Yao Fengrui , Gutiérrez-Lezama Ignacio , Morpurgo Alberto F.
Published: January 2025

In all van der Waals layered antiferromagnetic semiconductors investigated so far, a negative magnetoresistance has been observed in vertical transport measurements, with characteristic trends that do not depend on applied bias. Here, we report vertical transport measurements on a layered antiferromagnetic semiconductor CrPS4 that exhibit a drastically different behavior, namely, a strongly bias-dependent, positive magnetoresistance that is accompanied by pronounced oscillations for devices whose thickness is smaller than 10 nm. We establish that this unexpected behavior originates from transport being space-charge limited and not injection limited as for the layered antiferromagnetic semiconductors studied earlier. Our analysis indicates that the positive magnetoresistance and the oscillations only occur when electrons are injected into in-gap defect states, whereas when electrons are injected into the conduction band, the magnetoresistance vanishes. We propose a microscopic explanation for the observed phenomena that combines concepts typical of transport through disordered semiconductors with known properties of the CrPS4 magnetic state, thus capturing all basic experimental observations. Our results illustrate the need to understand, in detail, the nature of transport through vdW magnets in order to extract information about the nature of the order magnetic states and its microscopic properties.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
A generic cross-seeding approach to protein crystallization
Authors: Caspy Ido , Tang Shan , Bellini Dom , Gorrec Fabrice
Published: January 2025

Obtaining diffraction-quality crystals is often the rate-limiting step during structure determination of biological macromolecules by X-ray crystallography. To address this problem, we investigated a cross-seeding approach with a mixture integrating a heterogeneous set of protein crystal fragments to be used as generic seeds. The fragments are nanometre-sized templates chosen to promote crystal nucleation of protein samples unrelated to the proteins forming the seeds. An atypical crystal form of the human serine hydrolase retinoblastoma binding protein 9 was obtained by adding the mixture to the protein sample before performing standard crystallization assays. The structure was solved by X-ray crystallography at 1.4 Å resolution. Follow-up experiments showed that crystal fragments of α-amylase were critical components in this particular result. The limitations and future applications of our experimental developments are discussed.
Deep-learning-powered desmearing for small-angle scattering
Authors: Zhou Weigang , Chen Xiuguo , Zhang Jiahao , Liu Shuo , Deng Dingxuan , Yang Shilong , Tang Zirong , Liu Shiyuan
Published: January 2025

Smearing effects in small-angle scattering (SAS) measurements significantly compromise data analysis, arising from the convolution of theoretical scattering curves with the point spread function of the measurement system. This paper presents a deep-learning-based desmearing network (DSNet) designed to effectively mitigate smearing effects in SAS data. By integrating the processes underlying scattering data smearing, DSNet necessitates only a limited simulation dataset for pre-training. Both simulation and experimental results have demonstrated that DSNet exhibits robust noise resilience and exceptional generalization performance across diverse sample types, and achieves superior desmearing capabilities compared with the classical Lake method and Wiener filter.
Experimental electronic structures of copper complexes with a biphenyldiimino dithioether – a model for blue copper proteins
Authors: Fronc Marek , Breza Martin , Bučinský Lukáš , Jelemenská Ingrid , Kožíšek Jozef
Published: January 2025

The experimental electron density distributions in two coordination compounds – one with a central Cu(I) atom and the other with Cu(II), coordinated by the same biphenyldiimino dithioether (bite) type of ligand – have been obtained from high-resolution X-ray reflection data to model the possible electron predisposition for the redox reaction in blue copper proteins. The bite ligand has been adapted to the conformation required by the central atom.
Crystallography of quasiperiodic moiré patterns in homophase twisted bilayers
Authors: Quiquandon Marianne , Gratias Denis
Published: January 2025

This paper discusses the geometric properties and symmetries of general moiré patterns generated by homophase bilayers twisted by rotation 2δ. These patterns are generically quasiperiodic of rank 4 and result from the interferences between two basic periodicities incommensurate to each other, defined by the sites in the layers that are kept invariant through the symmetry operations of the structure. These invariant sites are distributed on the nodes of a set of lattices called Φ-lattices – where Φ runs on the rotation operations of the symmetry group of the monolayers – which are the centers of rotation 2δ + Φ transforming a lattice node of the first layer into a node of the second. It is demonstrated that when a coincidence lattice exists, it is the intersection of all the Φ-lattices of the structure.
A physical optics formulation of Bloch waves and its application to 4D STEM, 3D ED and inelastic scattering simulations
Authors: Mendis Budhika G.
Published: January 2025

Bloch waves are often used in dynamical diffraction calculations, such as simulating electron diffraction intensities for crystal structure refinement. However, this approach relies on matrix diagonalization and is therefore computationally expensive for large unit cell crystals. Here Bloch wave theory is re-formulated using the physical optics concepts underpinning the multislice method. In particular, the multislice phase grating and propagator functions are expressed in matrix form using elements of the Bloch wave structure matrix. The specimen is divided into thin slices, and the evolution of the electron wavefunction through the specimen calculated using the Bloch phase grating and propagator matrices. By decoupling specimen scattering from free space propagation of the electron beam, many computationally demanding simulations, such as 4D STEM imaging modes, 3D ED precession and rotation electron diffraction, phonon and plasmon inelastic scattering, are considerably simplified. The computational cost scales as {\cal O}({N^2} ) per slice, compared with {\cal O}({N^3} ) for a standard Bloch wave calculation, where N is the number of diffracted beams. For perfect crystals the performance can at times be better than multislice, since only the important Bragg reflections in the otherwise sparse diffraction plane are calculated. The physical optics formulation of Bloch waves is therefore an important step towards more routine dynamical diffraction simulation of large data sets.
The impact of digital agricultural insurance on farmers’ fertilizer reduction technology adoption: evidence from China
Authors: Dong Ying , Jia Chenglin , Su Liufang
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of digital agricultural insurance on farmers’ fertilizer reduction technology adoption and explain its main mechanisms, as well as to reveal the heterogeneity of the impact with regard to the production scale and crop type.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the dataset of CHFS-SCAU2021, this study empirically examines the impact of digital agricultural insurance on farmers’ fertilizer reduction technology adoption by Probit model and employ instrumental variables and treatment effect model to address the potential endogeneity bias.

Findings

(1) Digital agricultural insurance can significantly improve farmers’ fertilizer reduction technology adoption and (2) it has a greater promoting effect on the adoption of fertilizer reduction technology compared to traditional agricultural insurance, which still holds after correction of endogeneity bias. (3) Digital agricultural insurance can help promote farmers’ fertilizer reduction technology adoption through decreasing risk aversion, information asymmetry and alleviating financial constraint, while (4) it can only promote the fertilizer reduction technology adoption among large-scale and grain-crop farmers currently.

Originality/value

(1) This study is the first to empirically examine the causal impact of digital agricultural insurance on farmers fertilizer reduction technology adoption. (2) This study construct a comprehensive framework to explain the main mechanisms through which digital agricultural insurance influences farmers fertilizer reduction technology adoption both theoretically and empirically. (3) It also compares the disparities between traditional agricultural insurance and digital agricultural insurance in terms of influence on farmers’ fertilizer reduction technology adoption and proposes the relative recommendations on digital agricultural insurance to help improve farmers’ willingness and behavior of fertilizer reduction technology adoption to promote extension efficiency.
Influence of scientific method-based food and nutrition learning program on motivating healthy food consumption
Authors: Joompa Pattamaporn , Thongkam Nattapach , Chotiboriboon Sinee , Kongpunya Prapa
Published: January 2025

Purpose

A health learning program relying on the scientific method was designed to promote reducing the intake of foods high in sugar, sodium and saturated fat in a group of school-aged children.

Design/methodology/approach

The scientific method was a core approach for creating intervention activities. We conducted mixed-methods research consisting of a quasi-experimental study and supplemented with a qualitative study.

Findings

After the intervention, mean scores of knowledge (F = 16.052, p < 0.05) and intrinsic motivation of the intervention group (IG) were significantly increased (t = 4.277, p < 0.05). Although basic science process skills before and after intervention were not significantly different, it found positive correlations with intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation and dietary behavior.

Research limitations/implications

The selected sample size is relatively small. The intervention program should be repeated with larger and more diverse students to ensure the effectiveness of this program.

Practical implications

This intervention program relying on the scientific method evokes the knowledge of grade 5–6 students about good diet and nutrition, emphasizing reducing the intake of foods high in sugar, sodium and saturated fat. Teachers should also observe and encourage students to steadily drive healthy food consumption behaviors according to the theoretical behavior change stage at least during their time at school.

Originality/value

The developed program could be a feasible option for teachers to integrate into the lessons in the classroom. This program also motivates students’ healthy food consumption.
The PRECEDE model: an effective approach for promoting healthy lifestyles and improving glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Khafaie Morteza Abdullatif , Mobasheri Narges , Kheirollahi Mahin , Ghahremani Leila
Published: January 2025

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy of a PRECEDE model-based educational program in enhancing awareness, attitudes and preventive behaviors against diabetes complications among rural patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Design/methodology/approach

This quasi-experimental study included 160 T2DM patients from rural health centers in Andimeshk, Iran (2020–2021). Participants were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 80) or control (n = 80) groups. The intervention group received a six-session in-person educational program, supplemented by weekly lifestyle videos via WhatsApp over six weeks, guided by PRECEDE model constructs. A validated questionnaire assessed knowledge, attitudes, enabling and reinforcing factors, and preventive behaviors pre- and post-intervention.

Findings

Post-intervention, the intervention group demonstrated significantly (p < 0.001) higher mean scores in knowledge, attitudes, enabling factors, reinforcing factors and preventive behaviors than controls. Fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels were significantly (p < 0.001) reduced in the intervention group at three-month follow-up.

Originality/value

The findings demonstrate that a comprehensive program grounded in the PRECEDE model can significantly enhance patients’ awareness, strengthen positive attitudes, increase enabling and reinforcing factors and promote preventive lifestyle behaviors. Importantly, the intervention led to improved glycemic control, as evidenced by reduced fasting blood sugar levels at three-month follow-up. These results suggest that tailored, theory-driven educational initiatives have the potential to empower rural patients with type 2 diabetes to make sustainable lifestyle changes and better manage their condition. The study provides a model for developing and implementing effective diabetes self-management programs in underserved rural communities, which can ultimately contribute to reducing diabetes-related complications and improving overall health outcomes in this population.
Supply chain risks for SMEs in construction projects: a structured literature review and research agenda
Authors: Chen Shicheng , Eyers Daniel Roy , Gosling Jonathan , Huang Yuan
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Whilst there has been much research examining risk management in construction supply chains, there is a relative dearth of knowledge concerning small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in this context. SMEs are considered vulnerable economic agents due to their financial constraints and reduced viability compared to large firms. This study aims to fill this gap by providing a comprehensive review, identifying key challenges in the research and generating a future research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured literature review was conducted in this study, resulting in the identification of 106 articles that relate to construction SME risks. Thematic analysis was then employed to determine the supply chain risk themes. Additionally, VOSviewer was employed to depict content frequency and, most recently, trends based on the timeline.

Findings

This paper uncovers eight distinct supply chain risks pertinent to construction SMEs, arranging these into three themes from the standpoint of supply chain risk management. Moreover, it identifies six gaps in the existing body of research on construction SMEs and puts forth prospective research directions and questions to address each of these identified gaps.

Originality/value

The practical significance of this study is to provide SMEs in the construction industry with a comprehensive framework for identifying and categorizing risks related to management and strategy, operations and processes and sustainability. With this framework, SMEs can systematically assess potential risks at all stages of a project.
System design and flight control of a flying wheel-legged humanoid robot (FWLR)
Authors: Xu Bo , Li Xu , Feng Haibo , Fu Yili
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to design a flying wheel-legged humanoid robot (FWLR), endowing the robot with flight capability to improve the obstacle-crossing ability of the wheel-legged humanoid robot. A flight control method using thrust-vector-control (TVC) under constant thrust strength is proposed, which reduces the performance requirements on the response speed of thrusters.

Design/methodology/approach

To endow the robot with flight capability, three sets of thrusters are installed at the robot’s back and two arm ends to provide flight lift and the direction of thrust can be changed through the arm swing. According to the robot configuration, this paper established a linearized dynamic model and proposed a constant-strength-thrust-vector-control (CSTVC) framework enabling the robot to achieve flight without thrust intensity change.

Findings

With the proposed modeling method and CSTVC framework, FWLR can inhibit attitude and position drift during takeoff and hovering, and has certain adaptability to takeoff attitude. Finally, FWLR reached a flying height up to 1 m under a 30 kg large self-weight with fixed thrust strength.

Originality/value

The design, modeling and flight control method proposed in this paper enables a human-sized wheel-legged humanoid robot to achieve takeoff and hovering for the first time. The movement range of wheel-legged humanoid robot is extended to the air, thereby enhancing its application value in emergency tasks such as disaster search-and-rescue.
Prioritising elements of digitalisation for lean and green SME operations: an ISM-MICMAC study in the Indian context
Authors: Kumar Roshan , Kumar Pradeep , Kumar Anish , Dvivedi Akshay
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the key elements of digitalization for lean and green operations and develop a conceptual framework for their implementation. The paper focuses on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and aims to explore the role of digitalisation in enhancing their operational efficiency and sustainability. By identifying key factors and metrics related to digitalisation, the paper seeks to provide insights for strategic management to improve lean and green practices in SMEs.

Design/methodology/approach

Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) and Matrix of Cross-Impact Multiplication Applied to a Classification (MICMAC) approaches were deployed to classify the major dimensions of digitalisation. These methods were used to analyse the direct and indirect relationships among the identified elements of digitalisation. A comprehensive literature review and expert consultations were conducted to identify 13 key elements relevant to lean and green operations. The experts also assisted in determining the contextual relationships between the variables for the ISM model.

Findings

The analysis classified the 13 identified elements of digitalisation into different levels according to their driving power and dependence. The results from the ISM model indicated three levels of classifications. At level-1, Internet of things (IoT) and smart sensors (IoT & SS), automation and robotics directly influence lean and green operations. At level-2, real-time monitoring and control system and at level-3 fundamental elements of digitalisation such as big data analytics, predictive maintenance, cloud computing, energy management systems (EMSs), additive manufacturing, blockchain, digital workflow automation and digital collaboration platform.

Originality/value

All elements are interrelated and essential for making strategic decisions. This study emphasis the significance of prioritising these attributes to attain long-term excellence through digitalisation. For the industries that seek the reward of lean and green operations for their growth, this paper has great practical utility. Identifying the key factors of digitalisation would help strategic managers in handling lean and green environment of SMEs through these aspects.
Legal aspects for the conservation of rural built heritage: a systematic literature review
Authors: Ozkaya Ilbey Zeynep , Yuceer Hulya
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to provide a base for the policy-making process of rural built heritage conservation by systematically analysing existing legal aspects and policies in the literature. The primary objective is to help the policy-making process in countries that lack specific guidelines for the conservation of rural built heritage. It is also intended to play a role in the development of existing policies.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper undertakes a comprehensive and systematic review of literature through 81 publications pertaining to the legal dimensions of RBH conservation. It processes the data obtained and presents it as bibliometric information utilizing VOS-viewer and Bibliometrix. The literature review results and data are associated with international regulations and documents. As a result, principles that will be helpful to the policy-making process are produced.

Findings

The study reveals that interest in the subject has increased since 2018, mainly due to the influence of international charters, documents and developments in the field. The literature review shows that existing laws address the issue broadly rather than focusing directly on RBH. However, current policies, management plans and recommendations referred to in the literature are more closely related to RBH. Nonetheless, notable provisions in laws, international documents and local policies contribute to generating policy principles on the subject.

Originality/value

The study fills a gap in the literature by examining RBH conservation from a legal perspective, systematically presenting the relevant literature to researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders in various contexts.
Political turnover, power and performance of foreign firms
Authors: Zhang Jianhong , Rodrigues Suzana B. , Jiang Jiangang , Zhou Chaohong
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of political instability at the local level on foreign firms in China. Building on the literature on political embeddedness and business power, the authors propose a theoretical framework to explain how political turnover can affect foreign firms’ performance and how they respond to such challenges by leveraging their power bases.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the hypotheses, the authors apply fixed effects regression to an unbalanced panel data set comprising 13,360 foreign firms from 1998 to 2013 and the political replacement that involved changes in provincial governors.

Findings

The findings confirm that political turnover incidents have a negative impact on the performance of foreign firms in China. However, the authors also found that this negative relationship is weaker for firms that can choose various types of power sources. Specifically, the study reveals that foreign firms with large firm size, government ownership and a strong foreign direct investment community are better qualified to mitigate the negative effects of political instability.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by developing the understanding of how political uncertainties and risks affect the performance of foreign firms in China and the importance of firms’ power in counterbalancing these effects. The research provides valuable insights into how multinational corporations can exploit their power to manage the effects of local political turnover, which has practical implications for the strategy and management of foreign firms operating in China.
From traditional to transformational: the imperative of creativity, the arts and imagination in learning to be literate
Authors: Saunders John Nicholas Rossato
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to summarise key literature related to the Foundation for Learning and Literacy’s Touchstone 4 (creativity, the arts and imagination).

Design/methodology/approach

This article reviews a selection of relevant studies exploring the contributions of creativity, imagination and the arts to traditional literacy learning. The existing literature has been synthesised and summarised to provide readers with a broad understanding of the evidence supporting Touchstone 4.

Findings

The literature review reveals that all five arts subjects, along with creativity and imagination, contribute positively to students' literacy learning. Each arts subject enhances and extends different aspects of conventional literacy skills – such as reading, writing, viewing, speaking and listening – while fostering the development of multiliteracies.

Originality/value

This article uniquely summarises existing research on the arts, creativity and imagination, highlighting how each area supports literacy development in school students.
Unraveling the effect of resource use, environmental innovation and financing access in developed and emerging economies
Authors: Wan Mohammad Wan Masliza , Roseli Ennie Salina , Wasiuzzaman Shaista
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of resource use and environmental innovation on firms’ financial costs.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consists of 2,588 firm-year observations from 647 companies collected from Thomson Reuters over a five-year period (year 2014 to year 2018). The authors analyze the data using panel-corrected standard errors, which corrects heteroskedasticity issues and contemporaneous error in the data. Further, the authors adopt cluster analysis based on the year and industry. The authors also adopt the generalized method of moments and two-stage least squares regression to check for endogeneity issues and validate the findings.

Findings

The findings generally indicate that resource use is negatively associated with firms’ cost of capital. Firms’ engagement with operational activities improves savings in the usage of resources, but environmental innovation is found to be positively associated with the cost of capital. This may be attributable to higher capital investment, stringent risk assessment and third-party assurance associated with firms’ environmental innovation.

Research limitations/implications

The findings urge regulators, practitioners and stakeholders to engage in more dialogues to reduce the costs associated with environmental sustainability innovation. This may be in the form of new technologies, energy-saving products, waste recycling and green innovations. Government intervention via greater infrastructure, tax incentives and regulatory reform may support the growth of innovation in emerging market economies.

Practical implications

Efforts are needed to encourage a dynamic, innovative and entrepreneurial mindset among the people living in emerging countries. Also, government regulatory reform is imperative in encouraging innovations in the environmental, social and governance ecosystem.

Social implications

The effect on society would be in the form of a new product innovation that creates better living standards and environments for the communities.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the few studies that focuses on the impact of firms’ resource use and environmental innovativeness and its implications on business financial costs in both emerging and developed markets.
Where does it all go?
Authors: Marsh John S. , Fallah Samira
Published: January 2025

Research methodology

The case was developed from interviews with the couple. Josh is a coauthor. The other coauthor was incorporated to offer an unbiased perspective. The names and banking institutions are disguised, but the financial information represents the couple’s actual financial situation at the time.

Case overview/synopsis

This case centers on Josh and Selene Stone, a real couple whose identities have been disguised. They are striving to optimize their budget and save for a better home. The case outlines the couple’s goals and details their income and expenses by providing their bank and credit card statements for a 3-month period. Students are tasked with applying their financial planning knowledge and skills to create a budget for the couple and make recommendations to optimize their spending patterns.

Complexity academic level

The case was designed for use in an introductory undergraduate Personal Finance course where personal budgeting is discussed. The case is best positioned following a lecture/discussion on personal budgeting such as:▪ Chapter 2 of Focus on Personal Finance by Kapoor, Dlabay, Hughes and Hart.▪ Chapter 3 of Personal Finance by Garman and Forgue.▪ Chapter 2 of Personal Finance by Keown.▪ Chapter 5 of Personal Finance by Siegel and Yacht.This paper has seen Personal Finance offered at a general education level, as an elective for Business Administration majors, or even as a required class in a specialized Financial Planning curriculum. Positioning a case in Personal Finance can often be challenging because of the diverse nature of these audiences. In this case, this paper has tried to use plain language whenever possible to make it accessible to a broad range of students while providing enough data for business students to make informed financial planning recommendations.
Exploring the roles of L1 reading, L2 proficiency, strategy use and anxiety in L2 Reading comprehension
Authors: Zhao Aiping , Zhang Xuening , Guo Ying , Dinnesen Megan Schneider , Sun Shuyan , Xu Yunqing
Published: January 2025

Background

Second language (L2) reading is a complex process in which two languages constantly interact. L1 reading and L2 proficiency are two well‐acknowledged factors contributing to L2 reading comprehension. Other factors, such as strategy use and anxiety, might also predict L2 reading comprehension, but their roles have not been examined in the presence of L1 reading and L2 proficiency.

Method

Participants were 147 high school Chinese English as a foreign language (EFL) learners (mean age = 17.8, SD = 0.48). They were assessed on their L2 reading comprehension, L1 reading comprehension, L2 proficiency (L2 vocabulary and L2 syntactic knowledge), strategy use and reading anxiety.

Results

Hierarchical regression model analyses showed that L1 reading significantly contributed to L2 reading comprehension in the presence of L2 proficiency. Strategy use and anxiety were significant predictors of L2 reading comprehension in the presence of L1 reading and L2 proficiency. Together, they accounted for 53% of the variance in L2 reading comprehension. L2 proficiency moderated the relations between L1 and L2 reading comprehension and strategy use and L2 reading comprehension but not the relation between anxiety and L2 reading comprehension.

Conclusions

Besides the well‐acknowledged L1 reading and L2 proficiency, strategy use and anxiety were also significant predictors of L2 reading comprehension, stressing the importance of these cognitive and affective factors in L2 reading. By revealing the moderating role of L2 proficiency, these findings deepen our understanding of the nature of the relations between L1 and L2 reading comprehension, strategy use and L2 reading comprehension.