bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detecting digital voice of customer anomalies to improve product quality tracking
Authors: Barravecchia Federico , Mastrogiacomo Luca , Franceschini Fiorenzo
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The aim of this study is to enhance the product quality management by proposing a framework for the classification of anomalies in digital voice of customer (VoC), i.e. user feedback on product/service usage gathered from online sources such as online reviews. By categorizing significant deviations in the content of digital VoC, the research seeks to provide actionable insights for quality improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

The study proposes the application of topic modeling algorithms, in particular the structural topic model, to large datasets of digital VoC, enabling the identification and classification of customer feedback into distinct topics. This approach helps to systematically analyze deviations from expected feedback patterns, providing early detection of potential quality issues or shifts in customer preferences. By focusing on anomalies in digital VoC, the study offers a dynamic framework for improving product quality and enhancing customer satisfaction.

Findings

The research categorizes anomalies into spike, level, trend and seasonal types, each with distinct characteristics and implications for quality management. Case studies illustrate how these anomalies can signal critical shifts in customer sentiment and behavior, highlighting the importance of targeted responses to maintain or enhance product quality.

Research limitations/implications

Despite its contributions, the study has some limitations. The reliance on historical data may not hold in rapidly changing markets. Additionally, text mining techniques may miss implicit customer sentiment.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that companies can enhance their quality tracking tools by digital VoC anomaly detection into their standard practices, potentially leading to more responsive and effective quality management systems.

Originality/value

This paper introduces a novel framework for interpreting digital VoC anomalies within the Quality 4.0 context. By integrating text mining techniques with traditional quality tracking, it offers a novel approach for leveraging customer feedback to drive continuous improvement.
Enhancing firm performance and sustainability through creativity-oriented HRM and quality management: the mediating role of commercialization in the IT sector
Authors: Adiguzel Zafer , Sonmez Cakir Fatma , Altay Morgul Umran
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The research examines the impact of creativity-oriented human resources management (HRM) and quality management (QM) on firm performance, social sustainability and environmental performance, focusing on the mediating role of commercialization.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 527 experts based in Istanbul with at least 5 years of experience in the information technologies (IT) sector. The sample includes a demographic distribution according to age ranges and educational qualifications. Using a survey containing 47 scales, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) analyzes were conducted through Jamovi 2.3.28.

Findings

The results show that both creativity-oriented HRM and QM positively affect commercialization. In addition, commercialization positively affects firm performance, social sustainability and environmental performance, thus establishing a mediating role in the relationship between management practices and performance results.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited to the IT sector in Istanbul, Turkey, and may not be generalizable to other regions or sectors. Future research may expand geographic and sectoral coverage to confirm and extend these findings.

Practical implications

Companies can leverage creative HRM and QM strategies not only to increase commercialization efforts but also to achieve superior firm performance, social sustainability and environmental outcomes. This highlights the strategic role of HR and quality initiatives in driving overall business success.

Social implications

In the research, it is stated that creativity-oriented HR is important to promote human capital as an important driver of performance improvement, supported by the resource-based view (RBV) theory. Also, by supporting the dynamic capabilities theory, by promoting quality and creativity, innovations can be better commercialized and both performance outcomes and sustainability results can be positively affected.

Originality/value

This research provides new insights into the mediating effects of commercialization between internal management practices and broad performance measures in the IT sector. It underlines the importance of promoting innovative HR and quality practices to achieve sustainable business performance.
Why people do not use MOOCs: an innovation resistance perspective
Authors: Pörzse Gábor , Kenesei Zsófia
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Even though the pandemic years resulted in a significant increase in massive open online courses (MOOCs), there are still countries where penetration is low. The rejection of MOOCs can inhibit individual and societal advancements. The purpose of this study is to explore what is behind the resistance to MOOCs in these regions. Using the theoretical framework of innovation resistance theory, it defines the factors that inhibit the adoption of MOOCs.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on two studies. In the first study, in-depth interviews were used to explore factors that may cause barriers to adoption. Following the results of the first phase, a survey was conducted to investigate resistance to MOOCs, including both users and nonusers of such platforms.

Findings

Structural equation modeling revealed the presence of functional and psychological barriers, with the most significant being usage and value-related barriers. The lack of information and the need for interaction were identified as the main factors contributing to these barriers.

Originality/value

The results help increase the acceptance and effective integration of MOOCs into different educational environments, especially in countries with high resistance.
Digital divides in nursing students: an exploration of the relationship between self-perceived digital competencies and digital barriers
Authors: Martzoukou Konstantina , Luders Errol Sadullah , Work Fiona , Kostagiolas Petros A. , Johnson Neil
Published: January 2025

Purpose

In the context of nursing in higher education, digital competencies are increasingly recognised as a necessary skillset, within a continuously evolving healthcare professional landscape. This study sought to explore nursing students’ digital competencies and to further understand the digital literacy gaps and barriers they encounter for both learning and future work.

Design/methodology/approach

The research involved a cross-sectional, discipline-based empirical study of nursing students’ self-assessed digital competencies via a questionnaire survey, which collected quantitative and qualitative data from a total of five hundred and fifty-three students. The study explored the role of demographics (age, urban/rural geographical location of growing up, study year, learning disabilities (neurodiversity)) and experiences of digital divides (e.g., access, contextual and behavioural barriers) play on students’ digital competencies and outcomes.

Findings

Students’ digital competencies were found at an intermediate level, with younger and first-year students self-assessing higher. Significant differences were identified between students who had encountered digital barriers/divides and those who had not, with the former, self-reporting lower digital competencies. Students with learning disabilities reported complex support needs for processing and organizing digital information and for productivity. Almost all the individual digital competencies items assessed had strong statistical correlations between them.

Originality/value

The research offers key recommendations for academic libraries for the ongoing, evolving exploration of students’ digital competencies and for the need to follow tailored, discipline-related, holistic, practice-based and curriculum-embedded approaches to students’ digital skills development and support. It provides novel insights into digital competencies development for nursing students, particularly those who experience digital divides.
Integrating DEMATEL-ISM-MICMAC: an interconnected model of halal-sustainable supply chain management (HSSCM) indicatorsfor SMEs
Authors: Primadasa Rangga , Kusrini Elisa , Mansur Agus , Masudin Ilyas
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to comprehensively identify and categorize key indicators for halal-sustainable supply chain management (HSSCM) tailored to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the food sector, emphasizing economic, environmental and social sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses integrated approaches such as decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory, interpretative structural model and MICMAC to investigate the interconnectedness between the economic, environmental, social and halal-specific criteria in the food sector for SMEs.

Findings

This study highlights 16 crucial indicators for HSSCM in SMEs within the food industry, organized into economic, environmental, social and halal-specific categories. The total relationship matrix shows important interdependencies between indicators, like operational costs and logistics, underscoring the necessity for a comprehensive management approach. Additionally, the cause-effect diagram and structural self-interaction matrix (SSIM) illustrate the hierarchical relationships among these indicators, aiding in strategic planning and decision-making.

Originality/value

This study integrates a broader range of indicators and reveals complex dependencies critical for managing halal supply chains effectively. This study also offers a robust framework for integrating halal practices and sustainability, supporting SMEs in adopting ethical, environmentally conscious business strategies.
A meta-analysis of perceived job alternatives and employee turnover: addressing the availability versus quality distinction
Authors: Harari Michael B. , Rubenstein Alex L. , McCombs Kate M. , Dennett Susan
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Perceived job alternatives (PJAs) play a central role in most theoretical models of employee turnover. However, the state of the empirical literature remains confused. The present study brings clarity to the literature via a meta-analytic review, delineating the key theoretical and empirical differences between perceived alternative availability (PAA) and perceived alternative quality (PAQ).

Design/methodology/approach

Using meta-analysis, we estimate correlations for PAA and PAQ and turnover behavior, as well as with each other, allowing us to examine their joint and unique predictive validity.

Findings

Although PAA (r = 0.15) and PAQ (r = 0.22) exhibited somewhat similar correlations with turnover, relative weight analysis revealed that the effect of PJA on turnover was nearly three times stronger for PAQ than for PAA.

Originality/value

Our work is the first systematic attempt to disentangle the relative contributions of alternative availability versus alternative quality in predicting turnover, offering implications for theory, empirical research and practice.
The relation between governance and growth in small and midsize family farms: proposal for a new transition model
Authors: Lepage Fanny , Tarillon Caroline
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study explores the interplay between governance and growth in privately held, family-run small and midsize enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

We used an abductive, exploratory and longitudinal methodology, using data from two semi-structured interviews and an online questionnaire completed by 17 owner-managers of family farms in Quebec, Canada.

Findings

The study highlights the crucial role of corporate governance in facilitating the growth of family farms. The findings indicate that implementing formal governance mechanisms early in a firm’s lifecycle can significantly facilitate growth. Three distinct phases of corporate governance were identified, with governance either concurrently or sequentially related to growth, depending on the phase. Farms progressed to a new lifecycle phase when gaps arose between their growth trajectory and their human and organizational capacities or due to changes in ownership or generational turnover.

Practical implications

The findings indicate that, to foster growth, farmers should proactively establish formal governance mechanisms from the onset, tailored to their specific growth objectives. Recommended practices include financial, strategic and investment planning; delegating operational responsibilities and the creation of governance bodies, such as family councils or boards.

Originality/value

This study advances our understanding of corporate governance lifecycles by confirming the dynamic relationship between growth and governance in private, family-run enterprises, including during the early stages of development.
Re-entry intentions of failed entrepreneurs: the roles of social support and resilience
Authors: Al-alawi Alamir , Amjed Sohail , Haddoud Mohamed Yacine , Soliman Mohammad
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The primary objective of this investigation is to explore the factors that lead to entrepreneurial re-entry. The study examines the influence of social support and resilience on re-entry intention through the lens of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB).

Design/methodology/approach

To test the study model, data were collected from 255 failed Omani entrepreneurs accessed during a rehabilitation and incubation programme.

Findings

Key findings indicate that social support boosts the confidence of failed entrepreneurs to start anew and enhances their resilience, ultimately leading to the development of re-entry intentions.

Originality/value

The field of entrepreneurship research has expanded significantly in recent years. Nevertheless, there remains a dearth of studies focusing on entrepreneurial re-entry. This research provides a unique perspective on the cognitive processes that influence re-entry entrepreneurial behaviour, highlighting the roles of social support and resilience among entrepreneurs in this process.
Government constraints: influences on irregularities in the energy sector
Authors: Guo Wenqiang , Lu Yuchen , Lei Ming , Liang Yunze , Zhao Jinyan
Published: January 2025

Purpose

To address the various irregularities that occurred during the development of China’s electricity market, particularly the issue of collusive pricing between upstream and downstream firms.

Design/methodology/approach

This study constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model involving government regulators, grid operators and power producers to address electricity market pricing chaos. By analyzing the stable strategies within each subject’s evolutionary game, adjustments to the relevant parameters are made to achieve a stable state of strategy selection.

Findings

The findings of this study indicate the following: (1) Enhancing the government’s rewards and punishments, increasing speculation and rent-seeking costs for grid operators and modifying tariff sales revenue can promote the integrity of grid operators. (2) Establishing reasonable incentives and penalties can effectively mitigate rent-seeking behaviors resulting from collusive pricing in the power industry. (3) Strengthening the accountability of higher authorities to government regulators and adjusting incentives for grid operators to comply and generators to refrain from rent-seeking behavior can increase the likelihood of rigorous inspections by government regulators.

Originality/value

This study elucidates the impact of factors such as the cost of speculation and sales revenue of grid operators, the cost of rent-seeking by power producers and the strength of rewards and punishments by government departments on the power sector. Adjusting these factors can significantly influence the stability of the three-party evolutionary game, providing valuable insights into the regulatory mechanisms of the power industry.
Practical relevance of innovativeness: a mixed-method field study on the role of strategic orientation and strategic learning in the hospitality industry
Authors: Elbanna Said , Elsharnouby Tamer H.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Despite the well-documented relationship between innovativeness and performance, the roles of strategic orientation and strategic learning within this relationship remain underexplored. This study aims to contribute to bridging this gap by leveraging organizational learning theory and the resource-based view. We explore how strategic orientation and strategic learning interact with innovativeness to enhance firm performance, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of these complex interrelations.

Design/methodology/approach

We conducted a mixed-method field study, beginning by collecting survey responses from senior managers at 165 four- and five-star hotels across four Gulf Cooperation Council countries. After analyzing this data, we conducted five in-depth interviews with managers to further explore specific research questions that our initial deductive analysis did not address.

Findings

The study results, including a post hoc analysis of in-depth interviews, show that strategic learning and innovativeness are critical success factors for hotels. Unexpectedly, strategic orientation did not play a significant role in this study, and it seems that hotels facing hostile market conditions, such as pandemics and political crises, become more oriented to focus on short-term initiatives to help them survive.

Practical implications

In the post-COVID-19 era, hotels are recognizing the significance of embracing innovations like biometric technology to ensure seamless and safe customer experiences. Managers need to cultivate an innovative culture through strategic learning, supported by evidence of its positive impact on service performance. Enhancing innovativeness in hospitality requires understanding key drivers and fostering organizational contexts conducive to innovation. Incorporating strategic orientation with strategic learning is essential for successful innovation and improved hotel performance, presenting a challenge for both scholars and managers.

Originality/value

This study underscores the importance of strategic learning in enhancing hotel performance through innovativeness, emphasizing its role as a critical mediator in the hospitality industry’s dynamic landscape.
Experimental investigation of antimicrobial activity of sodium caseinate-gelatin probiotic film for improving the shelf life of rainbow trout fill
Authors: Farahbakhsh Kargosha Mohammad , Motallebi Abbasali , Rahimi Ebrahim , Shakerian Amir , Kazemeini Hamidreza
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to prepare probiotic sodium caseinate-gelatin films containing Lactobacillus paracasei, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Lactobacillus plantarum, and evaluate their application on the microbiological, chemical, mechanical and sensory properties of rainbow trout fillets during 12 days of refrigerated storage.

Design/methodology/approach

The physical, chemical and mechanical properties of the designed films were assessed. In addition, the rainbow trout fillets were examined for microbiological, chemical parameters and sensory attributes.

Findings

According to the results, a negative correlation was found between the survival of probiotic bacteria and the storage time of the films. The counts of L. paracasei, B. bifidum and L. plantarum showed a decreasing trend during the study, starting from (2.9, 3.9 and 1.9 log CFU/g, respectively) at day 0 and reaching (6.79, 5.84 and 6.14 log CFU/g, respectively) at the end of the study (day 12).

Originality/value

It was observed that the sodium caseinate-gelatin probiotic films delayed the microbial growth in rainbow trout fillets compared to the control group. Furthermore, significant differences in chemical changes were found in all treated fish fillets compared to the untreated group.
Service quality cost management in Japanese call centers: study using preventive-appraisal-failure model
Authors: Aramaki Masaru
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study uses the preventive-appraisal-failure (PAF) model to investigate the quality-cost behavior of call centers specializing in customer support, complaint handling and other telephone-based customer-service operations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study conducted a mail questionnaire survey among call center companies in Japan and analyzed the quantitative data of 37 valid responses. Factors were derived from observed variables obtained through the survey using exploratory factor analysis.

Findings

The study found that prevention costs exhibited a trade-off with external-failure costs. Also, appraisal costs demonstrated a positive correlation with internal-failure costs and acted as the indicators of internal failure. Supervisory control impacted both external and internal-failure costs. A positive relationship between internal and external-failure costs was suggested for the management of the quality cost of call centers.

Research limitations/implications

This study has three limitations: the representativeness of the sample, the validity of the questions developed by the author and the need for additional qualitative research. Future research should explore the management of service-quality costs in call centers.

Practical implications

This study recommends reducing prevention costs that increase external-failure costs and increasing prevention costs that reduce external-failure costs. Additionally, enhancing supervisor management can mitigate external and internal-failure costs.

Originality/value

This study is the first to identify the relationship between quality and cost behaviors in call centers within the context of service studies, where quality-cost management has been underexplored.
Elongator subunit Elp3 regulates reproduction in Tribolium castaneum by interacting with FOXO
Authors: Ge Huichen , Wei Jiaping , Guan Daojie , Wang Zhichao , Li Hai , Zhang Hainan , Qian Kun , Wang Jianjun
Published: January 2025

As the catalytic subunit of the Elongator complex, Elongator protein 3 (Elp3) plays a crucial role in multiple physiological processes, including growth, development and immune responses. Previous studies on Elp3 have focused on Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, Homo sapiens (human) or Mus musculus (mouse), whereas there are few reports on Elp3 in agricultural pests. Here, the role of TcElp3 in reproduction in the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, was investigated, and the underlying mechanisms were explored. The results showed that RNA interference (RNAi)‐mediated knockdown of TcElp3 in female pupae led to decreased fecundity in female adults. Consistently, the injection of dsTcElp3 into female pupae decreased the mRNA levels of the vitellogenin (Vg)‐encoding genes TcVg1 and TcVg2 in female adults. Notably, knockdown of TcElp3 upregulated the expression of forkhead box protein O (FOXO) at both the mRNA and the protein level in T. castaneum, and promoted the nuclear translocation of TcFOXO. Additionally, TcElp3 directly interacts with TcFOXO and the silencing of TcElp3 significantly decreased the acetylation level of TcFOXO. Overall, our studies reveal that Elp3 regulates beetle reproduction by interacting with FOXO and modulating its acetylation status.
Association Between COVID‐19 Pandemic Phases and the Risk of Maternal Intensive Care Unit Admission: A Retrospective Analysis of 215,363 Victorian Hospital Admissions
Authors: Barrese Michele , Marzan Melvin B. , Hui Lisa
Published: January 2025

Background

There are no published Australian population‐based data on serious COVID‐19‐associated maternal morbidity before and after widespread vaccination.

Aims

To compare COVID‐19 infection rates, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and length of stay in hospitalised pregnant patients before and after achieving 70% state‐wide maternal COVID‐19 vaccination coverage.

Material and Methods

Population‐based retrospective cohort study involving all hospital‐admitted episodes for pregnant patients over 15‐years‐old with COVID‐19 in Victoria from 1 March 2020 to 31 March 2022. Phase 1 was defined as March 2020—October 2021 when maternal vaccination coverage < 70%; Phase 2 was defined as November 2021–March 2022 when maternal vaccination coverage ≥ 70%. Primary outcomes include COVID‐19 rates, ICU admission rates, and length of stay. A p‐value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

We analysed 215,363 hospital admissions, among which 2,128 (0.99%) had COVID‐19. The percentage of admitted pregnant patients with COVID‐19 was higher in Phase 2 than Phase 1 (3.27% vs. 0.41% respectively, p < 0.001). However, Phase 2 was associated with lower maternal ICU admission rates (2.02% vs. 5.39%, p < 0.001) and lower median length of stay (2.19 vs. 3.11 days, p < 0.001) compared with Phase 1. The risk of COVID‐19 was significantly lower in socioeconomically advantaged pregnant patients (aRR = 0.83 [95% CI, 0.76–0.90], p < 0.001) and pregnant patients ≥ 30‐years‐old (aRR = 0.81 [95% CI, 0.74–0.88], p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Maternal ICU admission risk and length of stay were significantly lower among pregnant patients with COVID‐19 during Phase 2, which is likely due to the combined effects of high maternal COVID‐19 vaccination coverage and changes in SARS‐CoV‐2 variants.
Targeting Cancer‐Associated Fibroblasts: Eliminate or Reprogram?
Authors: Yamazaki Masaya , Ishimoto Takatsugu
Published: January 2025

Cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key components of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Given their various roles in tumor progression and treatment resistance, CAFs are promising therapeutic targets in cancer. The elimination of tumor‐promoting CAFs has been investigated in various animal models to determine whether it effectively suppresses tumor growth. Based on recent evidence, several simple strategies have been proposed to eliminate tumor‐promoting CAFs and attenuate these features. In addition, attention has focused on the critical role that CAFs play in the immunosuppressive TME. Therefore, the functional reprogramming of CAFs in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors has also been investigated as a possible therapeutic approach. However, although potential targets in CAFs have been widely characterized, the plasticity and heterogeneity of CAFs complicate the understanding of their properties and present difficulties for clinical application. Moreover, the identification of tumor‐suppressive CAFs highlights the necessity for the development of therapeutic approaches that can distinguish and switch between tumor‐promoting and tumor‐suppressive CAFs in an appropriate manner. In this review, we introduce the origins and diversity of CAFs, their role in cancer, and current therapeutic strategies aimed at targeting CAFs, including ongoing clinical evaluations.
Labeling and sorting of avian primordial germ cells utilizing Lycopersicon Esculentum lectin
Authors: Iikawa Hiroko , Nishina Aika , Morita Mizuki , Atsuta Yuji , Hayashi Yoshiki , Saito Daisuke
Published: January 2025

Avian species are essential resources for human society, with their preservation and utilization heavily dependent on primordial germ cells (PGCs). However, efficient methods for isolating live PGCs from embryos remain elusive in avian species beyond chickens, and even in chickens, existing techniques have shown limited efficiency. In this study, we present a rapid, simple, and cost‐effective method for labeling and sorting circulating‐stage PGCs across various avian species, including Carinatae and Ratitae, using Lycopersicon Esculentum (Tomato) lectin (LEL). Notably, this method demonstrates high sorting efficiency by identifying a wide range of PGC subtypes while preserving the proliferative and migratory potential of chicken PGCs. This approach is anticipated to significantly contribute to the conservation, research, and agricultural industries related to avian species globally.
The predictive value of estimated glucose disposal rate and its association with myocardial infarction, heart failure, atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke
Authors: Huang Hao , Xiong Yan , Zhou Jie , Tang Yijia , Chen Fuli , Li Gang , Huang Hui , Zhou Long
Published: January 2025

Aims

The relationship between the incidence of major cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR), a proxy measurement for insulin resistance (IR), is not well understood in the general population. The predictive value of eGDR and other proxies of IR for CVD incidents have not been examined in previous studies. This study aimed to investigate the association between eGDR and various CVD events, including myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure (HF), atrial fibrillation (AF) and ischemic stroke. Additionally, the predictive values of eGDR, triglyceride‐glucose (TyG) index, TyG‐waist circumference (WC), TyG‐body mass index (BMI), TyG‐waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR), triglyceride (TG)‐to‐high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) ratio (TG/HDL‐C) and the metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS‐IR) for CVD events were compared.

Methods

The study population was extracted from the UK Biobank, and the CVD events were documented by linking to hospital records. Cox proportional hazards model and the restricted cubic spline model were used to assess the association between eGDR and the risk of CVDs with adjustment for potential confounders. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to compare the predictive values of eGDR, TyG, TyG‐WC, TyG‐BMI, TyG‐WHtR, TG/HDL‐C and METS‐IR.

Results

A total of 360 953 participants were included in this study. During a median follow‐up of 13.8 years, 12 698 MI, 10 360 HF, 23 638 AF and 6512 ischemic stroke events were documented. Compared with participants in the lowest quartile category of eGDR, those in the highest quartile category had the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.59 (0.51–0.67) for MI, 0.66 (0.56–0.76) for HF, 0.88 (0.80–0.98) for AF and 0.73 (0.61–0.89) for ischemic stroke. eGDR outperformed TyG, TyG‐WC, TyG‐BMI, TyG‐WHtR, TG/HDL‐C and METS‐IR in terms of predicting MI (AUC: 0.661), HF (AUC: 0.690), AF (AUC: 0.653) and ischemic stroke (AUC: 0.646).

Conclusions

eGDR was inversely associated with the incidence of MI, HF, AF and ischemic stroke in the general population. eGDR could serve as a more valuable predictive indicator than TyG, TyG‐WC, TyG‐BMI, TyG‐WHtR, TG/HDL‐C and METS‐IR for CVD events in clinical practice.
Rural Entrepreneurship in the Face of Geodemographic Challenges
Authors: Fuertes‐Callén Yolanda , Cuéllar‐Fernández Beatriz , Serrano‐Magdalena Adriana
Published: January 2025

Rural entrepreneurs face significant obstacles due to factors such as sparse population, low density, aging population, remoteness from markets and financial providers, inadequate infrastructure, and challenging geographic conditions. These factors contribute to rural disadvantage, fueling rural depopulation. Governments often attempt to address rural depopulation by supporting entrepreneurship, but eligibility criteria vary widely. This paper develops a model of rural entrepreneurship liability explained by municipal demographic and geographic factors. We analyzed the geographical distribution of all companies established in Spain since 2012, along with the attributes of the municipalities where they are headquartered. While working‐age municipal population is the primary factor in determining rural entrepreneurship liability, network coverage, altitude, and population variation also play noteworthy roles. Geographic constraints have a significant negative impact on entrepreneurship, but their influence is mitigated by the working‐age municipal population, highlighting the unique challenges faced by rural entrepreneurs. One policy implication of our findings is that governments could consider using this model to allocate grants based on the actual difficulty of undertaking entrepreneurship in each municipality.
Fracture of ion‐exchange‐strengthened thin cover glass investigated using a phase‐field model
Authors: Wang Wei , Wang Jiaxuan , Xu Junjun , Wang Jianbiao , Ruan Haihui
Published: January 2025

Ion‐exchange‐(IOX)‐strengthened cover glass has been used ubiquitously in portable electronics to keep them from impact damage. However, a quantitative relation between residual‐stress profile and fracture strength remains elusive because the experimental data are significantly scattered caused by the uncertainty in the severity of surface flaws. Therefore, we propose a phase‐field fracture model (PFFM) to study the detailed fracture processes and the shielding effect of surface compressive stress (CS) on a pre‐existing surface flaw. In particular, we discussed the strengthening efficiency due to different combinations of surface CS and the depth of layer (DOL) under compression based on the ring‐on‐ring (ROR) and ball‐drop (BD) tests. The simulated contour maps of fracture strength and BD height indicate that in ROR experiments, a higher surface CS is more decisive in crack inhibition and that in BD experiments, DOL is more important.
The Potential of an Artificially Ultraviolet B Irradiated Hay as a Source of Vitamin D
Authors: Opsomer Han , Clauss Marcus , Liesegang Annette , Hatt Jean‐Michel , Mäkitaipale Johanna
Published: January 2025

Roughage can be a significant source of vitamin D in herbivore diets. The vitamin D content of forages can vary considerably and depends, among others, on plant species, plant maturity and climate fluctuations. Ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure causes conversion of provitamin D to vitamin D and thus represents the most important influence. To characterise this effect, two batches of a young‐cut roughage of high hygienic and nutritional quality were exposed to constant artificial UVB‐irradiation up to 192 h and were sampled at regular intervals. In previous studies, both ergocalciferol (vitamin D2), cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) and/or their metabolites have been detected in plants. Therefore, the present roughage was analysed for both D2 and D3. Whereas cholecalciferol never exceeded the detection limit of 0.25 µg/100 g, ergocalciferol increased from 2.22 µg to 19.15 µg/100 g dry matter in a time‐dependent manner. Additionally, the values indicate an interplay with other factors not investigated in this study, for example, leaf‐stem‐ratio in the different samples. The high amounts of ergocalciferol in the experimental roughage after UVB‐exposure confirm the value of hay as a vitamin D source for managed herbivores. The quick rise with time cautions against neglecting UVB‐irradiation's effect on feed, both in practical as well as in experimental settings.
The differences in intestinal microbiota between common and orange‐muscle of Haliotis gigantea and dietary influences on abalone's intestinal microbiota
Authors: Wei Xiaohui , Zeng Wencui , Tang Bin , Huang Miaoqin , Luo Xuan , Ke Caihuan
Published: January 2025

Compared with common abalone, the orange‐muscle abalone (Haliotis gigantea) has an enhanced ability to accumulate carotenoids. Feeding on asparagus (Gracilaria lemaneiformis) was critical for maintaining carotenoid contents in H. gigantea muscles. However, whether intestinal microbes play the role in carotenoid accumulation in different colored abalone, and the effects of different diets on intestinal microbes in abalone are unknown. In the study, the differences in intestinal microbiota between abalone with different colors and the effects of different diets on the intestinal microbiota of the abalone were analyzed. The results showed that (1) there was no significant difference in intestinal microbial community composition between the orange‐muscle abalone and the common abalone, and (2) the intestinal microbial community composition of abalone fed on asparagus was significantly different from that of abalone fed on kelp (Laminaria japonica). At the genus level, the relative abundance of Psychrilyobacter in the intestinal tract of abalone fed with asparagus was significantly higher than that of kelp‐fed groups. Stenotrophomonas and Vibrio were the dominant bacteria at the genus level in abalone fed with the kelp. This result excluded the role of intestinal microbes in different colored abalone and provided clues for further study of the coloration mechanism of abalone.
How to Teach Clinical Reasoning in the Context of Rare Diseases in Undergraduate Medical Education
Authors: Feigerlova Eva
Published: January 2025

While rare diseases are individually rare, they are collectively common. Physicians are likely to see patients presenting with rare diseases during their medical practice. Despite the fact that rare diseases present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, they are not sufficiently addressed by undergraduate medical curricula. The need to train medical students has been expressed by stakeholders in several countries. Moreover, among the objectives of the World Health Organization are to reduce a diagnostic time, decrease diagnostic errors and ensure the provision of multidisciplinary care. We have initiated an educational module aspiring to enhance understanding of rare diseases among undergraduate medical students. Based on our experience, on the literature data and related learning theories, this document presents some tips on how to foster training of undergraduate medical students in the context of rare diseases.
Moving Beyond Teaching Skill Curriculum: Development of a Distinction in Medical Education Track
Authors: Strouse Jennifer , Rowat Jane , Sanders M. Lee , Antes Lisa , Suneja Manish
Published: January 2025

Background

Most postgraduate medical education tracks are faculty‐led and emphasise teaching skills. A peer‐to‐peer medical education track focused on curriculum development and scholarship is notably underrepresented in the literature, especially within graduate medical education.

To address these gaps, a 2‐year Distinction in Medical Education (DIME) track was developed. The aim of this report was to (1) describe the inception and structure of the DIME track, (2) assess the effectiveness of a peer‐to‐peer instructional model and (3) evaluate the track's success in generating scholarly work in medical education.

Approach

Residents engage in structured workshops using a flipped classroom approach. Interactive sessions utilising Kern's Curriculum allow first‐year DIME participants to learn principles of curricular development. As residents transition into their second year, they are responsible for facilitating and leading curricular development workshops, transforming from learners to teachers. Each participant also designs and executes a scholarly project focused on medical education with longitudinal mentorship.

Evaluation

Since 2020, five cohorts (n = 20) have participated in the DIME track. We evaluated the program using a mixed‐methods approach. Quantitative analysis showed that 10 resident‐led projects were integrated into undergraduate medical education and seven into graduate medical education curricula. Qualitative feedback from surveys and focus groups identified key themes, emphasising the value of the program's core components.

Implications

DIME's success goes beyond teaching skills; it involves learning and teaching the principles of curricular development to peers as well as applying principles of curricular development to tangible scholarly projects. The track's focus on educational scholarship is a measurable outcome.
All we know about anechoic chambers
Authors: Vorländer Michael
Published: January 2025

The Reflections series takes a look back on historical articles from The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America that have had a significant impact on the science and practice of acoustics.
Inflammatory and Oxidative Patterns Regulated by Theracurmin Intake in an Experimental Model of Hypertrophic Training and Detraining
Authors: Pontes Washington Martins , Louise Vitória , Menezes Tatiana Prata , Costa Guilherme de Paula , Oliveira Daniel Malta , Pio Sirlaine , Dias Fernanda Carolina Ribeiro , Ervilha Luiz Otávio Guimarães , Castro Maria Laura da Cruz , Souza Patrícia Regina Soares de , Costa Daniela Caldeira , Pinto Kelerson Mauro de Castro , Talvani André
Published: January 2025

Dietary supplements have improved performance and muscle hypertrophy in athletes and nonathletes in the past few decades. Theracurmin, a nutraceutical supplement based on curcumin, has been highlighted by its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in physiological and pathological conditions. This study aimed to investigate the effects of theracurmin intake (300 mg/kg), containing 30 mg/kg of curcumin, in male Swiss mice (n = 66) under distinct protocols of climbing stairs (strength exercise) and their respective detraining period. Animals, aged 7–9 weeks, were trained for 8 weeks (5 days/week), with a minimum interval of 24 hr between each session, followed by a 4-week detraining period. After euthanasia, skeletal muscle hypertrophy was evaluated through histological analysis. Tissue inflammatory release of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, and chemokine C–C motif ligand 2, as well as the activity of oxidative stress enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and lipid peroxidation), were also assessed. In trained animals, inflammatory mediators and skeletal muscle mass increased after training (p = .0004). Theracurmin did not revert the muscle hypertrophy, but it decreased tissue chemokine C–C motif ligand 2 (p = .0001) and lipid peroxidation (p < .0001) after strength training and after detraining (p = .0008 and p = .001, respectively). Tissue tumor necrosis factor was only reduced during the detraining period (p = .037), whereas IL-6 (p = .0001) and IL-10 (p < .0001) increased after the training protocol. No differences were observed in catalase and superoxide dismutase. Our data suggest that theracurmin intake contributes to the reduction of tissue inflammatory mediators during strength training and/or detraining without essential activity on skeletal muscle hypertrophy.
Engineering synthetic phosphorylation signaling networks in human cells
Authors: Yang Xiaoyu , Rocks Jason W. , Jiang Kaiyi , Walters Andrew J. , Rai Kshitij , Liu Jing , Nguyen Jason , Olson Scott D. , Mehta Pankaj , Collins James J. , Daringer Nichole M. , Bashor Caleb J.
Published: January 2025

Protein phosphorylation signaling networks have a central role in how cells sense and respond to their environment. We engineered artificial phosphorylation networks in which reversible enzymatic phosphorylation cycles were assembled from modular protein domain parts and wired together to create synthetic phosphorylation circuits in human cells. Our design scheme enabled model-guided tuning of circuit function and the ability to make diverse network connections; synthetic phosphorylation circuits can be coupled to upstream cell surface receptors to enable fast-timescale sensing of extracellular ligands, and downstream connections can regulate gene expression. We engineered cell-based cytokine controllers that dynamically sense and suppress activated T cells. Our work introduces a generalizable approach that allows the design of signaling circuits that enable user-defined sense-and-respond function for diverse biosensing and therapeutic applications.
Organic ionic plastic crystals having colossal barocaloric effects for sustainable refrigeration
Authors: Piper Samantha L. , Melag Leena , Kar Mega , Sourjah Azra , Xiao Xiong , May Eric F. , Aguey-Zinsou Kondo-Francois , MacFarlane Douglas R. , Pringle Jennifer M.
Published: January 2025

Barocaloric (BC) materials offer the potential for highly energy-efficient refrigeration by generating heat absorption through the effect of pressure on a solid-solid phase transition. However, very few of the known materials have the required phase transition in the temperature regions necessary for domestic refrigeration or air conditioning. We introduce organic ionic plastic crystals (OIPCs) as a new family of BC materials. OIPCs display subambient transition temperatures, so-called “colossal” entropy changes (92 to 240 joules per kilogram per kelvin), and a high sensitivity to pressure, up to 23.7 kelvin per kilobar. The BC responses achieved with these prototype OIPC-BCs are tunable through structural modification of the ions; this wide matrix of possible combinations of structure and function indicates the scope of OIPCs as a new class of material for efficient and sustainable cooling technologies.
Hidden human costs of AI
Waiting for Robots: The Hired Hands of Automation
Antonio A. Casilli
University of Chicago Press, 2025. 336 pp.
Authors: Greenbaum Dov , Gerstein Mark
Published: January 2025

A sociologist interrogates the invisible labor that underlies “autonomous” systems
Compressed ionic plastic crystals are cool
Authors: Tamarit Josep-Lluís , Lloveras Pol
Published: January 2025

A family of materials exhibits a large thermal response at subambient temperatures
Disentangling the drivers of wildfires
Authors: Gan Jianbang
Published: January 2025

The risk of wildfires varies across regions with different vegetation
U.S. agencies roll out free paper-access policies
Authors: Brainard Jeffrey
Published: January 2025

NIH and DOE are first to act, with implementation by all set to begin by end of this year
Care urged for animal remains tied to Indigenous peoples
Authors: Heidt Amanda
Published: January 2025

Recommendations stress tracing and respecting links between communities and animal remains such as bones
Artifacts at Cardiac MRI: Imaging Appearances and Solutions
Authors: Rajiah Prabhakar Shantha , Sundaram Baskaran , Ng Ming Yen , Ranganath Praveen , Araoz Philip A. , Bolen Michael A.
Published: January 2025

Cardiac MRI is a vital imaging modality for assessing cardiovascular diseases, and its technical challenges can lead to artifacts, making the recognition and mitigation of these artifacts critical for successful cardiac MRI.
Nuclear Medicine Imaging in Epilepsy
Authors: Sriwastwa Aakanksha , Trout Andrew Timothy , Mahoney Bruce Wayne , Wang Lily L. , Scheler Jennifer L.
Published: January 2025

In patients with medically refractory epilepsy, PET and SPECT have essential roles in localizing the seizure focus and defining the functional extent of the focus before surgical resection for potential seizure freedom and minimal neurocognitive deficit.
From the Editor: Happy Trails, Bill Eggers (and a Bubba Update)
Authors: Kelly Robert G.
Published: January 2025

Anyone who uses electrochemical instrumentation knows Bill Eggers of BioLogic USA.
Websites of Note - Winter 2024
Authors: Suroviec Alice H.
Published: January 2025

Websites of Note selected for you by Alice Suroviec
In Situ Simultaneous Neutron and X-ray Tomography of Solid-Solid interfaces in Anode-Free Solid state Batteries
Authors: Yusuf Maha
Published: January 2025

2024 ECS Colin Garfield Fink Research Fellowship – Summary Report
Table S7 from H4K20me3-Mediated Repression of Inflammatory Genes Is a Characteristic and Targetable Vulnerability of Persister Cancer Cells
Authors: Ramponi Valentina , Richart Laia , Kovatcheva Marta , Stephan-Otto Attolini Camille , Capellades Jordi , Lord Alice E. , Yanes Oscar , Ficz Gabriella , Serrano Manuel
Published: January 2025

Survival genes identified by whole genome CRISPR/Cas9 screening in INK128-treated mESCs and vehicle mESCs.
Table S5 from H4K20me3-Mediated Repression of Inflammatory Genes Is a Characteristic and Targetable Vulnerability of Persister Cancer Cells
Authors: Ramponi Valentina , Richart Laia , Kovatcheva Marta , Stephan-Otto Attolini Camille , Capellades Jordi , Lord Alice E. , Yanes Oscar , Ficz Gabriella , Serrano Manuel
Published: January 2025

Differentially expressed genes commonly downregulated in INK128 treated A549 and SK-Mel-147 cells with a p value <0.05.