bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adoption of blockchain technology in hospitality and tourism industry and sustainability performance: impact of technological turbulence and senior leadership support
Authors: Chaudhuri Ranjan , Chatterjee Sheshadri , Vrontis Demetris
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The rapid increase of use of online platforms by the customers in the hospitality and tourism industry has invited the needs for using digital platforms by the concerned industry. In such a scenario, the purpose of this study is to examine how adoption of blockchain technology in hospitality and tourism industry could impact the sustainability performance of the organizations under the moderating influence of technological turbulence and senior leadership support.

Design/methodology/approach

With the help of existing literature, stakeholder theory and dynamic capability view (DCV), a theoretical model is proposed. It was validated using the PLS-SEM technique with 311 respondents who have different managerial positions in the hospitality and tourism industry. The proposed theoretical model is unique and effective as it has high explanatory power.

Findings

The study demonstrates the importance of adopting BCT in the hospitality and tourism sector and how it could improve the sustainability performance of organizations in that sector. This study also finds that there is a significant moderating impact of technological turbulence and senior leadership support on such organizations that adopt BCT.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides valuable inputs to practitioners in the industry by showing how adopting BCT can improve their sustainability performance. The study also demonstrates that leaders and the managers should support adopting BCT in their organizations and they can help to overcome any technological challenges that might come up while adopting it.

Originality/value

The present study proposes a unique theoretical model which was also validated using a statistical approach. Moreover, both stakeholder theory and dynamic capability view were integrated to propose the theoretical model, which is a novel attempt so far as adoption of BCT in hospitality and tourism industry is concerned.
What drives social co-creation in tourism? An empirical study
Authors: Taheri Ghazale , Mohammadi Fatemeh , Jami Pour Mona
Published: August 2023

Purpose

As competition in the industry intensifies, companies must use market-oriented approaches to gain competitive superiority; one of the approaches that can lead to the success of companies in the competitive market is to undertake social co-creation with the help of customers. Although the use of social media for the development of social interactions has expanded, very little attention has been paid to how the concept of social co-creation is formed on social media by users. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of personality traits and website quality on social co-creation, with the mediating role of trust in tourism websites.

Design/methodology/approach

This research, in terms of purpose, is practical, and in terms of information collection, it is a descriptive survey. The research statistical population is all users of active tourism sites in Iran. The sampling method is non-probability and available sampling. The questionnaire was designed based on the Likert scale and was distributed electronically among the statistical sample. After collecting and reviewing the questionnaires, 203 were used for analysis. The data analysis method in this study is hierarchical multiple regression.

Findings

The results indicated that personality traits and website quality are correlated with trust and social co-creation. The dimensions of website quality, including quality of information, quality of system and quality of service on tourism websites, have considerable and positive effects on trust. Also, all dimensions of the personality traits, except extraversion and neuroticism, have a considerable and positive effect on trust. Moreover, the correlation between trust and social co-creation is positive.

Originality/value

According to the review of the digital marketing literature, some researchers examined the influential factors in co-creation, but there is little research about how the interaction of these three concepts (personality traits, website quality and trust) enhances co-creation. This study contributes to the existing literature with empirical evidence of how personality traits and website quality influence co-creation by mediating the role of trust.
Managerial ability and climate change exposure
Authors: Wali Ullah G.M. , Khan Isma , Abdullah Mohammad
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how a firm's management team's capacity to efficiently use its resources affects the firm's exposure to climate change. Specifically, the authors investigate the intriguing question – does managerial ability affect a firm's climate change exposure?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use an unbalanced panel dataset of 4,230 US based firms listed on Compustat from 2002–2019 and test the hypothesis by panel regression analysis. To mitigate endogeneity concerns, difference-in-differences and instrumental variable approaches are used.

Findings

The baseline analysis shows a negative, statistically significant impact of managerial ability on climate change exposure. The findings hold after controlling for endogeneity using two-stage least squares regression and difference-in-differences tests. The authors find the negative effect is stronger for managers engaged in socially responsible activities, and after climate change issues receiving greater public awareness following the 2006 release of the Stern Review and the 2016 signing of the Paris Accord.

Research limitations/implications

Motivated by the resource-based theory and the natural resource-based view of the firm model, the empirical results support the view that greater managerial ability protects the firm against environmental challenges through efficient use of firm resources. Compared with traditional climate change measures that are plagued by disclosure issues, the use of the Sautner, Van Lent, Vilkov and Zhang's machine learning based dataset utilizing earning conference calls provides stronger, robust findings that will be useful to management and investors in environmental performance assessments.

Originality/value

Motivated by the resource-based theory and the natural resource-based view of the firm model, the empirical results support the view that greater managerial ability protects the firm against environmental challenges through efficient use of firm resources. Compared with traditional climate change measures that are plagued by disclosure issues, the use of the machine learning based dataset utilizing earning conference calls provides stronger, robust findings that will be useful to management and investors in environmental performance assessments.
Tribological behaviors of tantalum prepared by SPS under different loads
Authors: Li Shaoxuan , Xu Yi , Xia Haiqing , Duan Jing , Yu Yingjie , Duan Xingyun , Shi Pengfei , Tang Jiancheng
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Tantalum is a kind of metal material with moderate hardness, high ductility, small thermal expansion coefficient, excellent corrosion resistance and outstanding biocompatibility. The purpose of this study is that its tribological performance could be tested and analyzed so as to use it in different fields.

Design/methodology/approach

The friction resistance of a-Ta under dry friction conditions was tested at different roads. The relationships between load and friction coefficient, wear rate and two-dimensional shape of wear scars were studied.

Findings

The stable Ta2O5 film with lubrication effect was generated in the process of friction. And, the larger the test load, the more Ta2O5 would be generated.

Originality/value

This work lays a theoretical foundation for tantalum as an excellent wear-resistant material.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-02-2023-0047/
Study on the flash temperature phenomenon in the contact area of rolling bearings
Authors: Jiang Wenxun , Wang Wen , Ma Mingfei
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Due to high speeds, heavy loads, large slide-to-roll ratios (SRR) and other variable operating conditions, some rolling bearings that have been working in harsh conditions may experience flash temperatures in the contact area, which may result in early damage like smearing and then affect service life. This study aims to investigate the flash temperature phenomenon of rolling bearings through theoretical and experimental analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

A technology for measuring temperature distribution in rolling ball on disk contact under lubrication was developed. The test-rig can simulate the ball bearing contact. The effects of working conditions such as entrainment speed, load, SRR and lubricating oil viscosity on the flash temperature were investigated.

Findings

The results of the theoretical calculation and experiments indicate that the parameters promoting the reduction of film thickness in elastohydrodynamic lubrication are always related with the number of flash points, even film thickness reduced to mixed lubrication. The flash temperature is easier to happen in conditions of high SRR, heavy load, slow entrainment speed and low viscosity oil.

Originality/value

This work conducts an experimental study on the flash temperature phenomenon, providing a test technology for bearing lubrication and failure investigation.

Peer review

This author has opted into Transparent Peer Review available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-04-2023-0104
The importance of a complementary approach when working with historical documents
Authors: Skare Roswitha
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to show that the neo-documentary – or complimentary – approach in Library and Information Science by no means is conservative, but highly necessary also in today's digitized media landscape. An example from a digitized photo archive is chosen to demonstrate the importance of a complimentary analysis that considers both material aspects as well as social and mental ones.

Design/methodology/approach

By taking Jenna Hartel's description of the neo-documentary turn as point of departure, the paper focuses on one case, the portrait of Johannes Abrahamsen Motka taken by Sophus Tromholt in 1883 and discusses different versions of the photograph from glass plate negatives to digitized versions in different contexts and media.

Findings

Many of the same paratextual elements can be found in different versions, also the digitized ones, to help the viewer to establish a historical context, but the images exhibited today are nevertheless no longer the same ones taken by Tromholt at the end of the 19th century. Not only have the material properties changed, but also – and probably even more important in most cases – the social and mental aspects. More re-contextualization is needed for today's audiences to recognize and understand a historical photograph taken in a colonial context. Focusing on document's material elements is not novel within the LIS-field, but the so-called neo-documentary turn was also a reaction on political and technological developments during the 1980s and 1990s. The increased focus on understanding a document in a complimentary way has demonstrated its impact during the last decades and is, at the same time, still work in progress.

Research limitations/implications

As a scholar in the humanities the author can only relate to and therefore analyze what the author can experience and observe on screen level.

Originality/value

In providing a case study, this article illustrates the necessity of employing a complimentary approach when analyzing documents. This also implicates the claim that the neo-documentary turn – or complimentary as it rather should be called – by no means is a conservative one, but a highly necessary one in today's digitized media landscape.
Factors influencing halal tourism destinations revisit intentions among Muslim travelers of Bangladesh: the mediating role of emotional attachments
Authors: Hasan Abdulla Al-Towfiq
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate factors and their impacts on halal tourism destinations revisit intentions among Muslim travelers, and explore the mediating effects of emotional attachments between halal social environments, halal food and beverages, halal services and halal tourism destinations revisit intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on review of literatures, and by distributing 500 questionnaires to Muslim respondents and subsequently collecting 387 usable responses, the study is conducted through partial least squares structural equation modeling using Smart PLS3.3.3.

Findings

The findings of the study reveal that halal social environment, halal food and beverages, halal entertainments, halal staff clothing and emotional attachments significantly influence halal tourism destinations revisit intentions, whereas halal services has insignificant impact on halal tourism destinations revisit intentions, and halal social environment, halal food and beverages and halal services have positive significant impacts on emotional attachments toward halal tourism destinations. Moreover, emotional attachments partially mediate in the relationship between halal social environment, halal food and beverages, halal services and halal tourism destinations revisit intentions.

Practical implications

The current study findings uniquely contribute to the development of halal tourism destinations in Bangladesh by revealing the impactful factors and formulating marketing strategies that can increase Muslim travelers’ revisit intentions toward halal tourism destinations.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is one of the pioneer research studies of halal tourism revisit intentions, providing new and unique theoretical and practical contributions to the enhancement of halal tourism industry in the world as well as Bangladesh. The findings could contribute to the halal tourism literature by identifying and evaluating factors influencing Muslim travelers’ revisit intentions toward halal tourism destinations. Moreover, the findings could help halal tourism operators in introducing halal attributes for creating Muslim travelers’ revisit intentions toward halal tourism destinations.
FLEs' concerns with misbehaving customers in the time of COVID and beyond
Authors: Gillison Stephanie T. , Beatty Sharon E. , Northington William Magnus , Vivek Shiri
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This research investigates the impact of customer rule violation issues on frontline employees' (FLEs’) burnout due-to-customers. A model and hypotheses are developed using COR theory and past literature on misbehaving customers and their effects on customer-facing employees.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model was assessed using a survey of 840 frontline retail, restaurant, service and caregiving employees and their reactions to the issue of misbehaving customers (i.e. rule breaking and/or rude customers).

Findings

FLEs' perceived frequency of customer rule violations, FLEs' concerns with misbehaving customers and FLEs' concerns with enforcing rules with these customers increased FLEs' burnout due-to-customers, while FLEs' customer orientation decreased it. Interactions among several antecedents were found relative to their effects on burnout. Burnout due-to-customers decreased FLEs' organizational commitment and increased quitting intentions. Additionally, this burnout mediated the relationships between our studied antecedents and job outcome variables (either partially or fully), with organizational commitment also mediating the relationship between burnout and quitting intentions.

Originality/value

The impact of FLEs' concerns relative to customers' rule breaking, which has not been previously addressed, is shown to increase FLEs' burnout due-to-customers, while FLEs' customer orientation buffered and reduced burnout, with frequency of violations interacting with several antecedents, and ultimately affecting burnout and several dependent variables—organizational commitment and quitting intentions. These FLE rule violation and enforcement concerns, captured at the height of the pandemic, are new variables to the literature. These issues have important implications for managers as to their treatment and training of FLEs in the future.
How do non-family CEOs influence family firm innovation performance?
Authors: Sun Wei , Huang Chengyixue , Su Zhongfeng
Published: August 2023

Purpose

While the relationship between non-family CEOs and corporate innovation in China has been widely studied, the results remain inconclusive. This study explores the relationship between non-family CEOs and corporate innovation in the context of intergenerational succession. It considers the background and background characteristics of non-family CEOs in an attempt to provide a theoretical foundation for human resource management and innovative strategic management that can be applied in the transformation of family companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors develop, then test, a series of hypotheses using an econometric analysis of a large sample of Chinese listed family firms. To control for endogeneity problems, such as missing variables in the model and the selectivity bias of the sample, propensity score matching (PSM) model is applied to analyze the panel data of 452 listed family firms from 2009–2019.

Findings

This study first validates the mechanism by which non-family CEO background characteristics affect innovation performance in family firms. It then reveals the varying moderating effects of two stages of intergenerational succession (i.e. later-generation participation in management and later-generation take-over management) that influence the relationship between non-family CEOs and corporate innovation.

Originality/value

The study's findings based on upper echelon and imprinting theory complement and extend existing research by revealing the impact of non-family CEOs from different backgrounds, and also identifying the role of intergenerational succession in the relationship between non-family CEO background characteristics and innovation performance.
Near‐infrared spectroscopy: A possible routine analysis to detect the use of frozen curds in the production of Buffalo Mozzarella cheese
Authors: Palocci Giuliano , Ortenzi Luciano , Costa Corrado , Rinaldi Simona , Di Giovanni Sabrina , Morone Giuseppe , Tripaldi Carmela
Published: August 2023

Mozzarella di Bufala Campana is a pasta filata cheese with a Protected Designation of Origin whose specifications require the use of fresh milk, forbidding the use of frozen curds. The goal is to develop a routine analysis to identify frozen curd presence. The Buffalo Mozzarella samples were analysed by the near‐infrared analytical technique, and the spectral data were processed through an artificial neural network. The results make it possible to identify the use of frozen curd in samples of Buffalo Mozzarella for up to 9 days of storage. The model reported very high accuracy either in training (0.5% of bad prediction) or in tests (6.8% of bad prediction).
Fingerstick blood assay maps real‐world NAD+ disparity across gender and age
Authors: Wang Pei , Chen Meiting , Hou Yaying , Luan Jun , Liu Ruili , Chen Liuqing , Hu Min , Yu Qiuliyang
Published: August 2023

Abstract

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) level has been associated with various age‐related diseases and its pharmacological modulation emerges as a potential approach for aging intervention. But human NAD+ landscape exhibits large heterogeneity. The lack of rapid, low‐cost assays limits the establishment of whole‐blood NAD+ baseline and the development of personalized therapies, especially for those with poor responses towards conventional NAD+ supplementations. Here, we developed an automated NAD+ analyzer for the rapid measurement of NAD+ with 5 μL of capillary blood using recombinant bioluminescent sensor protein and automated optical reader. The minimal invasiveness of the assay allowed a frequent and decentralized mapping of real‐world NAD+ dynamics. We showed that aerobic sport and NMN supplementation increased whole‐blood NAD+ and that male on average has higher NAD+ than female before the age of 50. We further revealed the long‐term stability of human NAD+ baseline over 100 days and identified major real‐world NAD+‐modulating behaviors.
A qualitative analysis of patients’ experiences with an emergency department diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancer
Authors: Adams Alexandra , Heinert Sara , Sanchez Lauren , Karasz Alison , Ramos Maria Elena , Sarkar Srawani , Rapkin Bruce , In Haejin
Published: August 2023

Objectives

Optimally, cancer is diagnosed through periodic screening or detection of early symptoms in primary care settings. However, an estimated 23%–52% of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are diagnosed in the emergency department (ED). Cancer diagnosed in the ED has been associated with worse clinical and patient‐reported outcomes even after adjustment for cancer stage. We sought to explore patients' accounts of patient and health care system factors related to their diagnosis in the ED and their lived experience of receiving a diagnosis in this setting.

Methods

Patients with an ED visit during or within 30 days of their GI cancer diagnosis at an urban academic hospital serving a largely disadvantaged population were recruited. Interviews were coded in NVivo 12 and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach.

Results

Patient‐reported factors associated with their experiences included denial and avoidance of symptoms, mistrust of the health system, and lack of cancer screening knowledge. Health care system factors included misdiagnosis and delayed access to specialty care or tests. Experiences receiving a cancer diagnosis in the ED were overwhelmingly negative.

Conclusions

This study highlights the unmet needs in identifying and diagnosing patients who ultimately present to the ED for evaluation and eventual diagnosis of cancer. Our results shed light on several modifiable factors, including the need for increased public awareness of the asymptomatic nature of cancer and the importance of cancer screening. Additionally, health care systems modifications beyond the ED are needed to improve access to timely care when symptoms arise.
Trends and gaps in the study of fire effects on plant–animal interactions in Brazilian ecosystems
Authors: Ballarin Caio S. , Mores Guilherme José , Alcarás de Goés Guilherme , Fidelis Alessandra , Cornelissen Tatiana
Published: August 2023

Plant–animal interactions are pervasive in terrestrial ecosystems. They hold relevant ecological information for guiding biodiversity conservation and restoration practices. Despite plant–animal interactions being particularly sensitive to disturbance, the knowledge about how fire, a remarkable driver of changes in ecosystem structure and functioning, affects these relationships is still limited. In this sense, the assessment of how studies investigate the fire effects on plant–animal interactions through a systematic review proves to be relevant to guide future research agenda. In this study, we reviewed studies regarding the effects of fire on plant–animal interactions conducted in Brazil, which hosts many different fire‐prone and fire‐sensitive ecosystems and harbours several plant and animal species. Supported by an integrative database, we summarized the main goals, methodologies, and taxonomic groups used in studies addressing the effects of fire on plant–animal interactions and pointed out some shortfalls that future research should avoid and gaps that they shall fulfil. In sum, 39 studies published from 1995 to 2022 met our criteria of inclusion in the database. Most of them were conducted in Cerrado and mainly evaluated ant–plant or plant–pollinator interactions. In addition, studies were generally designed with inappropriate experimental approaches that commonly disregard relevant fire attributes that are important drivers of ecosystem structure and functioning. Altogether, our review shows that studies evaluating this topic present a geographic and taxonomic bias, which overlooks particular plant–animal interactions, and that we still have a superficial understanding of fire effects on plant–animal interactions in Brazilian ecosystems.
Psychological Entitlement and Moral Disengagement as Antecedents of Compliance with COVID‐19 Workplace Safety Protocols and the Moderating Role of Moral Identity
Authors: Sharma Varun , Eissa Gabi , Newman Alexander , Lester Scott W. , Pandey Jatin
Published: August 2023

In an effort to aid the reopening of workplaces and curb the spread of COVID‐19 in the workplace, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States of America issued a set of guidelines for COVID‐19. While the importance of these measures has been touted, studies focusing on antecedents of compliance with workplace safety guidelines, including those of COVID‐19, are at a nascent stage. The current research draws on social cognitive theory to investigate the effect of psychological entitlement on adherence to COVID‐19 workplace safety protocols. Specifically, the present study proposes that psychological entitlement increases one's tendency for moral disengagement, which subsequently reduces compliance with COVID‐19 workplace safety protocols. Consistent with social cognitive theory, the study further proposes moral identity as a conditional moderator in mitigating the proposed relationships. The current study finds general support for the hypothesized moderated mediation model by employing multi‐wave data collected from various organizations in the United States (N = 351). Theoretical and practical implications, as well as future research directions, are discussed.
Guillain–Barré syndrome after COVID‐19 vaccination with suspected concurrent cytomegalovirus reactivation
Authors: Itogawa Katsuhiro , Okubo So , Yamada Minako , Bannai Taro , Seki Tomonari , Uchibori Ayumi , Shiio Yasushi
Published: August 2023

Background

Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) is an immune‐mediated polyneuropathy most commonly associated with antecedent infections, such as Campylobacter jejuni or viral infections, but vaccination is also known as an antecedent event. In recent years, due to the worldwide pandemic, vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) has widely spread throughout the world. Although surveillance of vaccination‐associated adverse effects is still ongoing, multiple cases of GBS after COVID‐19 vaccination have been reported. However, the exact pathophysiology of COVID‐19 vaccination causing GBS has not been clarified. Not only new‐onset infection, but also reactivation of dormant viral agents, is known to trigger GBS. This reactivation might occur after COVID‐19 vaccination; however, there are no reports of this phenomenon in association with post‐vaccination GBS.

Case Presentation

A 44‐year‐old immunocompetent woman presented with acute onset weakness in all four limbs 6 days after COVID‐19 vaccination. Neurological examination showed dysphagia, symmetrical weakness, absent tendon reflexes and distal dominant sensory disturbance in all four extremities. Nerve conduction studies were compatible with demyelinating neuropathy, and serum was positive for anti‐GD1a‐IgG antibody. A diagnosis of acute inflammatory demyelinating neuropathy was made. Serological examination on admission suggested concomitant cytomegalovirus reactivation. Plasma exchange rapidly improved her symptoms, including weakness and sensory disturbance, and she was discharged without residual symptoms.

Conclusions

The present case suggests that cytomegalovirus reactivation might play a role in the pathogenesis of GBS associated with COVID‐19 vaccination. Accounting for cytomegalovirus reactivation might reveal unidentified pathophysiology of GBS after COVID‐19 vaccination.
Safety and effectiveness assessment of endovascular recanalization for non‐acute middle cerebral artery occlusion
Authors: Xi Zhang , Guangxin Duan , He Zhang , Zhibin Chen , Yun Luo , Tingzheng Zhang , Yun Xu , Jingwei Li
Published: August 2023

Background

Endovascular treatment for patients with symptomatic nonacute middle cerebral artery occlusion remains clinically challenging, and proof of a beneficial effect on functional outcome is lacking. We aim to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of endovascular recanalization for patients with symptomatic nonacute middle cerebral artery occlusion.

Methods

Ninety‐eight patients with symptomatic atherosclerotic nonacute middle cerebral artery occlusion were divided into drug treatment groups (42) and endovascular treatment groups (56). The rate of recanalization, peri‐procedural complications, and follow‐up results were evaluated.

Results

Among the 56 patients who received endovascular treatment, 53 (94.6%) achieved successful recanalization. The rate of peri‐procedural complications was 7.1% (4/56), and the death rate was 1.8% (1/56). Any stroke within 90 days was 7.1% (4/56). Among the 42 patients in drug treatment group, any stroke within 90 days was 19.0% (8/42), death rate was 0.

Conclusion

Among patients with symptomatic nonacute middle cerebral artery occlusion with a short length of occlusion and a moderate‐to‐good collateral circulation, endovascular treatment seems to be safe. And endovascular treatment could reduce the recurrence rate of stroke.
The Computational Challenges of Means Selection Problems: Network Structure of Goal Systems Predicts Human Performance
Authors: Reichman Daniel , Lieder Falk , Bourgin David D. , Talmon Nimrod , Griffiths Thomas L.
Published: August 2023

We study human performance in two classical NP‐hard optimization problems: Set Cover and Maximum Coverage. We suggest that Set Cover and Max Coverage are related to means selection problems that arise in human problem‐solving and in pursuing multiple goals: The relationship between goals and means is expressed as a bipartite graph where edges between means and goals indicate which means can be used to achieve which goals. While these problems are believed to be computationally intractable in general, they become more tractable when the structure of the network resembles a tree. Thus, our main prediction is that people should perform better with goal systems that are more tree‐like. We report three behavioral experiments which confirm this prediction. Our results suggest that combinatorial parameters that are instrumental to algorithm design can also be useful for understanding when and why people struggle to choose between multiple means to achieve multiple goals.
Quantitative myocardial perfusion should be interpreted in the light of sex and comorbidities in patients with suspected chronic coronary syndrome: A cardiac positron emission tomography study
Authors: Székely Anna , Steding‐Ehrenborg Katarina , Ryd Daniel , Hedeer Fredrik , Valind Kristian , Akil Shahnaz , Hindorf Cecilia , Hedström Erik , Erlinge David , Arheden Håkan , Engblom Henrik
Published: August 2023

Diagnosis and treatment of patients with suspected chronic coronary syndrome (CCS) currently relies on the degree of coronary artery stenosis and its significance for myocardial perfusion. However, myocardial perfusion can be affected by factors other than coronary stenosis. The aim of this study was to investigate to what extent sex, age, diabetes, hypertension and smoking affect quantitative myocardial perfusion, beyond the degree of coronary artery stenosis, in patients with suspected or established CCS. Eighty‐six patients [median age 69 (range 46−86) years, 24 females] planned for elective coronary angiography due to suspected or established CCS were included. All patients underwent cardiac 13N‐NH3 positron emission tomography to quantify myocardial perfusion at rest and stress. Lowest myocardial perfusion (perfusionmin) at stress and rest and lowest myocardial perfusion reserve (MPRmin) for all vessel territories was used as dependent variables in a linear mixed model. Independent variables were vessel territory, degree of coronary artery stenosis (as a continuous variable of 0%−100% stenosis), sex, age, diabetes, hypertension and smoking habits. Degree of coronary artery stenosis (p < 0.001), male sex (1.8 ± 0.6 vs. 2.3 ± 0.6 mL/min/g, p < 0.001), increasing age (p = 0.025), diabetes (1.6 ± 0.5 vs. 2.0 ± 0.6 mL/min/g, p = 0.023) and smoking (1.9 ± 0.6 vs. 2.1 ± 0.6 mL/min/g, p = 0.052) were independently associated with myocardial perfusionmin at stress. Degree of coronary artery stenosis (p < 0.001), age (p = 0.040), diabetes (1.8 ± 0.6 vs. 2.3 ± 0.7, p = 0.046) and hypertension (2.2 ± 0.7 vs. 2.5 ± 0.6, p = 0.033) were independently associated with MPRmin. Sex, increasing age, diabetes, hypertension and smoking affect myocardial perfusion independent of coronary artery stenosis in patients with suspected or established CCS. Thus, these factors need to be considered when assessing the significance of reduced quantitative myocardial perfusion of patients with suspected or established CCS.
Reliability of QuantiFERON®‐CMV in predicting CMV recurrence in heart transplant recipients: A single‐center retrospective study
Authors: Sermet Kevin , Goeminne Céline , Hantz Sébastien , Assaf Ady , Faure Emmanuel , Lazrek Mouna , Faure Karine , Alain Sophie , Vuotto Fanny
Published: August 2023

Background

Recurrence after Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in heart transplant recipients is difficult to predict, in spite of its high incidence. Secondary prophylaxis could reduce this burden; however, its duration remains unestablished. We evaluated the QuantiFERON®‐CMV test to see if it could predict CMV recurrence and help optimize the duration of secondary prophylaxis.

Methods

This observational retrospective single center study included all heart transplant recipients who developed CMV infection between 2019 and 2021, with the CD8+ T‐cell‐mediated CMV immunity QuantiFERON®‐CMV test assessed at the time of (val)ganciclovir curative treatment completion. The main outcomes were CMV recurrence and duration of secondary prophylaxis. Secondary outcomes included immunosuppressive regimen, rejection, lymphocyte count, CMV viral load, infection type, and duration as possible confounding factors for recurrence.

Results

Among the 15 patients included, five (33%) experienced recurrence, of whom three (60%) had a positive QuantiFERON®‐CMV test. The duration of secondary prophylaxis was similar regardless of QF‐CMV positivity. No confounding factor was significantly associated with CMV recurrence; however, it occurred in only 1/7 (14%) of the patients receiving an everolimus‐containing immunosuppressive regimen.

Conclusion

In the population of heart transplant recipients, most of whom received ATG‐based induction, the QuantiFERON®‐CMV assay may not accurately predict CMV recurrence and would have not helped refining the duration of secondary prophylaxis in our patients. Other cell‐mediated immunity tests and strategies in this specific population, including everolimus‐containing regimens, may help predict and manage CMV recurrence.
Early reversal of the lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio after allogeneic‐hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is associated with reduced relapse and improved prognosis
Authors: Nagayama Takashi , Fujiwara Shin‐ichiro , Tominaga Ryutaro , Yokoyama Daizo , Noguchi Atsuto , Furuki Shuka , Oyama Takashi , Koyama Shunsuke , Murahashi Rui , Nakashima Hirotomo , Ikeda Takashi , Hyodo Kazuki , Kawaguchi Shin‐ichiro , Toda Yumiko , Umino Kento , Morita Kaoru , Ashizawa Masahiro , Yamamoto Chihiro , Hatano Kaoru , Sato Kazuya , Ohmine Ken , Kanda Yoshinobu
Published: August 2023

Background

The early recovery of lymphocyte and monocyte cells is associated with a favorable prognosis after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT); however, it is not clear whether the balance of lymphocyte and monocyte recovery affects the post‐transplant prognosis.

Methods

We examined whether the time‐point at which the number of lymphocytes exceeded the number of monocytes, which we termed lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio reversal (LMRR), affected the prognosis after allo‐HSCT. We retrospectively evaluated 235 patients who underwent their first allo‐HSCT at our institution.

Results

The median number of days from HSCT to LMRR was 46 (range, 0–214), and the patients were divided into two groups according to the occurrence of LMRR by day 45 (LMRR45). In a multivariate analysis, early LMRR contributed favorably to overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] .519; 95% confidence interval [CI] .332‐.812; p = .004) with fewer post‐transplant relapses (HR .462; 95% CI, .274‐.777; p = .004). Differences in the timing of LMRR did not affect non‐relapse mortality (HR 1.477; 95% CI .779‐2.80; p = .23) or the incidence of grade II‐IV acute GVHD (LMRR45(+): 25.0% vs. LMRR45(−) 35.2%. p = .111). In subgroup analyses, LMRR45(+) was found to be a favorable factor for survival with less relapse, regardless of the disease risk, stem cell source, or the recovery of either lymphocyte or monocyte counts.

Conclusions

An early LMRR may be a novel factor that is associated with reduced relapse and improved survival after allo‐HSCT.
Present and future of endoscopy precision for inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Santacroce Giovanni , Zammarchi Irene , Tan Chin Kimg , Coppola Gaetano , Varley Rachel , Ghosh Subrata , Iacucci Marietta
Published: August 2023

Several advanced imaging techniques are now available for endoscopists managing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. These tools, including dye‐based and virtual chromoendoscopy, probe‐based confocal laser endomicroscopy and endocytoscopy, are increasingly innovative applications in clinical practice. They allow for a more in‐depth and refined evaluation of the mucosal and vascular bowel surface, getting closer to histology. They have demonstrated a remarkable ability in assessing intestinal inflammation, histologic remission, and predicting relapse and favorable long‐term outcomes. In addition, the future application of molecular endoscopy to predict biological drug responses has yielded preliminary but encouraging results. Furthermore, these techniques are crucial in detecting and characterizing IBD‐related dysplasia, assisting endoscopic mucosal resection and submucosal dissection towards a surgery‐sparing approach. Artificial intelligence (AI) holds great potential in this promising landscape, as it can provide an objective and reproducible assessment of inflammation and dysplasia. Moreover, it can improve the prediction of outcomes and aid in subsequent therapeutic decision‐making. This review aims to summarize the promising role of state‐of‐the‐art advanced endoscopic techniques and related AI‐enabled models for managing IBD, paving the way for precision medicine.
Pneumococcal pneumonia and endotoxemia: An experimental and clinical reappraisal
Authors: Godon Jeanne , Charles Pierre‐Emmanuel , Nguyen Sylvie , de Barros Jean‐Paul Pais , Choubley Hélène , Jacquier Marine , Tetu Jennifer , Quenot Jean‐Pierre , Luu Maxime , Binquet Christine , Masson David , Piroth Lionel , Blot Mathieu ,   Pneumotoxemia study group
Published: August 2023

Background

Circulating endotoxins could result from bacterial digestive translocation during sepsis, thus contributing to uncontrolled systemic inflammation, leading in turn to organ dysfunction. We addressed this issue in the setting of severe pneumococcal pneumonia.

Methods

Endotoxemia was measured in a clinically relevant rabbit model of ventilated pneumococcal pneumonia and in 110 patients with bacteraemic pneumonia, using a patented mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) method for detection of 3‐OH fatty acids (C10, C12, C14, C16 and C18), which are molecules bound to the lipid A motif of LPS.

Results

Whereas higher levels of systemic inflammation and organ dysfunctions were found, there was no significant difference in lipopolysaccharide concentrations when infected rabbits were compared to non‐infected ones, or when patients were compared to healthy volunteers.

Conclusions

Seemingly, endotoxins do not drive the overwhelming inflammation associated with severe forms of pneumococcal pneumonia.
BODIUM—A systemic approach to model the dynamics of soil functions
Authors: König Sara , Weller Ulrich , Betancur‐Corredor Bibiana , Lang Birgit , Reitz Thomas , Wiesmeier Martin , Wollschläger Ute , Vogel Hans‐Jörg
Published: August 2023

The increasing demand for biomass for food, animal feed, fibre and bioenergy requires optimization of soil productivity, while at the same time, protecting other soil functions such as nutrient cycling and buffering, carbon storage, habitat for biological activity and water filter and storage. Therefore, one of the main challenges for sustainable agriculture is to produce high yields while maintaining all the other soil functions. Mechanistic simulation models are an essential tool to fully understand and predict the complex interactions between physical, biological and chemical processes of soils that generate those functions. We developed a soil model to simulate the impact of various agricultural management options and climate change on soil functions by integrating the relevant processes mechanistically and in a systemic way. As a special feature, we include the dynamics of soil structure induced by tillage and biological activity, which is especially relevant in arable soils. The model operates on a 1D soil profile consisting of a number of discrete layers with dynamic thickness. We demonstrate the model performance by simulating crop growth, root growth, nutrient and water uptake, nitrogen cycling, soil organic matter turnover, microbial activity, water distribution and soil structure dynamics in a long‐term field experiment including different crops and different types and levels of fertilization. The model is able to capture essential features that are measured regularly including crop yield, soil organic carbon, and soil nitrogen. In this way, the plausibility of the implemented processes and their interactions is confirmed. Furthermore, we present the results of explorative simulations comparing scenarios with and without tillage events to analyse the effect of soil structure on soil functions. Since the model is process‐based, we are confident that the model can also be used to predict quantities that have not been measured or to estimate the effect of management measures and climate states not yet been observed. The model thus has the potential to predict the site‐specific impact of management decisions on soil functions, which is of great importance for the development of a sustainable agriculture that is currently also on the agenda of the ‘Green Deal’ at the European level.
Efficient adaptive ensembling for image classification
Authors: Antonio Bruno , Moroni Davide , Martinelli Massimo
Published: August 2023

In recent times, with the exception of sporadic cases, the trend in computer vision is to achieve minor improvements compared to considerable increases in complexity. To reverse this trend, we propose a novel method to boost image classification performances without increasing complexity. To this end, we revisited ensembling, a powerful approach, often not used properly due to its more complex nature and the training time, so as to make it feasible through a specific design choice. First, we trained two EfficientNet‐b0 end‐to‐end models (known to be the architecture with the best overall accuracy/complexity trade‐off for image classification) on disjoint subsets of data (i.e., bagging). Then, we made an efficient adaptive ensemble by performing fine‐tuning of a trainable combination layer. In this way, we were able to outperform the state‐of‐the‐art by an average of 0.5% on the accuracy, with restrained complexity both in terms of the number of parameters (by 5–60 times), and the FLoating point Operations Per Second FLOPS by 10–100 times on several major benchmark datasets.
China's wetland soil organic carbon pool: New estimation on pool size, change, and trajectory
Authors: Ren Yongxing , Mao Dehua , Wang Zongming , Yu Zicheng , Xu Xiaofeng , Huang Yanan , Xi Yanbiao , Luo Ling , Jia Mingming , Song Kaishan , Li Xiaoyan
Published: August 2023

Robust estimates of wetland soil organic carbon (SOC) pools are critical to understanding wetland carbon dynamics in the global carbon cycle. However, previous estimates were highly variable and uncertain, due likely to the data sources and method used. Here we used machine learning method to estimate SOC storage and their changes over time in China's wetlands based on wetland SOC density database, associated geospatial environmental data, and recently published wetland maps. We built a database of wetland SOC density in China that contains 809 samples from 181 published studies collected over the last 20 years as presented in the published literature. All samples were extended and standardized to a 1‐m depth, on the basis of the relationship between SOC density data from soil profiles of different depths. We used three different machine learning methods to evaluate their robustness in estimating wetland SOC storage and changes in China. The results indicated that random forest model achieved accurate wetland SOC estimation with R2 being .65. The results showed that average SOC density of top 1 m in China's wetlands was 25.03 ± 3.11 kg C m−2 in 2000 and 26.57 ± 3.73 kg C m−2 in 2020, an increase of 6.15%. SOC storage change from 4.73 ± 0.58 Pg in 2000 to 4.35 ± 0.61 Pg in 2020, a decrease of 8.03%, due to 13.6% decreased in wetland area from 189.12 × 103 to 162.8 × 103 km2 in 2020, despite the increase in SOC density during the same time period. The carbon accumulation rate was 107.5 ± 12.4 g C m−2 year−1 since 2000 in wetlands with no area changes. Climate change caused variations in wetland SOC density, and a future warming and drying climate would lead to decreases in wetland SOC storage. Estimates under Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 1‐2.6 (low‐carbon emissions) suggested that wetland SOC storage in China would not change significantly by 2100, but under Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 5‐8.5 (high‐carbon emissions), it would decrease significantly by approximately 5.77%. In this study, estimates of wetland SOC storage were optimized from three aspects, including sample database, wetland extent, and estimation method. Our study indicates the importance of using consistent SOC density and extent data in estimating and projecting wetland SOC storage.
Introduction: Environmental (im)mobilities: Improving the evidence base for effective policy making
Authors: Martin Susan F. , Bergmann Jonas
Published: August 2023

Despite the converging agreement on the linkages between climate and broader environmental change and human (im)mobilities, evidence gaps persist that often relate to data challenges. It remains necessary to improve knowledge and data to better map, understand, project, and address environmental migration, displacement, planned relocation, and immobilities. Analyses of continuing data gaps and strategies for innovative data use are key to rise to the challenge. This Special Section of International Migration highlights these gaps and presents innovative strategies to address them.