bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is Everyone Beating Around the Bush?: A Qualitative Study Examining the Status of Shared Decision-Making Between Veterans Affairs Providers and Surgical Patients in the ICU
Authors: Millis M. Andrew , Vitous C. Ann , Ferguson Cara , Marzoughi Maedeh , Kim Erin , Bradley Sarah E. , Duby Ashley , Suwanabol Pasithorn A.
Published: March 2024

Objective:

We sought to determine if and how providers use elements of shared decision-making (SDM) in the care of surgical patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Background:

SDM is the gold standard for decision-making in the ICU. However, it is unknown if this communication style is used in caring for critically ill surgical patients.

Methods:

Qualitative interviews were conducted with providers who provide ICU-level care to surgical patients in Veterans Affairs hospitals. Interviews were designed to examine end-of-life care among veterans who have undergone surgery and require ICU-level care.

Results:

Forty-eight providers across 14 Veterans Affairs hospitals were interviewed. These participants were diverse with respect to age, race, and sex. Participant dialogue was deductively mapped into 8 established SDM components: describing treatment options; determining roles in the decision-making process; fostering partnerships; health care professional preferences; learning about the patient; patient preferences; supporting the decision-making process; and tailoring the information. Within these components, participants shared preferred tools and tactics used to satisfy a given SDM component. Participants also noted numerous barriers to achieving SDM among surgical patients.

Conclusions:

Providers use elements of SDM when caring for critically ill surgical patients. Additionally, this work identifies facilitators that can be leveraged and barriers that can be addressed to facilitate better communication and decision-making through SDM. These findings are of value for future interventions that seek to enhance SDM among surgical patients both in the ICU and in other settings.
Rectal Cancer Survival for Residual Carcinoma In Situ Vs. Pathologic Complete Response After Neoadjuvant Therapy
Authors: Kohrman Nathan M. , Wlodarczyk Jordan R. , Ding Li , McAndrew Nicholas P. , Algaze Sandra D. , Cologne Kyle G. , Lee Sang W. , Koller Sarah E
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND:

Pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for rectal cancer is associated with improved survival. It is unclear whether residual carcinoma in situ portends a similar outcome.

OBJECTIVE:

To compare survival of patients with locally advanced rectal cancer who received neoadjuvant therapy and achieved pathologic carcinoma in situ versus pathologic complete response.

DESIGN:

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING:

National public database.

PATIENTS:

A total of 4,594 patients in the National Cancer Database from 2006 to 2016 with locally advanced rectal cancer who received neoadjuvant therapy, underwent surgery, and had node-negative, ypTis or ypT0 on final pathology were included. 4,321 (94.1%) had ypT0 and 273 (5.9%) had ypTis on final pathology.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Overall survival.

RESULTS:

Median age was 60 years. 1,822 patients (39.7%) were female. 54.5% (n = 2,503) had stage II disease and 45.5% (n = 2,091) had stage III disease on initial staging. The ypTis group had decreased overall survival compared to the ypT0 group (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.04-1.95, p = 0.028). Other factors associated with decreased overall survival were an older age at diagnosis, increasing Charlson-Deyo score, and poorly differentiated tumor grade. Variables associated with improved survival were female sex, private insurance, and receipt of both neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy. For the total cohort, there was no difference in survival between clinical stage 2 versus stage 3.

LIMITATIONS:

Standard therapy versus total neoadjuvant therapy were unable to be abstracted. Overall survival was defined as time from surgery to death from any cause or last contact, allowing for some erroneously misclassified deaths.

CONCLUSIONS:

ypTis is associated with worse overall survival than ypT0 for locally advanced rectal cancer patients who receive neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy followed by surgery. For this cohort, clinical stage was not a significant predictor of survival. Prospective trials comparing survival for these pathologic outcomes are needed. See Video Abstract.
177Lu-DOTATATE Salvage Therapy in Rapidly Progressing Neuroendocrine Tumor With Poor Performance Status
Authors: Aggarwal Piyush , Kumar Ajay , Sood Ashwani , Walia Rama , Bhadada Sanjay Kumar , Mittal Bhagwant Rai
Published: March 2024

Peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) has shown to be effective and safe in metastatic gastroenteropancreatic and nongastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. However, the selection criteria for PRRT are restricted to patients with good performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score ≤2 or Karnofsky performance score ≥60). This denies many patients with adequate somatostatin receptor expression and biochemical profiles from the beneficial effects of PRRT on the quality of life, daily function, and overall survival. The 2 cases highlight the favorable response of PRRT in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumor having a very poor performance status initially.
Innate immunity in
Aedes
mosquitoes: from pathogen resistance to shaping the microbiota
Authors: Hixson Bretta , Chen Robin , Buchon Nicolas
Published: March 2024

Discussions of host–microbe interactions in mosquito vectors are frequently dominated by a focus on the human pathogens they transmit (e.g.
Plasmodium
parasites and arboviruses). Underlying the interactions between a vector and its transmissible pathogens, however, is the physiology of an insect living and interacting with a world of bacteria and fungi including commensals, mutualists and primary and opportunistic pathogens. Here we review what is known about the bacteria and fungi associated with mosquitoes, with an emphasis on the members of the
Aedes
genus. We explore the reciprocal effects of microbe on mosquito, and mosquito on microbe. We analyse the roles of bacterial and fungal symbionts in mosquito development, their effects on vector competence, and their potential uses as biocontrol agents and vectors for paratransgenesis. We explore the compartments of the mosquito gut, uncovering the regionalization of immune effectors and modulators, which create the zones of resistance and immune tolerance with which the mosquito host controls and corrals its microbial symbionts. We examine the anatomical patterning of basally expressed antimicrobial peptides. Finally, we review the relationships between inducible antimicrobial peptides and canonical immune signalling pathways, comparing and contrasting current knowledge on each pathway in mosquitoes to the model insect
Drosophila melanogaster
.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Sculpting the microbiome: how host factors determine and respond to microbial colonization’.
The importance of host physical niches for the stability of gut microbiome composition
Authors: Ludington William B.
Published: March 2024

Gut bacteria are prevalent throughout the Metazoa and form complex microbial communities associated with food breakdown, nutrient provision and disease prevention. How hosts acquire and maintain a consistent bacterial flora remains mysterious even in the best-studied animals, including humans, mice, fishes, squid, bugs, worms and flies. This essay visits the evidence that hosts have co-evolved relationships with specific bacteria and that some of these relationships are supported by specialized physical niches that select, sequester and maintain microbial symbionts. Genetics approaches could uncover the mechanisms for recruiting and maintaining the stable and consistent members of the microbiome.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Sculpting the microbiome: how host factors determine and respond to microbial colonization’.
A general evolution landscape of language and cognition genes
Authors: Zhang Zhizhou , Zhang Shuaiyu , Zhou Hongjie , Xu Yongdong
Published: March 2024

The polymorphism profiles of language genes (LG) display different patterns across various ancient and modern populations, leading to the speculation that cognition gene (CG) polymorphism profiles may exhibit similar trends. However, the evolutionary processes of language gene polymorphism patterns (LGPP) and cognition gene polymorphism patterns (CGPP) are likely to demonstrate distinct characteristics. In particular, it is intriguing to determine whether there is any overlap in the timing of significant changes in CGPP and LGPP over the large timescales of evolution. The potential existence of such overlap can also be assessed by examining whether the samples carrying significant changes in LGPP and CGPP are the same. This study investigated the genetic differences at 239 SNP loci in 18 language genes (LG) and 223 SNP loci in 18 cognition genes (CG) across 170 whole genomes. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to cluster the SNP data of the aforementioned samples, and the similarity of SNP patterns between each sample was calculated from three perspectives: LG, CG, and CGLG. The basic conclusions are as follows: (1) If different positions in the PCA analysis results can essentially represent the pattern differences in SNP polymorphisms, then both language gene polymorphism patterns and cognition gene polymorphism patterns have undergone distinct stages of evolution; (2) There were significant differences in the early manifestations of language gene polymorphism patterns and cognition gene polymorphism patterns during human evolution: Language gene polymorphism patterns could not differentiate general animals, primates, and ancient human samples in the early stages of evolution, whereas cognition gene polymorphism patterns seemed to be initially divisible into two patterns, one closely resembling a group of animals and certain ancient human samples, and the other reflected in a different set of animal and primate samples. (3) It appears that samples from all five continents can be observed at every stage of evolution, suggesting that new evolving populations have always had ample time to spread across continents. (4) A quantitative comparison of the SNP profiles of 170 samples revealed that their CG and LG plus CGLG profiles indeed have 2-3 potential significant change points, and the samples carrying these significant change points has 2 common samples, namely ge1 (Georgia) and us2 (North America), implying that the most significant changes in language or cognition gene polymorphism patterns during human evolution may have occurred in some human populations in Europe/ North America.
Drosophila melanogasterSet8 and L(3)mbt function in gene expression independently of histone H4 lysine 20 methylation
Authors: Crain Aaron T. , Butler Megan B. , Hill Christina A. , Huynh Mai , McGinty Robert K. , Duronio Robert J.
Published: March 2024

Mono-methylation of Lysine 20 of histone H4 (H4K20me1) is catalyzed by Set8 and thought to play important roles in many aspects of genome function that are mediated by H4K20me-binding proteins. We interrogated this model in a developing animal by comparing in parallel the transcriptomes ofSet8null,H4K20R/A, andl(3)mbtmutantDrosophila melanogaster. We found that the gene expression profiles ofH4K20AandH4K20Rlarvae are markedly different thanSet8nulllarvae despite similar reductions in H4K20me1.Set8nullmutant cells have a severely disrupted transcriptome and fail to proliferatein vivo, but these phenotypes are not recapitulated by mutation ofH4K20indicating that the developmental defects of Set8nullanimals are largely due to H4K20me1-independent effects on gene expression. Further, the H4K20me1 binding protein L(3)mbt is recruited to the transcription start sites of most genes independently of H4K20me even though genes bound by L(3)mbt have high levels of H4K20me1. Moreover, both Set8 and L(3)mbt bind to purified H4K20R nucleosomes in vitro. We conclude that gene expression changes inSet8nullandH4K20mutants cannot be explained by loss of H4K20me1 or L(3)mbt binding to chromatin, and therefore that H4K20me1 does not play a large role in gene expression.
A HIV-1 Gp41 Peptide-Liposome Vaccine Elicits Neutralizing Epitope-Targeted Antibody Responses in Healthy Individuals
Authors: Erdmann Nathan B. , Williams Wilton B. , Walsh Stephen R. , Grunenberg Nicole , Edlefsen Paul T. , Goepfert Paul A. , Cain Derek W. , Cohen Kristen W. , Maenza Janine , Mayer Kenneth H. , Van Tieu Hong , Sobieszczyk Magdalena E. , Swann Edith , Lu Huiyin , De Rosa Stephen C. , Sagawa Zachary , Anthony Moody M. , Fox Christopher B. , Ferrari Guido , Edwards R.J. , Acharya Priyamvada , Munir Alam S. , Parks Robert , Barr Margaret , Tomaras Georgia D. , Montefiori David C. , Gilbert Peter B. , Juliana McElrath M. , Corey Lawrence , Haynes Barton F. , Baden Lindsey R. ,   NIAID HVTN 133 Study Group
Published: March 2024

Background

HIV-1 vaccine development is a global health priority. Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) which target the HIV-1 gp41 membrane-proximal external region (MPER) have some of the highest neutralization breadth. An MPER peptide-liposome vaccine has been found to expand bnAb precursors in monkeys.

Methods

The HVTN133 phase 1 clinical trial (NCT03934541) studied the MPER-peptide liposome immunogen in 24 HIV-1 seronegative individuals. Participants were recruited between 15 July 2019 and 18 October 2019 and were randomized in a dose-escalation design to either 500 mcg or 2000 mcg of the MPER-peptide liposome or placebo. Four intramuscular injections were planned at months 0, 2, 6, and 12.

Results

The trial was stopped prematurely due to an anaphylaxis reaction in one participant ultimately attributed to vaccine-associated polyethylene glycol. The immunogen induced robust immune responses, including MPER+ serum and blood CD4+ T-cell responses in 95% and 100% of vaccinees, respectively, and 35% (7/20) of vaccine recipients had blood IgG memory B cells with MPER-bnAb binding phenotype. Affinity purification of plasma MPER+ IgG demonstrated tier 2 HIV-1 neutralizing activity in two of five participants after 3 immunizations.

Conclusions

MPER-peptide liposomes induced gp41 serum neutralizing epitope-targeted antibodies and memory B-cell responses in humans despite the early termination of the study. These results suggest that the MPER region is a promising target for a candidate HIV vaccine.

Trial Registration

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/Identifier:NCT03934541
Viral challenges and adaptations between Central Arctic Ocean and atmosphere
Authors: Rahlff Janina , Westmeijer George , Weissenbach Julia , Antson Alfred , Holmfeldt Karin
Published: March 2024

Aquatic viruses act as key players in shaping microbial communities. In polar environments, they face significant challenges like limited host availability and harsh conditions. However, due to restricted ecosystem accessibility, our understanding of viral diversity, abundance, adaptations, and host interactions remains limited. To fill this knowledge gap, we studied viruses from atmosphere-close aquatic ecosystems in the Central Arctic and Northern Greenland. Aquatic samples for virus-host analysis were collected from ~60 cm depth and the submillimeter surface microlayer (SML) during the Synoptic Arctic Survey 2021 on icebreaker Oden in Arctic summer. Water was sampled from a melt pond and open water before undergoing size-fractioned filtration and followed by genome-resolved metagenomic and cultivation investigations. The prokaryotic diversity in the melt pond was considerably lower compared to open water. The melt pond was dominated by a Flavobacterium sp. andAquilunasp., the latter having a relatively small genome size of 1.2 Mb and the metabolic potential to generate ATP using the phosphate acetyltransferase-acetate kinase pathway. Viral diversity on the host fraction (0.2 – 5 µm) of the melt pond was strikingly limited compared to open water. From 1154 dereplicated viral operational taxonomic units (vOTUs), of which two-thirds were predicted bacteriophages, 17.2% encoded for auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) with metabolic functions. Some AMGs like glycerol-3-phosphate cytidylyltransferase and ice-binding like proteins might serve cryoprotection of the host. Prophages were often associated with SML genomes, and two active prophages of a new viral genera from the Arctic SML strainLeeuwenhoekiella aequoreaArc30 were induced. We found evidence that vOTU abundance in the SML compared to ~60 cm depth was more positively correlated to the distribution of a vOTU across five different Arctic stations. The results indicate that viruses employ elaborated strategies to endure in extreme and host-limited environments. Moreover, our observations suggest that the immediate air-sea interface serves as a platform for viral distribution in the Central Arctic.
CROPseq-multi: a versatile solution for multiplexed perturbation and decoding in pooled CRISPR screens
Authors: Walton Russell T , Qin Yue , Blainey Paul C
Published: March 2024

Forward genetic screens seek to dissect complex biological systems by systematically perturbing genetic elements and observing the resulting phenotypes. While standard screening methodologies introduce individual perturbations, multiplexing perturbations improves the performance of single-target screens and enables combinatorial screens for the study of genetic interactions. Current tools for multiplexing perturbations are incompatible with pooled screening methodologies that require mRNA-embedded barcodes, including some microscopy and single cell sequencing approaches. Here, we report the development of CROPseq-multi, a CROPseq-inspired lentiviral system to multiplex Streptococcus pyogenes (Sp) Cas9-based perturbations with mRNA-embedded barcodes. CROPseq-multi has equivalent per-guide activity to CROPseq and low lentiviral recombination frequencies. CROPseq-multi is compatible with enrichment screening methodologies and optical pooled screens, and is extensible to screens with single-cell sequencing readouts. For optical pooled screens, an optimized and multiplexed in situ detection protocol improves barcode detection efficiency 10-fold, enables detection of recombination events, and increases decoding efficiency 3-fold relative to CROPseq. CROPseq-multi is a widely applicable multiplexing solution for diverse SpCas9-based genetic screening approaches.
Cytokine expression patterns predict suppression of vulnerable neural circuits in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Chan Dennis C. , Kim ChaeMin , Kang Rachel Y. , Kuhn Madison K. , Beidler Lynne M. , Zhang Nanyin , Proctor Elizabeth A.
Published: March 2024

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive amyloid plaque accumulation, tau tangle formation, neuroimmune dysregulation, synapse an neuron loss, and changes in neural circuit activation that lead to cognitive decline and dementia. Early molecular and cellular disease-instigating events occur 20 or more years prior to presentation of symptoms, making them difficult to study, and for many years amyloid-β, the aggregating peptide seeding amyloid plaques, was thought to be the toxic factor responsible for cognitive deficit. However, strategies targeting amyloid-β aggregation and deposition have largely failed to produce safe and effective therapies, and amyloid plaque levels poorly correlate with cognitive outcomes. However, a role still exists for amyloid-β in the variation in an individual’s immune response to early, soluble forms of aggregates, and the downstream consequences of this immune response for aberrant cellular behaviors and creation of a detrimental tissue environment that harms neuron health and causes changes in neural circuit activation. Here, we perform functional magnetic resonance imaging of awake, unanesthetized Alzheimer’s disease mice to map changes in functional connectivity over the course of disease progression, in comparison to wild-type littermates. In these same individual animals, we spatiotemporally profile the immune milieu by measuring cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors across various brain regions and over the course of disease progression from pre-pathology through established cognitive deficit. We identify specific signatures of immune activation predicting hyperactivity followed by suppression of intra- and then inter-regional functional connectivity in multiple disease-relevant brain regions, following the pattern of spread of amyloid pathology.
Naa80 is required for actin N-terminal acetylation and normal hearing in zebrafish
Authors: Ree Rasmus , Lin Sheng-Jia , Sti Dahl Lars Ole , Huang Kevin , Petree Cassidy , Varshney Gaurav K. , Arnesen Thomas
Published: March 2024

Actin is a key component of the cytoskeleton of eukaryotic cells and is involved in numerous cellular functions. In animal cells, actins are uniquely N-terminally processed by a dedicated enzyme machinery to generate their mature acidic and acetylated forms. The final step of this maturation process involves N-terminal acetylation, a reaction catalyzed by NAA80 in humans. In human cell lines, N-terminal acetylation of actin plays a crucial role in maintaining normal cytoskeletal dynamics and cell motility. The physiological impact of actin N-terminal acetylation remains to be defined. Here, we developed a zebrafishnaa80knockout model and established that zNaa80 acetylates both muscle and non-muscle actinsin vivo. Ourin vitroinvestigation of purified zNaa80 unveiled a clear preference for acetylating N-termini derived from actins. Interestingly, zebrafish lacking actin N-terminal acetylation were viable and exhibited normal development, morphology and behaviour. In contrast, human individuals carrying pathogenic actin variants may present with hypotonia and hearing impairment. While zebrafish depleted fornaa80did not display any obvious muscle defects or abnormal muscle tissue, we found that they have abnormal inner ear development such as small otoliths and impaired response to sound stimuli. In sum, we have defined that zebrafish Naa80 N-terminally acetylates actinsin vitroandin vivoand that actin N-terminal acetylation is essential for normal hearingin vivo.
High-power test results for a cylindrical-shell silicon carbide higher-order-mode damper
Authors: Xu Wencan , Conway Z. A. , Daly E. , Guo J. , Hernandez K. , Holmes D. , Rimmer R. A. , Severino F. , Smith K. , Weiss D. , Zaltsman A.
Published: March 2024

The next high-current Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) is a new accelerator to be built at Brookhaven National Laboratory in collaboration with Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility. In the EIC Electron Storage Ring (ESR), there will be beam currents of up to 2.5 A, which will excite massive higher-order-mode (HOM) power in the 17 single-cell 591 MHz superconducting radio-frequency (SRF) cavities. Damping the HOM power in the ESR SRF cavities is a challenge. A room temperature cylindrical shell shape silicon carbide (SiC) beamline HOM absorber (BLA) was chosen as the baseline design, due to its broadband and high-power capability, and previous demonstrations at other accelerator facilities, albeit at much lower power. Because the EIC BLA HOM power dissipation is significantly greater than the previous applications, it is imperative to carry out high-power testing to determine the maximum device performance levels achievable for thermal transport, rf breakdown, and mechanical stress, prior to finalizing the design. A SiC HOM absorber with a state-of-the-art geometry size was prototyped to verify the shrink-fit technique, test outgassing rate, and high-power handling capability. This paper presents the HOM damper’s prototyping and test results.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Kaon structure in the nuclear medium within the light front approach
Authors: Yabusaki G. H. S. O. , de Melo J. P. B. C. , Tsushima K. , Frederico T. , de Paula W.
Published: March 2024

We study the properties of the charged kaon in symmetric nuclear matter using a Bethe-Salpeter amplitude to model the quark-antiquark bound state, which is well constrained by previous studies of its vacuum properties. The electromagnetic form factor, charge radius, decay constant, and the light-front valence component probability are investigated in symmetric nuclear matter. In order to describe the constituent up and antistrange quarks in nuclear matter, we adopt the “quark-meson coupling (QMC) model,” which has been widely applied to various hadronic and nuclear phenomena in the nuclear medium.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
U(N)
torus link invariants in the large
N
limit from the matrix model approach
Authors: Maji Archana , Chakraborty Kushal , Dutta Suvankar , Ramadevi P.
Published: March 2024

In this paper we study U(N) colored HOMFLY-PT polynomials of torus links in the double scaling limit (polynomial variable q→1, N→∞ keeping qN fixed). We show that, in this limit, the colored HOMFLY-PT polynomial of any (Lα,Lβ) torus link can be expressed in terms of the colored HOMFLY-PT polynomial of (L,L) torus link. Using the connection between matrix models and the Chern-Simons field theoretic invariants, we show that the colored torus link invariants are uniquely expressed in terms of connected correlation functions of operators in U(N) matrix model. We determine the leading and subleading contribution to some of the correlators at large N from the matrix model approach and find that they match exactly with those obtained from the corresponding colored HOMFLY-PT polynomials.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Theory of melting lines
Authors: Trachenko K.
Published: March 2024

Our understanding of the three basic states of matter (solids, liquids, and gases) is based on temperature and pressure phase diagrams with three phase transition lines: solid-gas, liquid-gas, and solid-liquid lines. There are analytical expressions P(T) for the first two lines derived on a purely general-theoretical thermodynamic basis. In contrast, there exists no similar function for the third, melting, line (ML). Here, we develop a general two-phase theory of MLs and their analytical form. This theory predicts the parabolic form of the MLs for normal melting, relates the MLs to thermal and elastic properties of liquid and solid phases, and quantitatively agrees with experimental MLs in different system types. We show that the parameters of the ML parabola are governed by fundamental physical constants. In this sense, parabolic MLs possess universality across different systems.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Social influencer spillover effects under cap-and-trade and carbon tax regulation: the choice between marketplace or reseller mode
Authors: Wu Jie , Guo Nan , Chen Zhixin , Ji Xiang
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze manufacturers' production decisions and governments' low-carbon policies in the context of influencer spillover effects.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper investigates the impact of the social influencer spillover effect on manufacturers' production decisions when they collaborate with intermediary platforms to sell products through marketplace or reseller modes. Game theory and static numerical comparison are used to analyze our models.

Findings

Firstly, under low-carbon policies, the spillover effect does not always benefit manufacturer profits and changes non-monotonically with an increasing spillover effect. Secondly, in cases where there are both a carbon emission constraint and a spillover effect present, if either the manufacturer or intermediary platform holds a strong position, then marketplace mode benefits manufacturer profits. Thirdly, regardless of business mode used when environmental damage coefficient is high for products; government should implement cap-and-trade regulation to optimize social welfare while reducing manufacturers’ carbon emissions.

Practical implications

This study offers theoretical and practical research support to assist manufacturers in optimizing production decisions for compliance with carbon emission limits, enhancing profits through the development of effective influencer marketing strategies, and providing strategies to mitigate carbon emissions and enhance social welfare while sustaining manufacturing activities.

Originality/value

This paper addresses the limitations of prior research by examining how the social influencer spillover effect influences manufacturers' business mode choices under government low-carbon policies and analyzing the social welfare of different carbon emission restrictions when such spillovers occur. Our findings provide valuable insights for manufacturers in selecting optimal marketing strategies and business modes and decision-makers in implementing effective regulations.
Comparing the determinants of household carbon footprints between rural and urban: evidence from China household survey data
Authors: Lv Jinwei , Liu Bing , Chai Li
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Urbanization is driving the growth of China’s carbon footprint. It’s important to investigate what factors, how and to what extent, affect carbon footprints embedded in various categories of rural and urban households’ consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

We employ an environmental extended input-output model to assess and compare the rural-urban household carbon footprints and perform a multivariant regression analysis to identify the varying relationships of the determinants on rural and urban household carbon footprints based on the panel data of Chinese households from 2012 to 2018.

Findings

The results show evidence of urbanity density effect on direct carbon footprints and countervailing effect on indirect carbon footprints. The old dependency ratio has no significant effect on rural family emissions but has a significantly negative effect on urban direct and indirect carbon footprints. A higher child dependency ratio is associated with less rural household carbon emissions while the opposite is true for urban households. Taking advantage of recycled fuel saves direct carbon emissions and this green lifestyle benefits urban households more by saving more carbon emissions. There is a positive relationship between consumption structure ratio and direct carbon footprints while a negative relationship with indirect carbon footprints and this impact is less significant for urban households. The higher the price level of water, electricity and fuel, the lower the rural household’s direct carbon footprints. Private car ownership consistently augments household carbon footprints across rural and urban areas.

Originality/value

This paper provides comprehensive findings to understand the relationships between an array of determinants and China’s rural-urban carbon emissions, empowering China’s contribution to the global effort on climate mitigation.
The (un)sustainable mix: supply chain finance, sustainability ratings and liquidity
Authors: Gelsomino Luca Mattia , Olde Riekerink Kim , Medina Elisa , Bortolotti Thomas
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the interaction effect between offering supply chain finance (SCF) programmes and sustainability ratings on the liquidity performance of buyers and suppliers.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a unique sample of buyers that each have an SCF programme. The sample is complemented with financial information and sustainability scores. The data is analysed through a random effects model.

Findings

Aligning with recent advances in SCF literature, the results confirm a tendency for SCF programmes to favour buyers over suppliers. However, the relationship between SCF programme adoption and liquidity performance for buyers and suppliers is positively moderated by the strong sustainability performance of both parties.

Practical implications

Buyers and suppliers are advised to implement and adopt effective SCF programmes that are beneficial for both parties. For buyers, the authors suggest leveraging on SCF programmes as incentives to foster sustainable behaviour among suppliers. For suppliers, the authors recommend caution before joining programmes offered by buyers that do not perform well on sustainability.

Social implications

Enhancing sustainability within global supply chains and fostering favourable payment practices towards suppliers are crucial for policy development and regulation. The findings clarify the connection between both components, offering valuable insights for policymakers in this domain.

Originality/value

The study is built on a manually picked, unique database of buyers offering SCF programmes to their suppliers. This allows, across a large sample, an evaluation of the differences between buyers that offer SCF programmes and those that do not.
Conceptualization and measurement of owner BIM capabilities: from a project owner organization perspective
Authors: Pan Pengcheng , Wang Yu , Yang Yumiao , Zhang Sujuan
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Building Information Modeling (BIM) capabilities have been studied at the individual, project, organizational, and even industry levels to ensure the realization of BIM value in the architectural, engineering, construction, and operation industry. However, limited research has focused on a project owner organization perspective to investigate owner BIM capabilities that are required to ensure effective project management and delivery. This present study aims to propose an indicator framework to evaluate owner BIM capabilities at the organizational level.

Design/methodology/approach

Leveraging the existing literature on BIM capabilities and synthesizing insights from the resource-based view and information technology capabilities research, this study conceptualizes the BIM capabilities of project owner organizations and offers a framework of indicators for measurement. Semi-structured interviews with BIM experts and a questionnaire survey were conducted to identify key indicators affecting owner BIM capabilities. A six-dimensional structural equation model with 29 indicators was then established.

Findings

The findings highlight the multidimensionality of owner BIM capabilities and show that process capabilities play a crucial role in enhancing owner BIM capabilities, while technical capabilities are considered as the least important aspect.

Research limitations/implications

The study sheds light on the key role of project owner organizations in ensuring BIM value and suggests that project owners focus more on the organizational processes of introducing BIM in managing projects.

Originality/value

This study reconceptualizes owner BIM capabilities drawing on the idea of resource-based view and information technology capabilities and highlights the important dimensions and indicators of owner BIM capabilities at the organizational level.
The mourning after affirmative action: a composite counterstory about whiteness as property, fugitive pedagogy, and possibility
Authors: Jayakumar Uma Mazyck
Published: March 2024

Purpose

In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision to effectively end race-conscious admissions practices across the nation, this paper highlights the law’s commitment to whiteness and antiblackness, invites us to mourn and to connect to possibility.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from the theoretical contributions of Cheryl Harris, Jarvis Givens and Chezare Warren, as well as the wisdom of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s dissenting opinion, this paper utilizes CRT composite counterstory methodology to illuminate the antiblack reality of facially “race-neutral” admissions.

Findings

By manifesting the impossible situation that SFFA and the Supreme Court’s majority seek to normalize, the composite counterstory illuminates how Justice Jackson’s hypothetical enacts a fugitive pedagogy within a dominant legal system committed to whiteness as property; invites us to mourn, to connect to possibility and to remain committed to freedom as an intergenerational project that is inherently humanizing.

Originality/value

In a sobering moment where we face the end of race-conscious admissions, this paper uniquely grapples with the contradictions of affirmative action as minimally effective while also radically disruptive.
Kayak Boy: an entrepreneurial venture in a blue ocean industry
Authors: Fernandez Cledwyn , Boppolige Anand Archana
Published: March 2024

Learning outcomes

After completion of the case study, the students will learn about the blue ocean strategies that are adopted by entrepreneurs when they are entering into a new business territory and be able to perform an industry analysis and understand the competitive advantage that a firm possesses in a new market using Porter’s five forces framework.

Case overview/synopsis

This case study is about Sushant, an entrepreneur, who started his entrepreneurial venture in water sports tourism along the coastlines of India. His core business was into offering kayaking and camping activities. However, he planned to scale up his business by expanding its geographical reach. To fulfill this, he was also planning to manufacture his own kayaks, which would increase economies of scale in the long run. This case study investigates the dilemma of whether he should first increase his service offerings before expanding geographically or focus on geographical expansion and then increase service offerings.

Complexity academic level

This case is designed to be taught at the post-graduate level (Master of Business Administration) for an entrepreneurship course.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS3: Entrepreneurship.
Self-leadership: a value-added strategy for human resource development
Authors: Kim Kyung Nam , Wang Jia , Williams Peter
Published: March 2024

Purpose

In a rapidly shifting market, organizations seek more diverse and innovative employee development interventions. Yet, these initiatives may have limited impact without employees’ engagement. This conceptual paper aims to propose self-leadership as a value-added strategy for promoting both individual and organizational development.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a conceptual analysis with three case examples. The cases were purposefully selected, aiming to comprehend how the concept of self-leadership has been applied within organizations and to identify real-life examples where self-leadership has been adopted as an organizational strategy.

Findings

This study demonstrates that self-leadership plays a significant role in facilitating human resource development (HRD) initiatives. Specifically, the authors illustrate how self-leadership interventions in companies empower individuals to take charge of their development, aligning personal and organizational goals. When effectively applied, self-leadership strategies positively impact HRD practices in the areas of training and development, organization development and career development, yielding benefits for both employees and employers.

Originality/value

This study addresses knowledge gaps in the emerging field of self-leadership in HRD by providing three companies’ examples of how self-leadership can add value to HRD. The findings offer unique insights into the synergy between self-leadership and HRD, benefiting academics interested in this line of inquiry and HRD practitioners seeking innovative approaches to employee and organizational development.
Stylish virtual tour: exploring fashion’s influence on attitude and satisfaction in VR tourism
Authors: Elmashhara Maher Georges , Blazquez Marta , Julião Jorge
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the influence of different virtual fashion styles on attitude and satisfaction within virtual reality (VR) tourism experiences. The investigation considers the mediating effect of perceived attractiveness, popularity, novelty and weirdness, as well as the moderating role of self-congruence with avatar clothing and the desire for unique products.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a quantitative experimental approach. Initially, a three-step pilot study (N = 201) was conducted to select avatar fashion styles for the main investigation. In the primary study, participants (N = 326) engaged with one out of four fashion style conditions to select attire for their avatars and then completed a self-administered survey. Data analysis involved paired-sample t-tests, multivariate analysis of variance and Hayes’ PROCESS Models.

Findings

The results show that presenting fantasy avatar fashion styles leads to a decrease in perceived attractiveness and popularity, while concurrently increasing perceptions of novelty and weirdness which in turn exert a negative influence on attitude and satisfaction with the virtual fitting room (VFR). However, these relationships change when considering the moderating role of self-congruence with avatar clothing and the desire for unique products.

Practical implications

VR tourism experience providers and designers can use research findings to bolster positive attitude and enhance satisfaction with VFR; an important first step that strongly affects the rest of the VR tourist journey.

Originality/value

This study contributes to tourism research by exploring the intersection of immersive technologies and virtual fashion. It emphasizes the enhancement of critical touchpoints like the VFR, moving beyond a sole focus on VR adoption, to improve the overall virtual tourist experience.
Design and implementation of an AI-controlled spraying drone for agricultural applications using advanced image preprocessing techniques
Authors: Akdoğan Cemalettin , Özer Tolga , Oğuz Yüksel
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Nowadays, food problems are likely to arise because of the increasing global population and decreasing arable land. Therefore, it is necessary to increase the yield of agricultural products. Pesticides can be used to improve agricultural land products. This study aims to make the spraying of cherry trees more effective and efficient with the designed artificial intelligence (AI)-based agricultural unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

Design/methodology/approach

Two approaches have been adopted for the AI-based detection of cherry trees: In approach 1, YOLOv5, YOLOv7 and YOLOv8 models are trained with 70, 100 and 150 epochs. In Approach 2, a new method is proposed to improve the performance metrics obtained in Approach 1. Gaussian, wavelet transform (WT) and Histogram Equalization (HE) preprocessing techniques were applied to the generated data set in Approach 2. The best-performing models in Approach 1 and Approach 2 were used in the real-time test application with the developed agricultural UAV.

Findings

In Approach 1, the best F1 score was 98% in 100 epochs with the YOLOv5s model. In Approach 2, the best F1 score and mAP values were obtained as 98.6% and 98.9% in 150 epochs, with the YOLOv5m model with an improvement of 0.6% in the F1 score. In real-time tests, the AI-based spraying drone system detected and sprayed cherry trees with an accuracy of 66% in Approach 1 and 77% in Approach 2. It was revealed that the use of pesticides could be reduced by 53% and the energy consumption of the spraying system by 47%.

Originality/value

An original data set was created by designing an agricultural drone to detect and spray cherry trees using AI. YOLOv5, YOLOv7 and YOLOv8 models were used to detect and classify cherry trees. The results of the performance metrics of the models are compared. In Approach 2, a method including HE, Gaussian and WT is proposed, and the performance metrics are improved. The effect of the proposed method in a real-time experimental application is thoroughly analyzed.
Immune interactions and heterogeneity in transmission drives the pathogen‐mediated invasion of grey squirrels in the UK
Authors: Howell E. , White A. , Lurz P. W. W. , Boots M.
Published: March 2024

Mathematical models highlighted the importance of pathogen‐mediated invasion, with the replacement of red squirrels by squirrelpox virus (SQPV) carrying grey squirrels in the UK, a well‐known example.

In this study, we combine new epidemiological models, with a range of infection characteristics, with recent longitudinal field and experimental studies on the SQPV dynamics in red and grey squirrel populations to better infer the mechanistic basis of the disease interaction.

A key finding is that a model with either partial immunity or waning immunity and reinfection, where individuals become seropositive on the second exposure to infection, that up to now has been shown in experimental data only, can capture the key aspects of the field study observations.

By fitting to SQPV epidemic observations in isolated red squirrel populations, we can infer that SQPV transmission between red squirrels is significantly (4×) higher than the transmission between grey squirrels and as a result our model shows that disease‐mediated replacement of red squirrels by greys is considerably more rapid than replacement in the absence of SQPV.

Our findings recover the key results of the previous model studies, which highlights the value of simple strategic models that are appropriate when there are limited data, but also emphasise the likely complexity of immune interactions in wildlife disease and how models can help infer disease processes from field data.
A cohort profile of children and adolescents who had a suicide‐related contact with police or paramedics in Queensland (Australia)
Authors: Wittenhagen Lisa , Hielscher Emily , Meurk Carla S , Scott James G , Steele Megan L , Bosley Emma , Watson Shelby , Heffernan Ed
Published: March 2024

Objective

Suicide is a leading cause of death in children and adolescents worldwide and a major public health concern. While suicidal behaviours place a significant demand on mental health and emergency services, data regarding suicide‐related contacts with police and paramedics are an underutilised resource. The aim of the present study was to identify the demographic profile of young individuals (aged 5–17) and had a suicide‐related contact with police or paramedics in Queensland (Australia).

Methods

The present study utilised a population‐wide linked dataset, including data from police and paramedics and health administrative data, between 1 February 2013 and 31 January 2018.

Results

The identified cohort of 7929 children had a median age of 15 years and mainly comprised females (63.2%). Over the study period, 64 children died, most by suicide (76.6%). Less than a third of the cohort were responsible for almost two‐thirds of the total number of contacts with police or paramedics.

Conclusion

Findings provide a comprehensive profile of children and adolescents in suicidal crisis and highlight the substantial number of interactions that occur with police and paramedics. Due to the way the linked dataset was constructed, it must be assumed that the number of young persons in suicidal crisis is higher. Findings highlight the value of considering pre‐hospital alternatives to presenting to emergency departments (EDs) for this cohort, to reduce impost on EDs and improve outcomes. Further examination of re‐presentations by young persons is warranted to inform prevention and intervention strategies.