bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systems thinking approach to human resources development in public health supply chains
Authors: Meier Erin , Brown Andrew Nelson , Chovitz Barry , Zwinkels Dominique , Egharevba Michael , McHenry Bridget , Kabatende Joseph , Gege Buki Ines K.
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This practice forum paper aims to present a theoretical framework to better develop the required supply chain management (SCM) competencies and the workforce needed for managing public health supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

This framework is driven by iterative systems thinking, a deeper consideration of the SCM labor market and a comprehensive mapping of human resource system requirements. The framework centers around three tools. A labor market analysis assesses factors influencing supply of and demand for health SCM workers in a country context. To improve supply of and demand for workers, the SCM Professionalisation Framework provides reference documents to establish health SCM as a recognized profession. The human resources for SCM Theory of Change explains and assesses the conditions required to achieve optimal workforce performance at the organizational level. The Ministry of Health in Rwanda applied these three tools sequentially to assess and improve the supply and performance of its health SCM workforce.

Findings

The authors describe this framework, how the tools were applied in Rwanda, and early impressions of the results.

Practical implications

Practitioners can apply this approach to improve SCM competence and promote the attractiveness of health SCM positions by formalizing their professional status. This could lead to a pool of individuals who seek SCM qualifications and, in time, overcome the current shortage of health SCM workers. Employers can apply this approach to structured roles and workforce needs to meet health SCM system requirements. This would lead to a greater demand for and use of appropriately trained personnel.

Originality/value

This paper presents a novel, iterative, systems-thinking approach to develop human resources in public health supply chains. Rwanda is the first country to apply all three tools using this framework.
Inpatients’ satisfaction with healthcare services in a public hospital in a developing country
Authors: Bulti Kassahun , Olani Amanti Baru , Amanu A Adamu
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Patient satisfaction is strongly linked to health outcomes, as satisfied patients are more likely to adhere to treatment regimens and less likely to miss follow-up appointments. Healthcare service quality and patient satisfaction in developing countries, such as Ethiopia, are critical policy and research agendas. Thus, this study aims to assess inpatients’ satisfaction with healthcare services in a public hospital in Ethiopia.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study design was employed, and 192 respondents were selected using a systematic sampling technique. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized to analyze the data.

Findings

The inpatient satisfaction rate was found to be 51%. The highest satisfaction of respondents was found in physician services (96.88%), and the lowest was found in access to water (18.75%). Factors determining inpatients’ satisfaction were diverse. The inpatients reported inadequate medical supplies, water problems, poor sanitation and infrastructure as critical challenges. The main implication of this study is the need to improve physical facilities, medical supplies and sanitation and to strengthen the monitoring and evaluation of work performance.

Originality/value

This paper investigated inpatients’ satisfaction with healthcare services at a public hospital. This study’s findings can inform policy decisions and targeted interventions for enhancing quality healthcare provision in public healthcare facilities in Ethiopia. Ensuring quality healthcare service provision may have a significant impact on the health and well-being of people as well as the overall socio-economic development of the nation.
Enhancing customer perception of co-production knowledge sharing: navigating scepticism and leveraging prosociality to unlock active feedback behaviour in co-creation
Authors: Twumasi Ankrah Shadrach , He Zheng , Arku Jason Kobina , Asare-Kyire Lydia
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Drawing on the reciprocity principle of social exchange theory situated within Service-dominant Logic, this study aims to examine how customers’ perception of knowledge sharing in co-production, their inherent scepticism and prosocial orientation relate to their willingness to co-create and provide feedback on services. The authors also explored the interplay between these factors to identify conditions in configurations comprising scepticism, which may help navigate its adverse effects.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors surveyed 556 online and offline mobile payment service users. They used a combination of partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to assess the relationships among variables, and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to identify configurations associated with feedback behaviour.

Findings

The study determined that customer perception of co-production knowledge sharing is positively associated with willingness to co-create and feedback behaviour. Additionally, prosocial orientation positively affects this relationship, while scepticism has an adverse effect. Willingness to co-create mediates the relationship between customer perception of co-production knowledge sharing and feedback behaviour. The fsQCA findings revealed configurations for potentially navigating doubts regarding feedback. To encourage valuable customer feedback, businesses may consider promoting a collaborative and supportive atmosphere, emphasising shared advantages or building trust even among hesitant and doubtful individuals.

Originality/value

This study uniquely examines how both prosocial tendencies and scepticism relate to customer feedback behaviour in co-creation by using a hybrid PLS-SEM/fsQCA approach to identify co-existing conditions in configurations comprising scepticism that may help navigate its adverse effects and leverage customer feedback for business improvement.
Understanding the triangular theory of love in entrepreneurial ventures! Linking love dimensions to business performance through employee loyalty
Authors: Ismail Ismail Juma
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study examines the mediating effect of employee loyalty on the relationship between love dimensions as adapted from the triangular theory of love and business performance of entrepreneurial ventures.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employed structural equation modelling in data analysis. However, before conducting confirmatory factor analysis and path analysis, exploratory factor analysis was conducted because most of the items used were new to human resource management (employee–organization relationship), especially among entrepreneurial ventures. Additionally, a Hayes’ PROCESS mediation test was conducted to analyze the mediation effect of employee loyalty.

Findings

The findings suggest that love dimensions such as employee intimacy, employee passion and employee commitment have positive and significant relationships with employee loyalty. It also appears that employee loyalty plays a significant mediation role in the relationship between love dimensions and business performance of entrepreneurial ventures.

Practical implications

The study’s findings have several implications. However, all of them are developed to include initiatives related to improving business performance through increasing employee intimacy, employee passion, employee commitment and employee loyalty.

Originality/value

The application of the triangular theory of love adds to human resource management and entrepreneurship literature. Very few studies have focused on the love relationship between employees and their organizations especially among entrepreneurial ventures in developing countries. Since in the current settings of business practices employees are considered as important internal customers, extending the triangular theory of love to employee and organizational relationships is critical, because creating an employee–job relationship is considered a short-term emotional feeling. Therefore, there is a need to look into a long-lasting love relationship between employees and their organizations. This is important for increasing employee intent to stay and loyalty within the entrepreneurial ventures.
A new competitive edge: crafting a service climate that facilitates optimal human–AI collaboration
Authors: van Riel Allard C.R. , Tabatabaei Farhad , Yang Xiaoyi , Maslowska Ewa , Palanichamy Velmurugan , Clark Della , Luongo Michael
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Capable service employees are increasingly scarce and costly. Many organizations opt to partially replace, support or augment human employees with AI systems. This study builds a framework to help managers map and understand the challenges of crafting a service climate that fosters synergies between AI and human employees, where customers require value-added, personalized and excellent service.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual article identifies barriers and facilitators of building a service climate for organizations using both human and AI-based employees through an eclectic review of relevant literature.

Findings

A conceptual framework is built, and a future research agenda is brought forth.

Research limitations/implications

By identifying barriers and facilitators for AI–human synergies in service settings, this article clarifies how AI can be made to complement human employees, especially in delivering personalized, value-added services, while also highlighting knowledge gaps.

Practical implications

This study provides a practical framework for integrating AI into the workforce. It offers insights into addressing challenges in creating a service climate that combines human and AI capabilities to maintain service excellence. Identifying key barriers and facilitators, the framework guides managers to improve efficiency and customer satisfaction in a rapidly changing service landscape.

Social implications

This research offers insights on incorporating AI to address labor shortages while maintaining high-quality, personalized service. It provides a pathway to improving service experiences, especially in sectors facing staffing challenges from an aging population.

Originality/value

This research builds on Bowen and Schneider’s (2014) seminal service climate framework to account for a mix of human and AI-based employees.
Small and medium-sized enterprises’ path to sustainable supply chains: exploring the role of supply chain finance and risk management
Authors: Sun Kaixiang , Ooi Keng-Boon , Wei-Han Tan Garry , Lee Voon-Hsien
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the triangular interconnections among supply chain finance (SCF), supply chain risk management (SCRM) and supply chain sustainability (SCS) within the context of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) under the theoretical foundation of dynamic capabilities view.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 319 valid data sets were gathered from SMEs in China to evaluate the research model. This study uses partial least square structural equation modelling and necessary condition analysis as the two statistical methodologies for the assessment.

Findings

The findings indicate that SCF positively impacts on both SCRM and SCS, whereas SCRM also positively influences SCS. Furthermore, it has been observed that SCRM partially mediates the connection between SCF and SCS.

Research limitations/implications

The findings contribute to the literature of SCS by empirically validating the direct and mediating impacts of SCRM on SCS.

Practical implications

The results provide valuable insights that can assist SME stakeholders, owners and managers in developing strategies to effectively incorporate SCF and SCRM practices, thereby enhancing SCS performance.

Originality/value

This study expands the existing research on SCF and SCRM in the context of promoting SCS, specifically from the viewpoint of an Asian developing country.
Long‐term recovery in critically ill COVID‐19 survivors: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Didriksson Ingrid , Frigyesi Attila , Spångfors Martin , Leffler Märta , Reepalu Anton , Nilsson Anna C. , Annborn Martin , Lybeck Anna , Friberg Hans , Lilja Gisela
Published: November 2024

Background

Long‐term recovery following critical COVID‐19 has not been sufficiently studied.

Objective

The primary objective was to describe changes in functional outcome and Health‐Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) between 3 and 12 months in critically ill COVID‐19 survivors. The secondary objective was to investigate factors associated with good functional outcome and HRQoL at 12 months.

Methods

Prospective multicentre cohort study including critically ill COVID‐19 patients admitted to six intensive care units in Sweden between May 2020 and May 2021. Surviving patients were invited to face‐to‐face follow‐ups at 3 and 12 months. Functional outcome was assessed using the Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE), ranging from 1 to 8. Physical and mental HRQoL was assessed by the physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores of the Short form health survey version 2 (SF‐36v2®). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with good functional outcome (GOSE ≥7) and good physical and mental HRQoL (PCS and MCS ≥45) at 12 months.

Results

The percentage of participants with a good functional outcome increased from 35% to 64% between 3 and 12 months (p < .001). Mean PCS improved from 40 to 44 between 3 and 12 months (p < .001), while the mean MCS was within the normal range at 3 months, with no change at 12 months (46 vs. 48, p = .05). Increasing age was associated with a good functional outcome. Lower clinical frailty and absence of diabetes mellitus were associated with a good PCS. A shorter duration of mechanical ventilation was associated with a good outcome for all three outcome measures.

Conclusion

Survivors of critical COVID‐19 showed improved functional outcome and physical HRQoL from 3 to 12 months post‐ICU. A shorter duration of mechanical ventilation is associated with good functional outcome and good HRQoL, while older age is associated with good functional outcome. Younger patients and those with comorbidities or higher frailty may require targeted follow‐up and rehabilitation.

Study registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04974775, registered April 28, 2020.
Comparative study of the diversity of amino acids on human leucocyte antigen class II molecules in patients with acquired aplastic anaemia
Authors: Qi Jun , Wang Tianju , Wang Manni , He Pengcheng , Li Yuhui , Shang Lixia , Chen Le , Wang Xiaofang , Xu Hua , Ma Chaofeng
Published: November 2024

Human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class II molecules are critically involved in the pathology of acquired aplastic anaemia (AA) by regulating the immune response and autoreactive T cell‐mediated haematopoietic cell death. In the study, amino acid residue variation and molecular structure of HLA class II have been initially investigated in 96 patients with AA. The frequencies of residues 9 and 57 in pocket 9 (P9) in DQB1, and amino acid positions 9, 11, 13, 16, 26, 38, 67 and 71 in the P4, P6 and P9 pockets in DRB1 were more prevalent among AA patients. By applying a multivariate recursive approach, the DRβ‐Gln‐16 (OR = 3.003, 95% CI = 1.468–6.145, pc = 0.003), DRβ‐Ala‐71 (OR = 1.924, 95% CI = 1.233–3.002, pc = 0.004) in P4/P7 and DQβ‐Asp‐57 (OR = 3.483, 95% CI = 1.079–11.242, pc = 0.037) in P9, these critical residues were significantly discovered as risk amino acid residues on the onset of AA, as well as associated with PNH‐type cells and pathological somatic or cytogenetic mutations. In silico structural model analysis showed that identified DRβ‐Ala‐71 and DQβ‐Asp‐57 within the antigen‐binding groove interacting with a more variable antigenic segments, may impact the repertoire of peptides presented, influence the interface HLA‐antigen‐T‐cell receptor β (TCR β). These findings provided light on the immunogenetic pathophysiology of AA aetiology and their potential impact on upcoming immunotherapies.
Synergy between pluripotent stem cell‐derived macrophages and self‐renewing macrophages: Envisioning a promising avenue for the modelling and cell therapy of infectious diseases
Authors: Peng Dingkun , Li Meilin , Yu Zhuoran , Yan Tingsheng , Yao Meng , Li Su , Liu Zhonghua , Li Lian‐Feng , Qiu Hua‐Ji
Published: November 2024

As crucial phagocytes of the innate immune system, macrophages (Mϕs) protect mammalian hosts, maintain tissue homeostasis and influence disease pathogenesis. Nonetheless, Mϕs are susceptible to various pathogens, including bacteria, viruses and parasites, which cause various infectious diseases, necessitating a deeper understanding of pathogen–Mϕ interactions and therapeutic insights. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have been efficiently differentiated into PSC‐derived Mϕs (PSCdMϕs) resembling primary Mϕs, advancing the modelling and cell therapy of infectious diseases. However, the mass production of PSCdMϕs, which lack proliferative capacity, relies on large‐scale expansions of PSCs, thereby increasing both costs and culture cycles. Notably, Mϕs deficient in the MafB/c‐Maf genes have been reported to re‐enter the cell cycle with the stimulation of specific growth factor cocktails, turning into self‐renewing Mϕs (SRMϕs). This review summarizes the applications of PSCdMϕs in the modelling and cell therapy of infectious diseases and strategies for establishing SRMϕs. Most importantly, we innovatively propose that PSCs can serve as a gene editing platform to creating PSC‐derived SRMϕs (termed PSRMϕs), addressing the resistance of Mϕs against genetic manipulation. We discuss the challenges and possible solutions in creating PSRMϕs. In conclusion, this review provides novel insights into the development of physiologically relevant and expandable Mϕ models, highlighting the enormous potential of PSRMϕs as a promising avenue for the modelling and cell therapy of infectious diseases.
Early Detection of Left Ventricular Dysfunction With Machine Learning‐Based Strain Imaging in Aortic Stenosis Patients
Authors: Yahav Amir , Adam Dan
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Aortic stenosis (AS) is a common cardiovascular condition where early detection of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is essential for timely intervention and optimal management. Current echocardiographic measurements, such as ejection fraction (EF), are insensitive to minor changes in LV function, and strain imaging is typically limited to the global longitudinal strain (GLS) parameter due to robustness issues. This study introduces a novel, fully automatic algorithm to enhance the detection of LV dysfunction in AS patients using multiple strain imaging parameters.

Methods

We applied supervised machine‐learning techniques to classify data from 82 severe AS patients, 96 chest pain subjects, and 319 healthy volunteers.

Results

Our model significantly outperformed EF and GLS in distinguishing AS patients from healthy volunteers (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.97 vs. 0.88 and 0.82, respectively). It also surpassed EF and GLS in differentiating AS patients from chest pain subjects (AUC = 0.95 vs. 0.90 and 0.55, respectively).

Conclusion

This novel, clinically interpretable model leverages the potential of strain imaging to enhance diagnostic accuracy and guide clinical decision‐making in LV dysfunction, thereby improving clinical practice.
Competitive superiority switches between larval and adult stages reducing the fitness difference between competing parasitoids
Authors: Liu Tiantian , Zhang Yunshu , Sun Shucun , Xi Xinqiang
Published: November 2024

Shifts in resource use in response to interspecific competition were thought to be necessary for the stable coexistence of consumers sharing the same resources. However, if superiority between competitors switches during development, they may achieve similar lifetime fitness without changing resource use. We tested this hypothesis by allowing two parasitoid wasp species, Pachycrepoideus vindemiae Rondani (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) and Trichopria drosophilae Perkins (Hymenoptera: Diapriidae), to exploit large and small Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae) pupae separately or simultaneously to examine whether they change their host preferences in response to interspecific competition. The results showed that both parasitoid species preferred large over small hosts regardless of the presence of competitors, although immature T. drosophilae generally shows a higher mortality rate than P. vindemiae when they shared the same host pupae. This could be explained by the higher fitness loss of T. drosophilae in small hosts, as body size, longevity, and fecundity of T. drosophilae offspring suffered more from a decrease in host size than P. vindemiae. In contrast, adult female T. drosophilae laid more eggs than P. vindemiae, which enabled them to outperform P. vindemiae during host exploration. Consequently, the two parasitoid species had similar numbers of offspring when they were allowed to exploit the host pupae simultaneously. This study provides insights into our understanding of how competing parasitoid species may coexist on the same resources.
Visual attention modulates mu suppression during biological motion perception in autistic individuals
Authors: Sotoodeh Mohammad Saber , Chien Sarina Hui‐Lin , Hadjikhani Nouchine
Published: November 2024

There has been a lot of controversy regarding mirror neuron function in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in particular during the observation of biological motions (BM). Here, we directly explored the link between visual attention and brain activity in terms of mu suppression, by simultaneously recording eye‐tracking and EEGs during BM tasks. Nineteen autistic children (15 boys, mean age = 11.57 ± 4.28 years) and 19 age‐matched neurotypical (NT) children (15 boys, mean age = 11.68 ± 5.22 years) participated in the study. Each participant's eye movement and EEG were simultaneously recorded while watching four BM stimuli (walking, cartwheeling, free‐throwing and underarm throwing) and a scrambled condition. Mu (8–13 Hz) suppression index (SI) for central regions was calculated. Fixation counts and percent of fixation time were calculated as indices of eye movements. EEG results revealed significant mu suppressions in the central region in both groups for all BM actions. Eye‐tracking results showed that NT children had greater fixation counts and a higher percentage of fixation time than autistic children, indicating greater overall visual attention to BM. Notably, correlational analyses for both groups further revealed that individuals' fixation time and fixation counts were negatively correlated with the mu suppression index for all actions, indicating a strong association between visual attention and mu SI in the central region. Our findings suggest a critical role of visual attention in interpreting mu suppression during action perception in autism.
Clinical staff attitudes towards opt‐out consent for blood‐borne virus screening in emergency departments in England
Authors: Blakey Esther G. , Fairhead Cassandra E. L. , Rodger Alison J. , Burns Fiona M. , Ralph Lucie , Chadwick David R.
Published: November 2024

Objective

Opt‐out screening for blood‐borne viruses (BBVs) in emergency departments (EDs) has been established in areas with a high prevalence of HIV diagnoses in England. This multi‐site study explored the attitudes of healthcare workers (HCWs) towards BBV screening in EDs post‐implementation.

Design

This was a cross‐sectional electronic survey of HCWs.

Methods

Between November 2023 and February 2024, HCWs across 33 EDs in England participating in opt‐out BBV screening were invited to complete a survey about the feasibility and acceptability of screening, including the opt‐out consent process. Factors independently associated with acceptability of opt‐out screening were identified using multivariable logistic regression. Free‐text responses were analysed thematically.

Results

Responses from 610 HCWs in 19 EDs were provided: 50.4% were nurses, 43.1% doctors, and 6.5% other healthcare professionals. Acceptability of the screening programme and opt‐out consent was high (90.3% and 77.7%, respectively), with some variation between EDs. Acceptability of opt‐out consent was greater among doctors than among other HCWs, and among HCWs who proactively discussed screening further with patients who opted out. However, 50.8% of HCWs felt that patients should be verbally reminded at blood draw, and 44.3% of HCWs wanted more training in discussing opt‐out screening with patients. Free‐text answers suggested changes to test‐ordering systems, including simple integration of tick boxes to document whether patients opted out and to block repeated testing.

Conclusions

There was substantial support from ED HCWs for routine opt‐out ED BBV screening, including opt‐out consent. Key areas suggested for improvement included changes to test‐ordering systems and additional training for HCWs. Frequent preference for verbal reminders at the point of blood draw suggests continued HIV testing exceptionalism.
Critical Thinking and Engagement in Foreign Language Learning: Mediation of Enjoyment, Anxiety, and Boredom and Moderation of Achievement Level
Authors: Ma Lihong , Xu Lin
Published: November 2024

Drawing from rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT), this research explored the predictive power of critical thinking (CT) disposition on foreign language (FL) engagement. Additionally, it examined whether emotions mediate this relationship and how achievement levels moderate these mediation effects. The study involved 3238 Chinese secondary students, with data collected through self‐reported scales measuring CT disposition, enjoyment, anxiety, boredom, and engagement in FL learning, as well as FL achievement tests. Mediation analysis revealed that CT disposition was significantly and positively associated with FL engagement. Moreover, this relationship was mediated by FL enjoyment, anxiety, and boredom. Additionally, anxiety and boredom notably mediated the relationship between CT disposition and FL engagement, especially among high‐achieving students. However, moderated mediation analysis showed that the mediation effect of FL enjoyment did not significantly differ between high‐achieving and low‐achieving groups. This research holds theoretical, practical, and methodological implications for FL teaching and learning, providing insights into how emotional responses influenced by CT can affect student engagement across different achievement levels.
The JNK signalling pathway gene BmJun is involved in the regulation of egg quality and production in the silkworm, Bombyx mori
Authors: Wang Yu‐Guo , Liu An‐Qi , Khan Yasir , Zhang Yi , Wang Chen‐Chen , Song Yao‐Le , Du Jiang‐Han , Sima Yang‐Hu , Qiu Jian‐Feng , Xu Shi‐Qing
Published: November 2024

The Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) signalling pathway has a key role in tissue remodelling during insect metamorphosis by regulating programmed cell death. However, multiple members of the JNK pathway in Lepidoptera remain uncharacterized. In this study, two key genes of the JNK pathway, BmJun and BmFos, were cloned from the silkworm Bombyx mori, a lepidopteran model insect, and their effects on reproductive development were investigated. BmJun and BmFos encode 239 and 380 amino acids, respectively. Both proteins have typical basic leucine zipper domains and form a BmJUN‐BmFOS dimer activator protein to exert transcriptional regulation. During the wandering stage of silkworm development, interference in BmJun expression had no effect on pupation, whereas B. mori vitellogenin (BmVg) expression, which is essential for egg development, was suppressed in the fat body and egg laying was significantly reduced. Additionally, numerous eggs appeared shrivelled and deformed, suggesting that they were nutritionally stunted. Inhibition of the JNK pathway caused abnormal pupal metamorphosis, an increase in shrivelled, unfertilized eggs, a decrease in fat body synthesis, and accumulation of BmVg in the ovaries of female B. mori. The results indicated that BmJUN and BmFOS can form an AP‐1 dimer. Interfering with BmJun or inhibiting the phosphorylation of BmJUN leads to a reduction in the synthesis of BmVg in the fat body and its accumulation in the ovaries, thereby affecting the quality and production of the progeny eggs. These findings suggest that regulating Jun in the JNK pathway could be a potential way to inhibit female reproduction in Lepidoptera.
Unveiling Thrips (Thysanoptera) as Nature's Unsung Pollinators: A Survey From Obligatory Thripophily to Thrips as Supplementary Pollinators
Authors: Augustine Neenu , Jose Anna , Chinnu Vikraman Sreekala , Rachana Rajan Remani
Published: November 2024

Thrips are minute, paraneopteran insects with diverse ecological histories and plant associations, encompassing herbivory, fungivory, pollination and predation. They are typically not widely adored insects as many species are regarded to be destructive crop pests and vectors of crop diseases. Nevertheless, certain thrips play a significant role in pollination as they traverse from flower to flower with pollen attached to their bodies. However, most studies on relationships between flowering plants and pollinators have overlooked the prevalence and association of thrips with flowers, and the pollination services were often incorrectly attributed to wind, bees or other agents. This is primarily due to the minute size and cryptic behaviour of thrips, their limited range of movement and minimal structural modifications to carry and disperse pollen. In recent times, the involvement of thrips in pollination was investigated by many researchers and their role was established partly or fully in several angiosperm families. Their role in pollination through specialised thripophily, as minor or secondary pollinators, or via ambophily is well‐established now. The present paper reviews the evidence of pollen transfer by thrips, obligate and nonobligate pollination relationships between plants and pollinator thrips, evolutionary aspects of thripophily, morphological and physiological adaptations in thrips and floral syndromes associated with thripophily.
The proinflammatory status, based on preoperative interleukin‐6, predicts postpancreatectomy acute pancreatitis and associated postoperative pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy
Authors: Ji Yuchen , Chen Haoda , Xu Zhiwei , Zhou Yiran , Fu Ningzhen , Li Hongzhe , Zhai Shuyu , Deng Xiaxing , Shen Baiyong
Published: November 2024

Background and Aim

Early predictors of morbidity after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) can guide tailored postoperative management. Preoperative inflammatory data in patients who underwent PD remained poorly studied in investigating the clinical significance of predicting postpancreatectomy acute pancreatitis (PPAP) and PPAP‐associated postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF).

Methods

The clinical data of 467 patients receiving PD between January 2020 and December 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Preoperative inflammatory data were stratified according to PPAP, and independent risk factors were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression and subgroup analyses were conducted to compare risk factors of PPAP‐associated POPF and non‐PPAP‐associated POPF.

Results

PPAP occurred in 17.6% of patients. The incidence of other complications increased following PPAP. Among the preoperative inflammatory factors, only interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) increased (P < 0.001), leading to a higher incidence of PPAP and POPF (P < 0.001; P = 0.002). The area under the curve of IL‐6 in predicting PPAP was 0.71 (0.65–0.77; P < 0.001). Abnormal preoperative IL‐6 levels (odds ratio [OR]: 5.01; P < 0.001), soft pancreatic texture (OR: 2.15; P = 0.007), and pathology (OR: 2.03; P = 0.012) were independent risk factors for PPAP. The subgroup analysis showed that increased IL‐6 (OR: 1.01; P = 0.006) and soft pancreatic texture (OR: 2.05; P = 0.033) resulted in a higher risk of PPAP‐associated POPF, while increased IL‐8 (OR: 1.01; P = 0.007), older age (OR: 1.05; P = 0.008), and higher body mass index (OR: 1.12; P = 0.021) correlated with non‐PPAP‐associated POPF.

Conclusion

PPAP is common after PD; a high preoperative IL‐6 level can predict its occurrence, in addition to associated POPF, which could be due to a preoperative proinflammatory status.
Enhancing detection of various pancreatic lesions on endoscopic ultrasound through artificial intelligence: a basis for computer‐aided detection systems
Authors: Konikoff Tom , Loebl Nadav , Benson Ariel A. , Green Orr , Sandler Hunter , Gingold‐Belfer Rachel , Levi Zohar , Perl Leor , Dotan Iris , Shamah Steven
Published: November 2024

Background and Aim

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is the most sensitive method for evaluation of pancreatic lesions but is limited by significant operator dependency. Artificial intelligence (AI), in the form of computer‐aided detection (CADe) systems, has shown potential in increasing accuracy and bridging operator dependency in several endoscopic domains. However, the complexity of integrating AI into EUS is far more challenging. This aims to develop and test the basis for a CADe system for real‐time detection and segmentation of all pancreatic lesions.

Methods

In this single‐center study EUS studies of pancreatic findings were included. Lesions were outlined by two expert (>5 years performing EUS) endoscopists, and the two leading types of models were benchmarked. The models' performance was evaluated through per‐pixel intersection over union (IoU).

Results

A total of 1497 EUS images from 165 patients were evaluated. The dataset included malignancies, neuroendocrine tumors, benign cysts, chronic and acute pancreatitis, normal fatty pancreas, and benign lesions. The best model demonstrated detection and segmentation on the test set with a mean IoU of 0.73, achieving a PPV, NPV, total accuracy, and ROC of 0.82, 0.96, 0.95, and 0.95, respectively. The algorithm is adaptable for real‐time processing.

Conclusions

We developed and tested deep learning models for real‐time detection and segmentation of pancreatic lesions during EUS with promising results. This constitutes the basis for a CADe system for EUS, which could be valuable in future detection and evaluation of pancreatic lesions. Further studies for validation and generalization are underway.
Evaluation of thin‐threaded implants primary stability in type IV bone right after maxillary sinus floor elevation: A human cadaver study
Authors: Coutant Jean‐Christophe , Canepa Camilla , Naveau Adrien , Sedarat Cyril , Lauverjat Yves , Ella Bruno
Published: November 2024

Purpose

The bone‐implant interface plays a crucial role in obtaining sufficient primary stability for dental implants in weak bone supports. The aim of this human cadaver study was to evaluate the primary stability of new thin‐threaded implants when placed in type IV bone right after maxillary sinus floor elevation.

Materials and Methods

The study followed the CACTUS (ChAracteristics of Cadaver Training and sUrgical Studies) guidelines. Twenty‐four edentulous maxillary posterior zones with type IV bone and a residual bone height of 4 mm were selected using computed tomography scans. First, an osteotome sinus floor elevation was performed (C.M.C Tech, IBS IMPLANT, Daejeon, South Korea). Implants with thin threads (MagiCore, IBS IMPLANT, Daejeon, South Korea) were placed simultaneously. Samples were divided into two groups: Group 1 (G1): 11 mm‐long implants with an elevation of 8 mm; Group 2 (G2): 7 mm‐long implants with an elevation of 4 mm. Primary stability was assessed using resonance frequency analysis (RFA).

Results

The average primary stability values in the mesiodistal (MD) direction were 45.67 ± 3.09 Implant Stability Quotient (ISQ) for G1 and 38.76 ± 16.94 ISQ for G2, and in the buccolingual direction were 43.33 ± 13.23 ISQ for G1 and 38.47 ± 16.14 ISQ for G2.

Conclusions

The primary stability of the thin‐threaded implants was compatible with clinical osseointegration in sinus sites with limited bone contact area in both experimental situations. Clinical studies are needed to confirm these encouraging results.
Disruption of Melatonin Signaling Leads to Lipids Accumulation in the Liver of Melatonin Proficient Mice
Authors: Goyal Varunika , Tosini Gianluca
Published: November 2024

Melatonin signaling via melatonin receptor type 1 (MT1) and type 2 (MT2) plays an important role in the regulation of several physiological functions. Studies in rodents and humans have demonstrated that disruption of melatonin signaling may affect glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and leptin levels. Accumulating experimental evidence also indicates that in rodents the administration of exogenous melatonin has a beneficial effect on the blood lipid levels. However, the molecular mechanism by which melatonin signaling may regulate lipids is still unclear. In addition, most of the studies with mice have been performed in melatonin‐deficient mice by administering exogenous melatonin at supraphysiological doses. Hence the results of these studies may be greatly affected by these two factors. In this study, we report the effects of melatonin signaling removal on the liver biology and transcriptome using melatonin‐proficient mice (C3H‐f+/f+) in which MT1 or MT2 have been genetically ablated. Our data indicate that the absence of MT1 or MT2 signaling leads to disruption of the blood lipids profile and an increase in lipids deposition in the liver. These effects were more pronounced in the mice lacking MT1 than MT2. The gene expression profiles obtained with RNA‐seq from the livers of the three genotypes revealed that removal of MT1 affected the transcription of 4255 genes (i.e., 40.6%). Conversely, the removal of MT2 affected the transcription of 1864 transcripts (i.e., 17.2%). Finally, we identified a group of 13 genes involved in lipids biology that may play a key role in the accumulation of lipids in the liver when melatonin signaling is disrupted. In conclusion, our study indicates that melatonin signaling is an important modulator of liver physiology and metabolism. Our study also indicated that the removal of MT1 signaling is more deleterious than MT2 removal.
Interrogation questions to native and non‐native eyewitnesses: The role of witness credibility
Authors: Raver Arman , Lindholm Torun , Hassoun Sofie Liljestrand , Alm Charlotte
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This study examined how the language of eyewitnesses (native vs. non‐native) and their perceived credibility influence the interrogation questions posed to them.

Method

In a previous study (Raver et al., Frontiers in Psychology, 2023, 14, 1240822), participants, assuming the role of interrogators, watched either a native or non‐native speaking eyewitness testify and were then asked to formulate interrogation questions to gather more information, as well as rate the witness’s credibility. In the present study, a new set of participants (N = 207) evaluated a subset of these interrogation questions in terms of (1) how leading they were, (2) whether the interrogator cast doubt on something the witness had said and (3) how open‐ended they were. The moderating role of witnesses’ perceived credibility on question framing was also examined.

Results

Results showed no main effect of language (native vs. non‐native) on any question type. For native speakers, lower (vs. higher) credibility led to more expressions of doubt. For non‐native speakers, credibility levels (high vs. low) had no effect on question framing.

Conclusion

These findings highlight complex patterns in interrogation questioning that vary by witness language and perceived credibility, revealing a critical area for further exploration to mitigate potential cross‐linguistic biases. We discuss the study’s limitations and advocate for future research in diverse legal contexts to ensure fairness and uphold the integrity of witness testimonies across languages.
Salicylic acid priming before cadmium exposure increases wheat growth but does not uniformly reverse cadmium effects on membrane glycerolipids
Authors: Colak N. , Kurt‐Celebi A. , Roth M. R. , Welti R. , Torun H. , Ayaz F. A.
Published: November 2024

Cadmium (Cd) is an abiotic stressor negatively affecting plant growth and reducing crop productivity. The effects of Cd (25 μM) and of pre‐soaking seeds with salicylic acid (SA) (500 μM) on morphological, physiological, and glycerolipid changes in two cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ‘Tosunbey’ and ‘Cumhuriyet’) were explored.

Parameters measured were length, fresh and dry biomass, Cd concentration, osmotic potential (ψ), lipid peroxidation, and polar lipid species in roots and leaves, as well as leaf chlorophyll a, carotenoids, and fv/fm.

Fresh biomass of roots and leaves and leaf length were strongly depressed by Cd treatment compared to the control, but significantly increased with SA + Cd compared to Cd alone. Cd reduced leaf levels of chlorophyll a, carotenoids, and fv/fm, compared to controls. Treatment with SA + Cd increased pigment levels and fv/fm compared to Cd alone. Cd treatment led to a decrease in DW of total membrane lipids in leaves and depressed levels of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid in leaves and roots of both cultivars.

The effects of SA priming and SA + Cd treatment on lipid content and composition were cultivar‐specific, suggesting that lipid metabolism may not be a primary target underlying SA remediation of the damaging effects of Cd on wheat growth and development.
Environmental impact of inhaled medicines: A Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand position statement
Authors: Wurzel Danielle F. , Montgomery Brett D. , Anderson Natalie , Schneider‐Futschik Elena K. , George Johnson , Bosnic‐Anticevich Sinthia , Stone Emily , Hancox Robert J. , Fingleton James , Kuek Stephanie , Tope Helen , Blakey John
Published: November 2024

Globally, more than 1.2 billion inhalers are purchased for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) annually. In Australia and New Zealand, pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs) are the leading delivery device prescribed and pMDI salbutamol can be purchased over the counter in Australia. These inhalers are a major contributor to healthcare related greenhouse gases. This is due to the propellants that they currently contain which have extremely high global warming potential (GWP). In this position paper, we report the findings of a Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ) working group on the environmental impact of inhaled respiratory medicines. We reviewed the use of inhaled medicines in Australia and New Zealand and their contribution to climate change and other environmental degradation. We propose strategies for health professionals and consumers to reduce environmental impact in the management of airway diseases. These include accurate diagnosis to avoid unnecessary treatment, better disease control to minimize the need for reliever therapy and actively choosing inhaler devices with lower environmental impacts when clinically appropriate. Inhaler selection should be tailored to the individual, aiming to achieve the best possible clinical outcome. Choosing an appropriate inhaler for an individual involves consideration of factors such as dexterity, inspiratory capacity and cost. In our current climate emergency and with the availability of lower carbon alternatives, health professionals should also consider environmental impact.

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Does the left–right cleavage matter in local politics? An analysis of local party manifestos across municipal sizes
Authors: Reuse Raf
Published: November 2024

In comparative political science the question whether the local political space can be structured along a left–right dimension is being strongly debated. A growing body of research underpins the relevance of left and right in local politics, but these studies are often conducted from the perspective of voters and, above all, in large cities. In order to close these gaps in the literature, this paper addresses the shape of the local political space and the role of municipal size by analysing 257 local party manifestos in the context of Flanders (Belgium). With the help of Wordscores, local parties' policy positions on the general, economic and cultural left–right dimension in small, medium‐sized and large municipalities are analysed. The findings show a strong ideological resemblance between local branches of the same party and between local branches and their national party, but this relationship is not affected by municipal size.
Influence of Prestretch on Planar Indentation of Elastomers: Insights From Experiments and Theory
Authors: Wu Simeng , Zheng Yue Luna
Published: November 2024

Elastomers exhibit a stiffer mechanical response and anisotropy when stretched in a specific direction, which has led to numerous applications in biomechanics, surgery, tactile sensors, and more. This study introduces a comprehensive, experimentally validated analytical framework to investigate the effects of prestretch on the planar contact between a rigid indenter and a hyperelastic substrate. By linearizing the equilibrium equation for incremental deformation, we adapt the superposition principle to reveal how prestretch modifies the mechanical response, which is reflected in a simple prefactor in the surface Green’s function. This modification facilitates precise calculation of contact mechanics properties, including indentation pressure distributions and displacement profiles, which are essential for assessing both global and local properties, e.g., force–displacement responses. We further support our theoretical findings with numerical simulations and validate them through cylindrical indentation tests across various stretch ratios. These outcomes emphasize the feasibility of using our first-order approximation theory in practical settings, especially for the mechanical characterization of materials involving residual stress analysis and the development of advanced, model-based adaptive tactile sensors.
Prediction of Steady and Unsteady Flow Quantities Using Multiscale Graph Neural Networks
Authors: Strönisch Sebastian , Sander Maximilian , Meyer Marcus , Knüpfer Andreas
Published: November 2024

Analysis, optimization, and uncertainty quantification of the aerodynamic behavior of turbomachinery components is a fundamental part of the current industrial design process and requires the extensive use of compute-intensive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. This paper explores the potential of graph neural networks as surrogate models to accelerate the design process, for example, in a multi-fidelity framework. Graph neural networks promise to provide good estimates of flow quantities while maintaining the geometric accuracy at a fraction of the computational effort of CFD. To assess the performance of such methods, a state-of-the-art graph neural network is applied to a turbomachinery setup of industry-relevant mesh size. In particular, a multiscale graph neural network is used to overcome the problems of large information distances when applying message-passing based graph-net blocks to large meshes. The training database consists of a space-filling design of experiment of 100 CFD solutions with different geometries. The first use case encompasses the prediction of flow quantities of the complete fluid domain with 2.5×106 mesh points. The second use case focuses on predicting a single scalar (e.g., pressure) on surface meshes with up to 30×103 mesh points. In both cases, the networks predict time-averaged and unsteady flow fields on unstructured meshes of variable point sizes for new geometries not present in the training set. The results demonstrate the proficiency of the approach in predicting time-averaged and unsteady flow quantities on surfaces as well as for full fluid domains for new geometries.