bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainable management of heritage buildings in long-term perspective (SyMBoL): current knowledge and further research needs
Authors: Bertolin Chiara , Berto Filippo
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This article introduces the Special Issue on Sustainable Management of Heritage Buildings in long-term perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

It starts by reviewing the gaps in knowledge and practice which led to the creation and implementation of the research project SyMBoL—Sustainable Management of Heritage Buildings in long-term perspective funded by the Norwegian Research Council over the 2018–2022 period. The SyMBoL project is the motivation at the base of this special issue.

Findings

The editorial paper briefly presents the main outcomes of SyMBoL. It then reviews the contributions to the Special Issue, focussing on the connection or differentiation with SyMBoL and on multidisciplinary findings that address some of the initial referred gaps.

Originality/value

The article shortly summarizes topics related to sustainable preservation of heritage buildings in time of reduced resources, energy crisis and impacts of natural hazards and global warming. Finally, it highlights future research directions targeted to overcome, or partially mitigate, the above-mentioned challenges, for example, taking advantage of no sestructive techniques interoperability, heritage building information modelling and digital twin models, and machine learning and risk assessment algorithms.
Determinants of employee intention to stay: a generational multigroup analysis
Authors: Silva Inês , Dias Álvaro , F. Pereira Leandro
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to investigate the differences between generational groups (specifically Generations X, Y and Z) in terms of variables that influence organisational commitment and intention to stay within an organisation. The aim is to fill the research gap in understanding how different factors influence commitment and retention across different generations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study follows a quantitative approach based on cross-sectional survey data. The respondents were employees of Generations X, Y and Z. The data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling and multigroup analysis.

Findings

The results of the study indicate several relationships between variables and organisational commitment/intention to stay. Person-organisation fit is positively related to organisational commitment, and work-life balance is positively related to both organisational commitment and intention to stay. The mediation of organisational commitment shows a positive relationship with person-organisation fit and work-life balance. In addition, there are positive relationships between organisational culture and both organisational commitment and intention to stay, as well as a positive relationship between person-organisation fit and intention to stay. Furthermore, all three Generations (X, Y and Z) show positive relationships between organisational commitment and intention to stay.

Research limitations/implications

The implications of the study are twofold. First, it provides theoretical contributions by uncovering the relationships between various variables and organisational commitment/retention. Second, it provides practical implications for organisations by highlighting the importance of person-organisation fit, work-life balance and organisational culture in fostering commitment and retention among employees of different generations.

Originality/value

The originality and value of this study lies in its exploration of the differences between generational groups in terms of variables affecting organisational commitment and intention to stay. By addressing this research gap, the study contributes to the existing literature on organisational commitment and retention. The detailed presentation of theoretical contributions, practical implications, limitations and suggestions for future research enhances the overall value of the study.
The impact of COVID-19 information overload on Vietnamese consumers' online purchase intention
Authors: Li Lydia Qianqian , Bui Quynh Ngoc , Yan Hui
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Using data from Vietnam to reveal which factors affected the impressive growth of Vietnam's e-commerce during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S-O-R) framework, the study proposed a conceptual model in which the influence of COVID-19 information overload (IO) on online purchase intention (OPI) was discovered. The authors were also interested in examining the moderator roles of self-construal (SC), perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived usefulness (PU) in inducing the intention to make an online purchase.

Findings

Perceived threat (PT) and cyberchondria (C) played full mediation roles in the impact of IO on OPI. Moreover, PT was found to be a partial mediator of the relationship between IO and C. Furthermore, interdependent self-construal (IntSC) positively moderated the positive effect of IO on PT. Finally, PU and PEOU showed significant moderated moderation effects, in which PU moderated the effects of PT and C on OPI, whereas PU itself was moderated by PEOU.

Research limitations/implications

Understanding the positive effects of IO, C and PT on OPI can be useful for marketers. In addition, managers should improve the ease-of-use and usefulness of online stores/platforms to attract more consumers to online channels.

Practical implications

Marketers and managers should learn more about how to take advantage of IO, PT and C. For instance, to sell medical supplements, marketer should push up related-health information such as obesity, diabetics, to make consumers perceive a threat to their health and search for ways to improve their health condition. This is the time when advertisements for medical supplements bring into play. This method can be applied in many different fields. The key is that marketers should find out what is the threat that their targeted customers can perceive and then spread out a huge amount of relevant information.

Social implications

The government should control infodemic and guide people to obtain official information. This helps to restrain the PT and C, which seriously harm people's health and affect their behaviors, such as making unusual or panicked purchases. This study also suggests a considerable concern that residents of Asian cultures, where IntSC is dominant, may perceive threat more than residents of Western cultures.

Originality/value

Limited research addresses the relationship between PEOU and PU when they act as moderators. Current research not only explains the moderation effect of PU under the influence of PEOU but also suggests that PEOU may be more important than PU in emerging markets due to customers' inexperience in online markets or channels. It also explores the factors that influenced OPI in Vietnam during the COVID-19 outbreak and contributes to the scientific literature on Vietnam, especially in terms of discovering the tendency of SC, which has not been mentioned before in research about Vietnamese.
The spectrum of semantic and syntactic labour
Authors: Warner Julian
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The article extends the distinction of semantic from syntactic labour to comprehend all forms of mental labour. It answers a critique from de Fremery and Buckland, which required envisaging mental labour as a differentiated spectrum.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a discursive approach. It first reviews the significance and extensive diffusion of the distinction of semantic from syntactic labour. Second, it integrates semantic and syntactic labour along a vertical dimension within mental labour, indicating analogies in principle with, and differences in application from, the inherited distinction of intellectual from clerical labour. Third, it develops semantic labour to the very highest level, on a consistent principle of differentiation from syntactic labour. Finally, it reintegrates the understanding developed of semantic labour with syntactic labour, confirming that they can fully and informatively occupy mental labour.

Findings

The article further validates the distinction of semantic from syntactic labour. It enables to address Norbert Wiener's classic challenge of appropriately distributing activity between human and computer.

Research limitations/implications

The article transforms work in progress into knowledge for diffusion.

Practical implications

It has practical implications for determining what tasks to delegate to computational technology.

Social implications

The paper has social implications for the understanding of appropriate human and machine computational tasks and our own distinctive humanness.

Originality/value

The paper is highly original. Although based on preceding research, from the late 20th century, it is the first separately published full account of semantic and syntactic labour.
The role of relatedness in firm interrelationships
Authors: O'Leary Daragh , Doran Justin , Power Bernadette
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper analyses how firm births and deaths are influenced by previous firm births and deaths in related and unrelated sectors. Competition and multiplier effects are used as the theoretical lens for this analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses 2008–2016 Irish business demography data pertaining to 568 NACE 4-digit sectors within 20 NACE 1-digit industries across 34 Irish county and sub-county regions within 8 NUTS3 regions. A three-stage least squares (3SLS) estimation is used to analyse the impact of past firm deaths (births) on future firm births (deaths). The effect of relatedness on firm interrelationships is explicitly modelled and captured.

Findings

Findings indicate that the multiplier effect operates mostly through related sectors, while the competition effect operates mostly through unrelated sectors.

Research limitations/implications

This paper's findings show that firm interrelationships are significantly influenced by the degree of relatedness between firms. The raw data used to calculate firm birth and death rates in this analysis are count data. Each new firm is measured the same as another regardless of differing features like size. Some research has shown that smaller firms have a greater propensity to create entrepreneurs (Parker, 2009). Thus, it is possible that the death of differently sized firms may contribute differently to multiplier effects where births induce further births. Future research could seek to examine this.

Practical implications

These findings have implications for policy initiatives concerned with increasing entrepreneurship. Some express concerns that public investment into entrepreneurship can lead to “crowding out” effects (Cumming and Johan, 2019), meaning that public investment into entrepreneurship could displace or reduce private investment into entrepreneurship (Audretsch and Fiedler, 2023; Zikou et al., 2017). This study’s findings indicate that using public investment to increase firm births could increase future firm births in related and unrelated sectors. However, more negative “crowding out” effects may also occur in unrelated sectors, meaning that public investment which stimulates firm births in a certain sector could induce firm deaths and crowd out entrepreneurship in unrelated sectors.

Originality/value

This paper is the first in the literature to explicitly account for the role of relatedness in firm interrelationships.
Better understanding of triadic supply chain relationships through power dynamics in manufacturing firms context: evidence from case study approach from a developed country
Authors: AL-Shboul Moh'd Anwer
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study tries to investigate and examine the extent of power dynamics of diverse actors in supply chains (SCs) in affecting the (un)stable connections within the logistics service providers (LSPs) triad in manufacturing firms (MFs) in Australia as a developed country.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a qualitative research approach by conducting 28 face-to-face semi-structured interviews, which was performed over a five-month period, between May and October 2022 with the targeted respondents via several Case MFs studies focusing on the triadic SC relationships through the power dynamics of LSPs (e.g. Case 1/MF-A, Case 2/MF-B, Case 3/MF-C, Case 4/MF-D and Case 5/MF-E) in order to gather primary data from the perspectives of logistics service clients, providers and suppliers that are dealing with MFs in Australia country. Interviewees were selected based on their knowledge, professional, expertise and tasks that are related to the study context if they are from MFs and/or LSPs. The researchers performed NVivo 12 Software as a tool for analyzing the collected primary data from the targeted interviewees, thus using a purposive sampling approach. This study constitutes a cornerstone for a conceptual exploration of the field of B2B and as it expands existing fields of broadcasting and investigation that focus on B2C within the manufacturing firms' context.

Findings

The findings clearly show the importance of stable purchase volume and resource ability for a focal company in the logistics triad. This leads it to have a strong long-term relationship through monitoring its partners and curbing evolutions in different dyads.

Practical implications

Identifying influential factors offers complementary insights to practitioners for depicting the SC relationship dynamics using the dominant power used by logistics service providers. Such findings encourage investigating an issues in emerging countries.

Originality/value

The study provides an extending novel piece of work on how to establish the relational embeddedness of two dyads through the power dynamics of the dominant player represented by LSPs that can significantly affect the triadic SC relationships in manufacturing firms (MFs). Such a perspective seems not to be similar to the classical standpoint in the SCM literature, in which the LSPs as a dominant and dynamic power derived from bridging the customer-supplier sustainable dyads relationship in the MFs context.
The library of Babel: assessing the powers of artificial intelligence in knowledge synthesis, learning and development and coaching
Authors: Passmore Jonathan , Tee David
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool for knowledge synthesis, the production of written content and the delivery of coaching conversations.

Design/methodology/approach

The research employed the use of experts to evaluate the outputs from ChatGPT's AI tool in blind tests to review the accuracy and value of outcomes for written content and for coaching conversations.

Findings

The results from these tasks indicate that there is a significant gap between comparative search tools such as Google Scholar, specialist online discovery tools (EBSCO and PsycNet) and GPT-4's performance. GPT-4 lacks the accuracy and detail which can be found through other tools, although the material produced has strong face validity. It argues organisations, academic institutions and training providers should put in place policies regarding the use of such tools, and professional bodies should amend ethical codes of practice to reduce the risks of false claims being used in published work.

Originality/value

This is the first research paper to evaluate the current potential of generative AI tools for research, knowledge curation and coaching conversations.
Impact of responsible leadership on sustainable performance: a moderated mediation model
Authors: Huo Chunhui , Safdar Muhammad Arslan , Ahmed Misbah
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The increased interest of the industrial sector in sustainable concepts and leadership has lagged behind conceptual advancement. Leaders are increasingly being pushed to encourage sustainable performance. In order to examine the relationship between responsible leadership and sustainable performance, this research creates a model based on the logic of RL performance, with the concurrent mediation of epistemic motivation and moderating role of sustainable climate.

Design/methodology/approach

The current research analyzed a sample of 520 respondents from employees recruited from public sector organizations in Pakistan who were full-time employees in Punjab province in three waves with an interval of two weeks in each wave. To collect data, the scales are adapted from past studies that were relevant to this study. The data received from the survey questionnaire are analyzed using SEM.

Findings

The study's findings demonstrate a significant as well as positive association between RL and SP with β = 0.298 and p < 0.001. Further, a significant mediating impact of epistemic motivation on the relationship between RL and sustainable performance with β = 0.238 and p < 0.001 is also evident. Epistemic motivation is an important mediator because transparency in knowledge held massive importance to get sustainable outcomes and is predominant factor to exert his/her efforts.

Practical implications

The research shows some theoretical and practical implications. To achieve the aims of sustainable development, organizations should first encourage responsible leadership behaviors. By establishing a shared vision and goals, top management can encourage responsible leadership techniques within their jurisdiction. In order to encourage responsible leadership behaviors, organizations should seek to create capacity at both organizational and social levels. It will change employee attitudes and provide the knowledge needed to achieve sustainable development objectives.

Originality/value

This is one of the initial studies to examine the relationship between responsible leadership and sustainable performance. Further, the concept of social exchange theory is used to understand sustainable performance from a comprehensive standpoint.
Smart cities and urban dimensions to ensure sustainable development: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: De la Vega Hernández Iván Manuel , Amorin Juan Jesús Diaz
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The multidimensional complexity of urban settlements is increasing and the problem of spaces and territories brought to the scale of smart cities is a critical global issue. This study aims to analyse the scientific production in the Web of Science (WoS) on the relationship between smart cities and the eight urban dimensions defined by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the period 1990 to 2021, in order to establish which countries lead the knowledge related to the search for sustainable living conditions for people and how this knowledge contributes to improving stakeholders' decision-making.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodological steps followed in the study were: (1) Identification and selection of keywords. (2) Design and application of an algorithm to identify these selected keywords in titles, abstracts and keywords using WoS terms to contrast them. (3) Data processing was performed from Journal Citation Report (JCR) journals during the year 2022.

Findings

This study identified the authors, institutions and countries that publish the most globally on the topic of Smart Cities. The acceleration in the integration of new technologies and their impact on population conglomerates and their relationship with urban dimensions were also analysed. The evidence found indicates that the USA and China are leading in this field.

Originality/value

This bibliometric study was designed to analyse a knowledge space not addressed in the scientific literature referred to the relationship between the concept of smart cities and the urban dimensions established by the WEF, the identification of new technologies that are converging to promote developments of new ways of managing urban dimensions and propose new knowledge spaces.
Effect of consumption values on consumer behavior: a Meta-analysis
Authors: Mason Michela Cesarina , Oduro Stephen , Umar Rana Muhammad , Zamparo Gioele
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to clarify the findings and criticisms in the extant literature concerning the theory of consumption values (TCV) by conducting a meta-analysis to (1) examine the extent to which consumption values influence consumer behavior and (2) to explore contextual and methodological factors that may account for between-study variance in the focal relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a random-effects model and psychometric meta-analysis approach to examine 82 studies with 297 effect sizes in 34 countries between 1991 and 2022, inclusive.

Findings

Results reveal that consumption values have a positive significant and moderate effect on consumer behavior. Moreover, emotional value is the most influential predictor of consumer behavior, while social value is the weakest. Furthermore, the study's findings show that some contextual and methodological factors moderate the relationship between consumption values and consumer behavior.

Practical implications

The findings highlight that managers can work on consumption values to prompt positive consumer responses like attitude, intention, satisfaction and overall value perception. However, managers must consider that the relevance of the consumption values depends significantly on the outcome variable and the context, which calls for a tailored-made marketing strategy to appeal to consumers' diverse needs and wants.

Originality/value

Besides providing empirical evidence of the broad validity of the TCV, this study is the first meta-analytic review of the TCV, which integrates several insights to provide valuable research directions for future researchers and insightful implications for practitioners.
How gamification elements benefit brand love: the moderating effect of immersion
Authors: Tsou Hung-Tai , Putra Mukti Trio
Published: August 2023

Purpose

A gamification approach uses game components in non-game services to increase customer engagement and loyalty. This study aims to investigate the relationships between gamification elements, customer engagement, immersion and brand love.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the most popular gamification feature in Indonesian e-commerce, namely Shopee Games. The Snowball sampling technique was used. The data were collected from 355 Indonesians who played Shopee Games. AMOS 28.0 was used to analysis on the data.

Findings

The gamification elements of challenges, points and enjoyment positively influence customer engagement. Moreover, customer engagement positively influences brand love, which is increased by the moderation of immersion. In addition, customer engagement mediates the relationships between the gamification elements of challenges, points, enjoyment and brand love.

Originality/value

This study identifies the critical elements of gamification in e-commerce platforms. In addition, based on the S-O-R model, this study contributes to research on how customer engagement plays an intermediate variable in the gamification-brand relationship. As conceptual and empirical research on this topic is still underdeveloped, this study provides fresh insights into gamification-oriented brand marketing practices. It offers significant theoretical and managerial implications from an integrated perspective.
Numerical evaluation of the mechanical response of Sn-Ag-Cu lead-free solders of various silver contents
Authors: Gharaibeh Mohammad A. , Al-Oqla Faris M.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

There are several lead-free solder alloys available in the industry. Over the years, the most favorable solder composition of tin-silver-copper (Sn-Ag-Cu [SAC]) has been vastly used and accepted for joining the electronic components. It is strongly believed that the silver (Ag) content has a significant impact on the solder mechanical behavior and thus solder thermal reliability performance. This paper aims to assess the mechanical response, i.e. creep response, of the SAC solder alloys with various Ag contents.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-dimensional nonlinear finite element simulation is used to investigate the thermal cyclic behavior of several SAC solder alloys with various silver percentages, including 1%, 2%, 3% and 4%. The mechanical properties of the unleaded interconnects with various Ag amounts are collected from reliable literature resources and used in the analysis accordingly. Furthermore, the solder creep behavior is examined using the two famous creep laws, namely, Garofalo’s and Anand’s models.

Findings

The nonlinear computational analysis results showed that the silver content has a great influence on the solder behavior as well as on thermal fatigue life expectancy. Specifically, solders with relatively high Ag content are expected to have lower plastic deformations and strains and thus better fatigue performance due to their higher strengths and failure resistance characteristics. However, such solders would have contrary fatigue performance in drop and shock environments and the low-Ag content solders are presumed to perform significantly better because of their higher ductility.

Originality/value

Generally, this research recommends the use of SAC solder interconnects of high silver contents, e.g. 3% and 4%, for designing electronic assemblies continuously exposed to thermal loadings and solders with relatively low Ag-content, i.e. 1% and 2%, for electronic packages under impact and shock loadings.
Essential organizational variables for the implementation of Quality 4.0: empirical evidence from the Indian furniture industry
Authors: Mittal Ankesh , Sachan Sandeep , Kumar Vimal , Vardhan Sachit , Verma Pratima , Kaswan Mahender Singh , Garza-Reyes Jose Arturo
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Quality 4.0 represents the integration of quality management principles with digital technologies to drive continuous improvement and innovation in organizations. The purpose of this paper is to explore the essential organizational variables (OVs) for the successful implementation of Quality 4.0 in the Indian furniture industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a broad literature review, data from the Indian furniture industry and experts’ judgments a list of nineteen OVs have been recognized and classified into four major categories of digitalization, design, continuous improvement and employee training and up-skilling. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) has been used to give comparative importance and prioritize the identified nineteen OVs of Quality 4.0 in the context of the Indian furniture industry.

Findings

The results of this study reveal that the identified variables are very important for successful Quality 4.0 implementation and have been supported by empirical evidence from the Indian furniture industry. The variable “automation” under the digitalization-related category is a significant variable having a maximum weightage of 26.8% followed by Cloud computing (DI4) having a global weight of 12.8%.

Research limitations/implications

In addition to offering valuable insights and practical recommendations, the study recognizes a few limitations, such as industry-specific and the limited sample size. To diminish these limitations, future research should believe in conducting similar studies in different industries and extend the scope of the study.

Originality/value

Quality 4.0 is a term that refers to the integration of advanced digital technologies and smart data analytics into quality management systems to implement it considering OVs.
An overview of food lipids toward food lipidomics
Authors: Tietel Zipora , Hammann Simon , Meckelmann Sven W. , Ziv Carmit , Pauling Josch K. , Wölk Michele , Würf Vivian , Alves Eliana , Neves Bruna , Domingues M. Rosário
Published: August 2023

Increasing evidence regarding lipids’ beneficial effects on human health has changed the common perception of consumers and dietary officials about the role(s) of food lipids in a healthy diet. However, lipids are a wide group of molecules with specific nutritional and bioactive properties. To understand their true nutritional and functional value, robust methods are needed for accurate identification and quantification. Specific analytical strategies are crucial to target specific classes, especially the ones present in trace amounts. Finding a unique and comprehensive methodology to cover the full lipidome of each foodstuff is still a challenge. This review presents an overview of the lipids nutritionally relevant in foods and new trends in food lipid analysis for each type/class of lipids. Food lipid classes are described following the LipidMaps classification, fatty acids, endocannabinoids, waxes, C8 compounds, glycerophospholipids, glycerolipids (i.e., glycolipids, betaine lipids, and triglycerides), sphingolipids, sterols, sercosterols (vitamin D), isoprenoids (i.e., carotenoids and retinoids (vitamin A)), quinones (i.e., coenzyme Q, vitamin K, and vitamin E), terpenes, oxidized lipids, and oxylipin are highlighted. The uniqueness of each food group: oil‐, protein‐, and starch‐rich, as well as marine foods, fruits, and vegetables (water‐rich) regarding its lipid composition, is included. The effect of cooking, food processing, and storage, in addition to the importance of lipidomics in food quality and authenticity, are also discussed. A critical review of challenges and future trends of the analytical approaches and computational methods in global food lipidomics as the basis to increase consumer awareness of the significant role of lipids in food quality and food security worldwide is presented.
In vitro antimicrobial activity of extracts and essential oils ofCinnamomum,Salvia, andMenthaspp. against foodborne pathogens: A meta‐analysis study
Authors: Ezzaky Youssef , Elmoslih Abdelkhaleq , Silva Beatriz Nunes , Bonilla‐Luque Olga María , Possas Arícia , Valero Antonio , Cadavez Vasco , Gonzales‐Barron Ursula , Achemchem Fouad
Published: August 2023

Essential oils (EOs) are a class of natural products that exhibit potent antimicrobial properties against a broad spectrum of bacteria. Inhibition diameters (IDs) and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) are the typical measures of antimicrobial activity for extracts and EOs obtained fromCinnamomum,Salvia, andMenthaspecies. This study used a meta‐analytical regression analysis to investigate the correlation between ID and MIC measurements and the variability in antimicrobial susceptibility tests. By utilizing pooled ID models, this study revealed significant differences in foodborne pathogens’ susceptibility to extracts, which were dependent on both the plant species and the methodology employed (p < .05). Cassia showed the highest efficacy againstSalmonellaspp., exhibiting a pooled ID of 26.24 mm, while cinnamon demonstrated the highest efficacy againstBacillus cereus, with a pooled ID of 23.35 mm. Mint extract showed the greatest efficacy againstEscherichia coliandStaphylococcus aureus. Interestingly, cinnamon extract demonstrated the lowest effect against Shiga toxin‐producingE. coli, with a pooled ID of only 8.07 mm, whereas its EOs were the most effective against this bacterial strain. The study found that plant species influenced the MIC, while the methodology did not affect MIC measurements (p > .05). An inverse correlation between ID and MIC measurements was identified (p < .0001). These findings suggest that extracts and EOs obtained fromCinnamomum,Salvia, andMenthaspp. have the potential to inhibit bacterial growth. The study highlights the importance of considering various factors that may influence ID and MIC measurements when assessing the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents.
Spatial and temporal variability in stream thermal regime drivers for three river networks during the summer growing season
Authors: Fuller Matthew R. , Detenbeck Naomi E. , Leinenbach Peter , Labiosa Rochelle , Isaak Daniel
Published: August 2023

Many cold water‐dependent aquatic organisms are experiencing habitat and population declines from increasing water temperatures. Identifying mechanisms which drive local and regional stream thermal regimes facilitates restoration at ecologically relevant scales. Stream temperatures vary spatially and temporally both within and among river basins. We developed a modeling process to identify statistical relationships between drivers of stream temperature and covariates representing landscape, climate, and management‐related processes. The modeling process was tested in three study areas of the Pacific Northwest United States during the growing season (May [start], August [warmest], September [end]). Across all months and study systems, covariates with the highest relative importance represented the physical landscape (elevation [1st], catchment area [3rd], main channel slope [5th]) and climate covariates (mean monthly air temperature [2nd] and discharge [4th]). Two management covariates (groundwater use [6th] and riparian shade [7th]) also had high relative importance. Across the growing season (for all basins), local reach slope had high relative importance in May, but transitioned to a regional main channel slope covariate in August and September. This modeling process identified regionally similar and locally unique relationships among drivers of stream temperature. High relative importance of management‐related covariates suggested potential restoration actions for each system.
Knowledge of ground‐dwelling beetle communities in the tropical Andes: Gaps and trends
Authors: López‐Bedoya Pablo A. , Magura Tibor , Méndez‐Rojas Diana M. , Noriega Jorge Ari , Horgan Finbarr G. , Edwards David P.
Published: August 2023

The tropical Andes is one of the most biodiverse ecoregions on Earth, exhibiting high levels of species endemism. The tropical Andes is also one of the most vulnerable ecoregions worldwide due to a long history of anthropogenic transformations. One of the major obstacles for generating conservation plans is gaps in knowledge about the status and threats to many groups of Andean biodiversity, especially invertebrates. Focusing on three important beetle groups (i.e., Coleoptera: ground beetles, rove beetles and dung beetles) in the tropical Andes, we performed a systematic review of scientific literature retrieving 50 studies that allowed us to assess the degree of knowledge across the region, disturbance types, and biodiversity metrics used. We found a high representation of studies in Colombia, compared with other Andean countries. We also found a marked bias among taxonomic groups, topics or metrics evaluated, with dung beetles the most represented group, particularly in studies addressing forest conversion using metrics such as species richness or abundance. We reveal large gaps in information on the diversity of ground and rove beetles, and in the use of other diversity metrics. The lack of information across countries makes it difficult to generalize results and points to the need for more research, especially in under‐represented countries such as Bolivia and Venezuela. Including complementary response metrics, such as biomass, functional diversity or ecological functions, will improve the assessment of human impacts on tropical Andean beetle communities and wider ecosystems.
Radiological examination of the skull of Siirt‐coloured mohair goat, Romanov and Hamdani sheep
Authors: Güzel Barış Can , Işbilir Fatma
Published: August 2023

The skull is a vitally important complex structure formed by the combination of many bones. Craniometric studies are performed with various imaging methods to determine morphometric characteristics in animals. One of these methods is radiography. In our study, skulls of 14 Hamdani sheep, 20 Siirt‐coloured mohair goats and 20 Romanov sheep breeds were used. Skull sections were taken with a computed tomography device and saved in DICOM format. Nine separate measurements and six index calculations were made from the images. In the study, firstly, the gender difference was ignored and the similarities and differences between the species were recorded. In addition, gender differences were determined statistically, without making any distinction between species. Correlation analysis was performed to compare measurement parameters between animal species. As a result of the study, the highest skull length (SL) and cranial length (CL) values were determined in the Siirt‐coloured mohair goat. It was determined that the difference between Romanov sheep and Siirt‐coloured mohair goat in CL parameter was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In addition, a statistically significant difference was observed between the Romanov sheep breed and the Hamdani sheep breed (p < 0.01). The external length of the cranium (ELC) measurement parameter was found to have a statistically significant difference in three animals (p < 0.01). According to the results of the correlation analysis, the highest correlation value was determined between cranial width (CW) and CL parameters (r = 0.920). When the species difference was ignored, and the statistical difference of the internal height of the cranium (IHC) parameter was found to be significant between female and male animals (p < 0.05). In addition, it was determined that SL, CW and internal cranium index (ICI) parameters had a significant difference depending on sex (p < 0.01). It is foreseen that the obtained data can be used in sciences such as zoo archaeology, anatomy, surgery and forensic medicine.
Risk factors for poor progression of addictive internet use across different COVID‐19 periods in China
Authors: Song Yi‐Xuan , Huang Yu‐Chen , Li Yang‐Yang , Bao Yan‐Ping , Zhou Guang‐Dong , Lu Lin , Shi Jie , Sun Yan
Published: August 2023

Background and Objectives

Addictive behaviors are serious factors for mental health and usually increase during public crises. We identified the vulnerable characteristics for bad prognosis of addictive internet use across different periods of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic.

Methods

Self‐reported questionnaires were delivered in three waves through jdh.com during the outbreak (n = 17,960), remission (n = 15,666), and dynamic zero (n = 12,158) periods of COVID‐19 pandemic in China. Internet addiction degree was assessed using the Internet Addiction Test. The different progression groups were divided using a latent class growth model among 1679 longitudinal participants. Risk factors for bad progression were identified by two‐step logistic regression.

Results

A total of 40.16% of participants reported an increase in the addictive degree of internet use compared with prepandemic. Across different COVID‐19 periods, the overall trend of addictive internet use was downward among general Chinese study participants (Mslope = −1.56). Childhood traumatic experiences, deterioration of physical health, depression, and anxiety during remission and dynamic periods were the main risk factors for the bad progression of pandemic‐induced addictive internet use.

Discussion and Conclusions

Addictive internet use was remitted following relaxed control policies during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Negative childhood experiences and bad mental status during the recovery period were harmful to coping with pandemic‐related addictive internet use.

Scientific Significance

Our findings profiled the general trend of addictive internet use and the vulnerable characteristics of its bad progression across different periods of the first wave of COVID‐19 pandemic in China. Our findings provide valuable insights for preventing the long‐term adverse effects of negative public events on Internet addiction.
Circulating mast cell progenitors increase during natural birch pollen exposure in allergic asthma patients
Authors: Alvarado‐Vazquez P. Abigail , Mendez‐Enriquez Erika , Salomonsson Maya , Waern Ida , Janson Christer , Wernersson Sara , Malinovschi Andrei , Hallgren Jenny
Published: August 2023

Background

Mast cells (MCs) develop from a rare population of peripheral blood circulating MC progenitors (MCps). Here, we investigated whether the frequency of circulating MCps is altered in asthma patients sensitized to birch pollen during pollen season, compared to out of season.

Methods

Asthma patients were examined during birch pollen season in late April to early June (May), and out of season in November–January. Spirometry measurements, asthma and allergy‐related symptoms, asthma control questionnaire (ACQ), and asthma control test (ACT) scores were assessed at both time points. The MCp frequency was determined by flow cytometry in ficoll‐separated blood samples from patients with positive birch pollen‐specific IgE, and analyzed in relation to basic and disease parameters.

Results

The frequency of MCps per liter of blood was higher in May than in November (p = .004), particularly in women (p = .009). Patients that reported moderate to severe asthma symptoms (<.0001), nose or eye symptoms (p = .02; p = .01), or reduced asthma control (higher ACQ, p = .01) had higher MCp frequency in May than those that did not report this. These associations remained significant after adjusting for sex and BMI. The change in asthma control to a lower ACT score in May correlated with an increase in MCp frequency in May (p = .006, rho = 0.46).

Conclusions

The data suggest that the frequency of MCps increases in symptomatic patients with allergic asthma. Our results unravel a link between asthma symptoms and circulating MCps, and bring new insight into the impact of natural allergen exposure on the expansion of MCs.
Comparison of clinical outcomes and prognosis between total pancreatectomy and pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Hong Shengqian , Ren Jiao , Zhang Sufang , Yan Yulou , Liu Shiqi , Qi Fuzhen
Published: August 2023

Background

To compare the clinical outcomes and prognosis of total pancreatectomy (TP) and pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and to explore the safety and indications of TP.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted on PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases from January 1943 to March 2023 for literatures comparing TP and PD in the treatment of PDAC. The primary outcome was postoperative overall survival (OS), and secondary outcomes included surgery time, blood loss, readmission, hospital stay, perioperative mortality, and overall morbidity. Fixed‐effect or random‐effect models were selected based on heterogeneity, and odds ratio (OR), mean difference (MD), or hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.

Results

A total of six studies involving 8396 patients were included in the meta‐analysis. There was no statistically significant difference in OS after surgery between the two groups (HR = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.91–1.27; P = 0.38). The TP group had a longer surgery time (MD = 13.66, 95% CI: 4.57–22.75; P = 0.003) and more blood loss (MD = 133.17, 95% CI: 8.00–258.33; P = 0.04) than the PD group. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of hospital stay (MD = 0.09, 95% CI: −2.04 to 2.22; P = 0.93), readmission rate (OR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.00–1.92; P = 0.05), perioperative mortality (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 0.98–1.69; P = 0.07), and overall morbidity (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.50–1.26; P = 0.33).

Conclusion

The surgical process of TP is relatively complex, but there is no difference in short‐term clinical outcomes and OS compared to PD, making it a safe and reliable procedure. Indications and treatment outcomes for planned TP and salvage TP may differ, and more research is needed in the future for further classification and verification
Management of malignant T1 colorectal cancer polyps: results from a 10‐year prospective observational study
Authors: Johnstone Mark S. , McSorley Stephen T. , McMahon Andrew J.
Published: August 2023

Aim

The recurrence risk associated with residual malignant cells (bowel wall/regional nodes) following T1 colorectal cancer (CRC) polypectomy must be weighed against operative morbidity. Our aim was to describe the management and outcomes of a large prospective cohort of T1 CRCs.

Method

All T1 CRCs diagnosed between March 2007 and March 2017 at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary were included. Patients were grouped by polypectomy, rectal local excision and formal resection status. χ2 testing, multivariate binary logistic and Cox regression were performed.

Results

Of 236 patients, 90 (38.1%) underwent polypectomy only, six (2.6%) polypectomy and then rectal excision, 57 (24.2%) polypectomy and then resection, 14 (5.9%) rectal excision only and 69 (29.2%) primary resection. Polypectomy only correlated with male sex (P = 0.028), older age (P < 0.001), distal CRCs (P < 0.001) and pedunculated polyps (P < 0.001); primary resection with larger polyps (P < 0.001); polypectomy then resection with piecemeal excision (P = 0.002) and involved polypectomy margin (P < 0.001). Poor differentiation (OR 7.860, 95% CI 1.117–55.328; P = 0.038) independently predicted lymph node involvement. Submucosal venous invasion (hazard ratio [HR] 10.154, 95% CI 2.087–49.396; P = 0.004) and mucinous subtype (HR 7.779, 95% CI 1.566–38.625; P = 0.012) independently predicted recurrence. Submucosal venous invasion (HR 5.792, 95% CI 1.056–31.754; P = 0.043) predicted CRC‐specific survival. Although 64.4% of polypectomy‐only patients had margin involvement/other risk factors, none developed recurrence. Of 94 with polypectomy margin involvement, five (5.3%) had confirmed residual tumour. Overall, lymph node metastases (7.1%), recurrence (4.2%) and cancer‐specific mortality (3.0%) were rare. Cancer‐specific 5‐year survival was high: polypectomy only (100%), polypectomy and then resection (98.2%), primary resection (100%).

Conclusion

Surveillance may be safe for more T1 CRC polyp patients. Multidisciplinary team discussion and informed patient choice are critical.
Four‐ and six‐year‐old children track a single meaning with both familiar and unfamiliar referents when the referent is clear: More evidence for propose‐but‐verify
Authors: Wang Felix Hao , Luo Meili , Li Nan
Published: August 2023

In word learning, learners need to identify the referent of words by leveraging the fact that the same word may co‐occur with different sets of objects. This raises the question, what do children remember from “in the moment” that they can use for cross‐situational learning? Furthermore, do children represent pictures of familiar animals versus drawings of non‐existent novel objects as potential referents differently? This study examined these questions by creating learning scenarios with only two potential referents, requiring the least amount of memory to represent all co‐present objects. Across three experiments (n > 250) with 4‐ and 6‐year‐old children, children reliably selected the intended referent from learning at test, though the learning of novel objects was better than familiar objects. When asked for a co‐present object, children of all ages in the study performed at chance in all of the conditions. We discuss the developmental differences in cross‐situational word learning capabilities with regard to representing different stimuli as potential referents. Importantly, all children used a propose‐but‐verify procedure for learning novel words even in the simplest of the learning scenarios given repeated exposure.