bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mapping unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) 2: a taxonomical study using bibliometric visualisation
Authors: Taneja Bharat , Bharti Kumkum
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the research pattern and growth trends of published research on a unified theory of acceptance and use of technology 2 (UTAUT2) from 2012 to 2019. The study also examines the research scope of UTAUT2 for future researchers.

Design/methodology/approach

This study has adopted a bibliometric approach followed by a structured literature review analysis to synthesize the research on UTAUT2 since 2012. In total, 163 documents were analyzed for type of studies, theories and frameworks, methodologies, author wise collaboration, organizations that contributed to the body of knowledge in the UTAUT2 research and journals that published studies in this domain. VOSviewer and Tableau were used for the data visualization, whereas TCCM, which means theory (T), context (C), characteristics (C) and methodology (M) framework is used to propose the future research directions.

Findings

The findings reveal research on UTAUT2 is growing. The structured literature analysis of the top 15 cited articles further analyzed the parsimony of new models in detail. In addition, the study highlights the inception by and promoters of UTAUT2 in a separate section. The data for this study was collected by searching the title, abstract and keywords of documents in the Scopus database.

Research limitations/implications

This study is based on research papers, published in the UTAUT2 research area, that have been extracted from the Scopus database by keywords only. Future studies can also perform a meta-analysis of various clusters generated by bibliometric analysis.

Practical implications

This study is useful for practitioners to devise strategies for increasing technology acceptance, adoption and utilization in the times to come.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the very few and early studies, which examined patterns and growth trends of the UTAUT2 studies with the TCCM framework, to suggest scope for future research studies.
Work family conflict and professional self-efficacy among career persistent women: the mediating role of managerial support
Authors: Alok Swati , Banerjee Sudatta , Singh Swati
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between work-family conflict (WFC) and personal self-efficacy among career persistent women in India. Further, this relationship was explained with the help of the mediating role of perceived managerial support.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data were collected from 510 career persistent women working in the Information Technology (IT) sector in India. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and mediation was tested using Process- Macro.

Findings

Findings depicted a positive relationship between WFC and professional self-efficacy demand and self-efficacy challenges. Perceived managerial support was also found to be positively related professional self-efficacy. Furthermore, perceived managerial support was found to have a significant mediating effect in WFC and professional self-efficacy relationships.

Originality/value

Findings of the study may enhance the understanding of WFC in emerging economies, as most of the research has been done in the western context. Findings of the study are crucial, as it highlights the relationship between WFC and professional self-efficacy in the presence of perceived managerial support. Moreover, the paper uniquely discusses the role of WFC in professional self-efficacy among career persistent women in IT sector.
Exploring incivility and moral foundations toward Asians in English-speaking tweets in hate crime-reporting cities during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Kim Bumsoo , Cooks Eric , Kim Seong-Kyu
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to explore the extent to which Twitter users engaged in uncivil and morally questionable expressions in their comments about specific Asian countries and citizens. The integrated threat theory (ITT) was used to formulate questions surrounding incivility and moral foundations within Twitter discourses related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors collected tweets and retweets posted by English-speaking Twitter users in the United States (US) across the following three phases: (1) initial discovery of COVID-19 in China, (2) high US mortality rate from COVID-19 and (3) the announcement that a vaccine would soon be available in the US.

Findings

The authors found a significant difference in uncivil tweets posted in cities with higher levels of reported hate crimes against Asians than cities with low levels. Lastly, English-speaking Twitter users tended to employ moral virtue words and moral vice words when discussing China and Chinese culture/populations.

Research limitations/implications

The bags-of-words employed are limited in capturing nuanced and metaphorical terms. In addition, the analysis focused solely on Tweets composed in English and thus did not capture the thoughts and opinions of non-English speakers. Lastly, this study did not address all Asian countries. In this sense, the findings of this study might not be applicable to Tweets about other nations.

Practical implications

Given that many Twitter users tend to use terms of moral virtue in support of Asians and Asian communities, the authors suggest that non-governmental organization administrators provide morally supportive social media campaigns that encourage users to engage in civil discourse.

Social implications

These findings have theoretical implications as the frameworks of integrated threats and moral foundations were used to offer group-level explanations for online behavior. Additional research is needed to explore whether these frameworks can be used to explain negativity in other communication environments.

Originality/value

This study expands the findings of prior studies that identified the extent to which Twitter users express hate speech, focusing on general Twitter discourse across three specific periods of the pandemic: degrees of incivility and moral foundations, and comparison of incivility based on the prevalence of reported hate crimes.
Community and public-private partnership projects in Uganda: community engagement, trust and performance
Authors: Magoola Isaac Wanzige , Mwesigwa Rogers , Nabwami Ruth
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide the initial evidence of the relationship between the community and public-private partnership (PPP) projects by focusing on community engagement, trust and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is cross sectional and correlational and it uses project level data that were collected by means of a questionnaire from a sample of 47 PPP projects in Uganda.

Findings

Results indicate that trust and community engagement are significantly associated with the performance of PPP projects.

Research limitations/implications

This study was cross-sectional, and thus monitoring changes in behaviour over time was not possible. The study used a quantitative research approach and this limits respondents from expressing their feelings fully. The study was conducted in Uganda and it is possible that the results of this study can be generalized to developing countries with environments similar to that of Uganda.

Practical implications

The results are important for PPP projects to understand the role that trust and community engagement play in as far as the performance of PPP projects is concerned.

Originality/value

Whilst there have been a number of studies on the performance of PPP projects, this study provides initial empirical evidence on the influence of trust and community engagement on the performance of PPP projects using evidence from PPP projects of an African developing economy – Uganda.
Product market competition, board gender diversity and corporate sustainability performance: international evidence
Authors: Kamarudin Khairul Anuar , Ariff Akmalia M. , Wan Ismail Wan Adibah
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to investigate whether board gender diversity is associated with corporate sustainability performance and whether industry-level product market competition moderates the effect of board gender diversity on corporate sustainability performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses international data extracted from global ESG data set from Thomson Reuters (Refinitiv) database. Using data of 23,137 firm-year observations from 37 countries, the authors perform regression analyses to examine the hypotheses.

Findings

The findings show that firms with high board gender diversity exhibit high corporate sustainability performance. The authors also find firms in highly competitive industries to have low corporate sustainability performance. In highly competitive industries, the positive relationship between board gender diversity and corporate sustainability performance is weakened. The results are robust to various specification tests such as alternative measures for corporate sustainability performance, board gender diversity, product market competition and also the use of propensity score matching to address endogeneity issue. Overall, the results support the prediction that board diversity and product market competition play a substitutive role in influencing corporate sustainability performance.

Research limitations/implications

This study offers empirical evidence that the appointment of female directors is a useful way to improve a firm’s corporate sustainability performance, hence, providing significant benefits in terms of stakeholders’ values and corporate reputation.

Practical implications

This study provides useful insights to investors and policymakers that intense industry competition might mitigate the role of board governance, particularly board gender diversity, in enhancing corporate sustainability performance.

Originality/value

Using an international data set, where the observations operate in various market and institutional differences, this study is able to extricate the positive impact of board gender diversity and product market competition on corporate sustainability performance. This study corroborates evidence that sustainability strategy and initiatives are reflections of integrated factors, including corporate governance as internal driver and market forces faced by firms as external driver.
Real Estate Insights The changing nature of real estate research
Authors: Newell Graeme
Published: August 2021

Purpose

With the Journal of Property Investment and Finance (JPIF) being 40 years old, this paper reflects on the changes in real estate research over the last 40 years, the drivers behind these changes and how JPIF has evolved over these 40 years to retain its position as a leading real estate research journal. Challenges and opportunities are also identified for the next generation of real estate researchers to continue to develop the real estate research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is presented as a reflective article, drawing on a deep personal understanding of real estate research, how it has evolved over the last 40 years, key drivers of these changes and the challenges going forward.

Findings

Fundamental changes in real estate research over the last 40 years and drivers behind these changes are articulated. A pathway forward for real estate research is identified, as well as how JPIF fits into the mix.

Practical implications

With real estate research being increasingly important in real estate academics' careers, this article provides a practical roadmap for how real estate research has changed, why it has changed and future opportunities for the next generation of real estate researchers.

Originality/value

This is the first paper to reflect on these key changes and drivers behind these changes in real estate research, as well as the opportunities for the next generation of real estate researchers.
Corporate social responsibility in Vietnam: Systematic review of research and future directions
Authors: Minh Nguyen , Khan Majid , Bensemann Jo
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Whilst research on corporate social responsibility (CSR) is reaching new territories, the extent to which such literature manifests itself in developing countries is yet to be fully understood. To that end, this study aims to investigate the understanding, evolution and practice of CSR in Vietnam.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic review of the current literature in the recent past (2000–2020) has been embraced in this research. By analysing a total of 143 articles, the authors demonstrate that there has been visible growth in published articles related to CSR in Vietnam over the past 21 years.

Findings

The authors demonstrate that CSR research in Vietnam has significantly grown in the recent past. The results highlight the in-depth distribution of publications by year, journal, industry, nature and focus of CSR research in the country.

Originality/value

This study is not only the first to provide an enhanced overview of the current state of CSR knowledge in the country but also sets out directions within the CSR research agenda related to Vietnam and potentially other emerging and developing countries.
Implementing card technology in government: different approaches, different outcomes
Authors: Palmer Richard , Gupta Mahendra , Brandt James
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine plastic and virtual purchasing card use by US Government agencies, with particular focus on how successful implementation might inform governmental entities of potential improvements in the cost, quality and time associated with the digitization of their procure-to-pay processes. Specifically, the paper will: analyze the evolution of card-based payments by US Government agencies, compare the value stream of plastic and virtual cards to governmental entities, analyze the value of card use as a significant and sustainable contributor to greater governmental efficiency and examine the opportunity in the portability of successful card technology implementation strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examined data published by the US federal government relating to agency budgets and commercial card use and combining it with industry performance metrics, projected potential savings and efficiencies for the government and its agencies.

Findings

The US Government acknowledges significant administrative cost savings and cash rebates based on its spending on commercial cards. An analysis of US Government spending indicates that changing patterns of card spending are primarily driven by activities of one agency – the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Through the incorporation of advances in card technology, escalation of transaction amounts and leveraging card spending data transparency, the VA has continued to increase its use of and benefit from card technology, while other agencies have languished. By replication of VA strategy, the US Government at large has the potential for billions in card-related savings.

Research limitations/implications

The study implies that a large swathe of governmental agencies, after having adopted new technology (e.g. purchasing cards), are hesitant to use the new technology, a problem that afflicts most implementation efforts. Countermeasures to offset agency resistance to change should be considered and deployed.

Practical implications

Taxpayers demand much of government. The burden of governmental failure to exploit the benefits of innovation (such as card technology) falls on the shoulders of taxpayers. When the government cannot exploit technologies that are commonly used in the private sector, the failure lowers citizen respect for the capability of government employees and the ability of government writ large to solve problems.

Social implications

Governmental failure to exploit the benefits of technology dispirits the citizenry, yielding a desire for change that may be disproportionate to the problem at hand.

Originality/value

The study combines General Services Administration, US Treasury and market data points to make a unique assessment of the benefits derived through 20 years of governmental commercial card use.
Elevational range size patterns of vascular plants in the Himalaya contradict Rapoport's rule
Authors: Macek Martin , Dvorský Miroslav , Kopecký Martin , Wild Jan , Doležal Jiří
Published: August 2021

Elevational range size patterns reflect ecological and evolutionary processes, but they are also affected by geometric constraints. The confounding effect of these constraints led to an ongoing controversy about the elevational Rapoport's rule, which postulates a positive association between the range size and elevation, and about the plausibility of the climate variability hypotheses as its causal explanation.

Here we used an advanced null modelling approach to disentangle the interacting effects of geometric constraints and species richness gradients on the elevational range size of vascular plants. We collected extensive field data on elevational distribution for 728 vascular plant species occurring in the Ladakh region, Western Himalaya. We supplied these regional data with subcontinental elevational ranges extracted from the literature. Moreover, we used in situ measured temperatures to quantify temperature variability along an elevational gradient to test the climate variability hypothesis.

Observed range size patterns were sensitive to methods used to quantify the average range size. Range truncation disproportionately affected regional ranges of low‐elevation species and resulted in spurious support of elevational Rapoport's rule. However, when the confounding effects of domain boundaries and richness gradient were controlled, our null models revealed only slight deviations from the random expectations of elevational range size patterns, contrasting with the prediction of the Rapoport's rule. In line with these findings, seasonal and diurnal temperature variability did not change with elevation.

Synthesis. Geometric constraints combined with underlying species richness gradient create range size patterns seemingly supporting Rapoport's elevational rule. However, null models accounting for these effects indicate that the range size of vascular plants in the Himalayas does not increase with elevation. Given the universality of the geometric constraints and species richness gradient, our results suggest that these confounding factors must be controlled when testing Rapoport's rule. The null model approach described here provides an efficient tool to do that.
Magnitude and mechanisms of nitrogen‐mediated responses of tree biomass production to elevated CO2: A global synthesis
Authors: Wang Zhaoguo , Wang Chuankuan
Published: August 2021

Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration (eCO2) typically stimulates tree growth, which is mediated by nitrogen (N) availability; but how N regulates tree biomass responses to eCO2 remains uncertain, which limits our prediction of forest carbon (C) cycling under future global change scenarios.

A meta‐analysis of a global dataset including 3,399 observations from 283 papers published from 1980s to February 2021 was conducted with the aim of elucidating N‐mediated responses of tree biomass production to eCO2 and the underlying mechanisms.

We found that eCO2 stimulated tree biomass production (+32.0%), while it induced accumulation of non‐structural carbohydrates in leaves rather than in woods and roots, suggesting that the production may be C‐limited but depend on the sink strength of organs. Biomass responses to eCO2 of N‐fertilized trees (+39.6%) were 68.4% greater than those of non‐fertilized trees (+23.5%), confirming that tree growth is also N‐limited. Such N limitation was alleviated by the eCO2‐induced increases in N uptake and N‐use efficiency (NUE), with the former being more important. Increases in tree N pool arose from the enhanced production of fine roots with a lower specific root length, whereas increases in NUE resulted from the flexibility in tissue C:N ratios instead of N resorption efficiency. The positive responses of tree biomass production to eCO2 were greater for ectomycorrhizal trees and conifers than for arbuscular mycorrhizal trees and angiosperms, respectively.

Synthesis. Our findings suggest that eCO2 stimulates tree biomass production by increasing C availability, and alleviating N limitation in a feedback way via enhancing N uptake and NUE, and they improve our mechanistic understanding of responses of forest productivity and C sequestration to eCO2 under global change.
Microbial bioindicators of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease identified in corals and overlying waters using a rapid field‐based sequencing approach
Authors: Becker Cynthia C. , Brandt Marilyn , Miller Carolyn A. , Apprill Amy
Published: August 2021

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) is a devastating disease. Since 2014, it has spread along the entire Florida Reef Tract and into the greater Caribbean. It was first detected in the United States Virgin Islands in January 2019. To more quickly identify microbial bioindicators of disease, we developed a rapid pipeline for microbiome sequencing. Over a span of 10 days we collected, processed and sequenced coral and near‐coral seawater microbiomes from diseased and apparently healthy Colpophyllia natans, Montastraea cavernosa, Meandrina meandrites and Orbicella franksi. Analysis of bacterial and archaeal 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences revealed 25 bioindicator amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) enriched in diseased corals. These bioindicator ASVs were additionally recovered in near‐coral seawater (<5 cm of coral surface), a potential reservoir for pathogens. Phylogenetic analysis of microbial bioindicators with sequences from the Coral Microbiome Database revealed that Vibrio, Arcobacter, Rhizobiaceae and Rhodobacteraceae sequences were related to disease‐associated coral bacteria and lineages novel to corals. Additionally, four ASVs (Algicola, Cohaesibacter, Thalassobius and Vibrio) were matches to microbes previously associated with SCTLD that should be targets for future research. Overall, this work suggests that a rapid sequencing framework paired with specialized databases facilitates identification of microbial disease bioindicators.
Towards a sociological understanding of medical gaslighting in western health care
Authors: Sebring Jennifer C. H.
Published: August 2021

In recent years, the term ‘medical gaslighting’ and accompanying accounts of self‐identified women experiencing invalidation, dismissal and inadequate care have proliferated in the media. Gaslighting has primarily been conceptualized in the field of psychology as a phenomenon within interpersonal relationships. Following the work of Paige Sweet (American Sociological Review, 84, 2019, 851), I argue that a sociological explanation is necessary. Such an explanation illustrates how medical gaslighting is not simply an interpersonal exchange, but the result of deeply embedded and largely unchallenged ideologies underpinning health‐care services. Through an intersectional feminist and Foucauldian analysis, I illuminate the ideological structures of western medicine that allow for medical gaslighting to be commonplace in the lives of women, transgender, intersex, queer and racialized individuals seeking health care. Importantly, these are not mutually exclusive groups, and I use the term bio‐Others to highlight and connect how those with embodied differences are treated in medicine. This article indicates the importance of opening a robust discussion about the sociology of medical gaslighting, so that we might better understand what structural barriers people of marginalized social locations face in accessing quality health care and develop creative solutions to challenge health‐care inequities.
Guilty Plea Decisions: Moving Beyond the Autonomy Myth
Authors: Helm Rebecca K. , Dehaghani Roxanna , Newman Daniel
Published: August 2021

When a defendant pleads guilty to a criminal charge against them their conviction may be justified on the basis of autonomy rather than accuracy. In this context, autonomy can make the difference between a legitimate conviction and the breach of fundamental rights. However, autonomy in this context is not clearly defined. This article argues, based on philosophical conceptions of autonomy and empirical realities, that true autonomy is an ideal rather than a practical reality. It considers the level of autonomy necessary to legitimise a criminal conviction via plea, and suggests that current conceptions of autonomy are inadequate since they rely on a formalistic autonomy ‘myth’, presuming autonomy in the absence of threats. An analysis drawing on original empirical data from two studies demonstrates how autonomy may be being depleted to unacceptable levels in the current system. The article concludes by presenting reform proposals.
‘Grey’ exclusions matter: mapping illegal exclusionary practices and the implications for children with disabilities in England and Australia
Authors: Done Elizabeth J. , Knowler Helen , Armstrong David
Published: August 2021

This paper provides an outline of, and rationale for, an international research project that will identify commonalities and disparities in illegal school exclusionary practices in Australia and England. The aims here are to situate such practices within a global context and to map the events and processes through which children and young people, particularly those with ‘special’ educational needs and disabilities, are removed from school in Australia and England. The research we advocate is premised on evidence that inequitable and illegal exclusionary practices are endemic in education systems globally; hence, ‘pushout syndrome’ in the USA, ‘off rolling’ in England, facilitated ‘dropout’ in Italy and ‘grey exclusions’ in Australia. The authors argue that the repeated commissioning of research by national governments and school inspectorates, intended to accurately ascertain the scale of this problem and its impact on the life trajectories of the excluded, serves to defer meaningful action to prevent its occurrence. School exclusion, whether legal or illegal, can be conceptualized as a process rather than an event, and this paper discusses a descriptive continuum through which exclusionary practices in Australia and England can be mapped An experiential continuum is proposed that facilitates a thematic mapping of contributory factors, identified from a relevant literature, as a preliminary analytical framework for future research.
Membrane technology for vegetable oil processing—Current status and future prospects
Authors: Rangaswamy Subramanian , Kumar Gopika S. , Kuppusamy Chezhiyan
Published: August 2021

Vegetable oil processing has been identified as one of the potential nonaqueous applications of membrane technology. Membrane‐based processing has been largely attempted on individual steps of the conventional refining process with reasonable success. With the advent of organic‐solvent‐nanofiltration, membrane desolventizing of hexane oil miscella has received greater attention, revitalizing the prospects of integrated membrane processing. A practical evaluation of membrane augmented desolventizing revealed that approximately 65% energy savings towards solvent evaporation could be achieved in an industrial environment. Further, a pragmatic appraisal advocated that an integrated membrane process with a focus on pretreatment and desolventizing along with physical refining would be a desirable approach for fortifying the benefits. The present review intends to channelize the efforts to overcome the current limitations and highlights the importance of developing better membranes, process evaluation under appropriate practical conditions, and developing suitable cleaning protocols for stable performance. In the case of alternate solvents to hexane, membrane solvent recovery would be a favorable approach to overcome the limitation of associated higher thermal energy requirements. Nevertheless, solvent selection should be based on a composite evaluation of extraction and membrane desolventizing, specific to the type of oil. Finally, a comprehensive process scheme has been proposed to realize the benefits in extraction‐refining plants. In this direction, a few pilot demonstration plants need to be established and operated for 1–2 years to understand and overcome the practical difficulties and limitations of the technology, leading to its industrial adoption.
Identification and quantification of 10 indole/indazole carboxamide synthetic cannabinoids in 36 herbal blends by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Authors: Liu Cui‐Mei , Jia Wei , Meng Xin , Hua Zhen‐Dong
Published: August 2021

Herbal blends containing synthetic cannabinoids have become popular alternatives to marijuana. The number of synthetic cannabinoids and speed of their emergence enable this group of compounds particularly challenging in terms of detection, monitoring, and responding. In this work, both gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) methods were developed for the identification and quantification of synthetic cannabinoids in herbal blends. Ten types of indole/indazole carboxamide synthetic cannabinoids, which showed different types of substitutions connected to nitrogen of the indole/indazole carboxamide, were detected in 36 herbal blends. The GC‐MS fragmentation routes of indole/indazole carboxamide synthetic cannabinoids were discussed in detail for structure identification purpose. The concentration range of synthetic cannabinoid in 36 herbal blends was 1.9–50.6 mg/g using GC‐MS method, while 1.5–49.0 mg/g by NMR method. Nicotine in herbal blends was quantified by NMR method without using reference material, and showed a variation of 5.3–44.7 mg/g. For quantitative analysis, NMR method showed great advantage in the absence of reference material, while GC‐MS method showed great merit for multiple‐compound analysis when reference material was available. Therefore, for the quantitative analysis of new emerged synthetic cannabinoid in herbal blends, different methods could be chosen by considering whether reference material is available, as well as the number and types of synthetic cannabinoids detected in a single sample.
Bacillus thuringiensis RZ2MS9, a tropical plant growth‐promoting rhizobacterium, colonizes maize endophytically and alters the plant's production of volatile organic compounds during co‐inoculation with Azospirillum brasilense Ab‐V5
Authors: de Almeida Jaqueline Raquel , Bonatelli Maria Letícia , Batista Bruna Durante , Teixeira‐Silva Natalia Sousa , Mondin Mateus , dos Santos Rafaela Cristina , Bento José Maurício Simões , de Almeida Hayashibara Carolina Alessandra , Azevedo João Lúcio , Quecine Maria Carolina
Published: August 2021

The beneficial features of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are not limited to its role as an insecticide; it is also able to promote plant growth interacting with plants and other plant growth‐promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR). The PGPR Bt strain RZ2MS9 is a multi‐trait maize growth promoter. We obtained a stable mutant of RZ2MS9 labelled with green fluorescent protein (RZ2MS9‐GFP). We demonstrated that the Bt RZ2MS9‐GFP successfully colonizes maize's roots and leaves endophytically. We evaluated whether RZ2MS9 has an additive effect on plant growth promotion when co‐inoculated with Azospirillum brasilense Ab‐V5. The two strains combined enhanced maize's roots and shoots dry weight around 50% and 80%, respectively, when compared to the non‐inoculated control. However, non‐differences were observed comparing RZ2MS9 alone and when co‐inoculated with Ab‐V5, In addition, we used co‐inoculation experiments in glass chambers to analyse the plant's volatile organic compounds (VOCs) production during the maize‐RZ2MS9 and maize‐RZ2MS9‐Ab‐V5 interaction. We found that the single and co‐inoculation altered maize's VOCs emission profile, with an increase in the production of indoles in the co‐inoculation. Collectively, these results increase our knowledge about the interaction between the Bt and maize, and provide a new possibility of combined application with the commercial inoculant A. brasilense Ab‐V5.
Reporting quality of randomized, controlled trials evaluating immunotherapy in lung cancer
Authors: Du Jun , Zhang Yundi , Dong Yiting , Duan Jianchun , Bai Hua , Wang Jie , Xu Jiachen , Wang Zhijie
Published: August 2021

Background

With the improvement of therapeutic strategies from cytotoxic chemotherapy to immunotherapy, the possibility of achieving timely intervention for lung cancer has dramatically increased. This study aimed to systematically evaluate the reporting quality of randomized controlled trials (RCT) on immunotherapy in lung cancer.

Methods

The RCTs evaluating the efficacy of immunotherapy in lung cancer published up to 2021 were searched and collected from PUBMED and EMBASE by two investigators. The 2010 Consolidated Standards for Test Reports (CONSORT) statement‐based 28‐point overall quality score (OQS) and the 2001 CONSORT statement‐based 19‐point OQS was utilized for assessing the overall quality of each report.

Results

One hundred and fifty‐two related RCTs were retrieved in this study, including 81,931 patients. The average OQS in 2010 was 17.89 (range, 7.5–24.5). Overall, studies have sufficiently reported the eligibility criteria (143/152; 94.07%), described the scientific background (150/152; 98.7%) and discussed interventions (147/152; 96.7%). However, the RCTs did not consistently report the changes to trial after commencement (48/152; 31.6%), allocation, enrollment and assignment personnel (34/152; 22.4%), blinding (48/152; 31.6%), or randomization method (58/152; 38.2%).

Conclusions

The overall reporting quality of RCTs on immunotherapy in lung cancer was found to be unsatisfactory despite the fact that the CONSORT statement was issued more than a decade ago. Furthermore, there was virtual selectivity and heterogeneity in reporting some key issues in these trials. This is the first study to enlighten lung cancer researchers especially focusing on immunotherapy, and also to remind editors and peer reviewers to strengthen their due diligence.
Predictors of diagnostic stability in brief psychotic disorders: Findings from a 3‐year longitudinal study
Authors: López‐Díaz Álvaro , Ayesa‐Arriola Rosa , Ortíz‐García de la Foz Víctor , Suárez‐Pinilla Paula , Ramírez‐Bonilla María Luz , Vázquez‐Bourgon Javier , Ruiz‐Veguilla Miguel , Crespo‐Facorro Benedicto
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Brief psychotic disorder (BPD) is a relatively uncommon and underexplored psychotic condition. Even though BPD has been related to a more favorable outcome than other schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), current knowledge of its predictive factors remains scant. This study aimed to examine its prevalence and find early predictors of BPD diagnostic stability.

Methods

SSD diagnosis following Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM‐IV) criteria was explored in a large epidemiological cohort (n = 569) of non‐affective first‐episode psychosis (FEP) patients enrolled in a three‐year longitudinal intervention program (PAFIP). Premorbid, sociodemographic, and clinical information was collected to characterize BPD patients and determine factors predictive of diagnostic stability. Multivariate analysis included predictors selected from clinical knowledge and also those that had achieved marginal significance (p ≤ 0.1) in univariate analysis.

Results

A total of 59 patients enrolled in the PAFIP program (10.4% of the whole cohort) met DSM‐IV criteria for BPD, of whom 40 completed the three‐year follow‐up. The temporal stability of BPD in our sample was as high as 40% (n = 16). Transition from BPD to schizophrenia occurred in 37% (n = 15) of patients. Fewer hallucinations at baseline and better insight independently significantly predicted BPD diagnostic stability over time.

Conclusion

Our findings confirm that BPD is a clinical condition with moderate‐to‐low temporal stability and demonstrate that approximately two‐thirds of FEP individuals experiencing BPD will develop a long‐lasting psychotic disorder during follow‐up, mainly schizophrenia.
Dislocating Urban Theory: Learning with Food‐Vending Practices in Colombo and Delhi
Authors: Palat Narayanan Nipesh
Published: August 2021

Urban theory, produced in North Atlantic centres, has been perpetrated as universal and recent urban studies have pointed to the limits of this theory, calling for a Southern turn. The Southern call is to dislocate the concentration of power and knowledge in the metropolis. Owing to this concentration, concerns of the metropolis often become (or are made to become) concerns of the periphery. Taking informality as a practice, not embedded in people (marginalised) or places (settlements), I will outline how the study of informality has assured the lineage of metropolitan concerns. Moving away from informal‐formal dichotomy, the paper mobilises informal‐urban dialectic to identify and dislocate the metropolitan concerns of urban theory. Discussing empirical cases from Delhi and Colombo, I build a narrative of academic theorisation of informality and juxtapose it with everyday narrative of its practitioners (food vendors), arguing towards the need for a plural and radically non‐global knowledge production politics.
A comparative study of various prism adaptation forms in the surgical management of esophoria
Authors: Pichler Ulrike , Schmidbauer Elke , Hermann Philipp , Wagner Helga , Bolz Matthias , Mursch‐Edlmayr Anna Sophie
Published: August 2021

Purpose

To evaluate the outcome in participants who underwent surgery for esophoria following one of three different methods of preoperative prism adaptation test (PAT).

Methods

This prospective, multicentre study was carried out at five eye departments from 2012 to 2019. 116 participants were included and allocated to three groups as per investigator choice: Group 1 (n = 55) had a short prism adaptation period ranging from 1 to 5 hours during their visit at the clinic. Group 2 (n = 36) underwent partial prism correction for at least 4 weeks before surgery. Group 3 (n = 25) underwent full prism correction for at least 4 weeks before surgery. Motoric success was determined by postoperative angle of deviation (AOD), and sensoric success was evaluated with Lang and Bagolini striated lens test.

Results

A significant increase (p < 0.001) in AOD after PAT was observed in all groups, with no significant difference between groups (distance: p = 0.22; near: p = 0.31). Motoric and sensoric success was comparable between groups 3 months (p = 0.52; p = 0.55) and 1 year (p = 0.53; p = 0.29) after surgery. Prolonged prism adaptation (n = 24) for more than 365 days was not associated with better results.

Conclusion

Our study indicates that the postoperative result is independent from the duration and amount (partial or full correction) of prism adaptation before surgery at least up to one year of follow‐up. Prolonged prism adaptation (>365 days) before surgery does not improve the results.
Character strengths intervention for nurturing well‐being among Pakistan's university students: A mixed‐method study
Authors: Green Zane Asher
Published: August 2021

A strengths intervention, The Good Life, was developed for this study to augment Pakistani university students' PERMA‐oriented well‐being. The intervention strategy focused on all 24 strengths, observing strengths in others, and developing the lesser strengths based on the dominant ones. Intervention best practices from positive, vocational, and educational psychology were also implemented to support greater learning capabilities among participants. Additionally, fidelity to training was observed to ensure intervention integrity. In this three‐wave longitudinal study, participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n = 91) and a wait‐list/no‐treatment control group (n = 91). Quantitative results revealed that the experimental group reported greater well‐being than the control group immediately after the intervention and 6 months later. Qualitative findings shed light on the character strengths demonstrated by the experimental group to build each PERMA dimension during Time 2 and Time 3. Findings also provided insights into how the experimental group experienced well‐being during Time 2 and Time 3. Together, the quantitative and qualitative findings provide encouraging evidence regarding the long‐term efficacy of the intervention in Pakistan's collective society. Implications for offering future strengths interventions amid the COVID‐19 pandemic and recommendations for improving the Good Life intervention are also discussed.
Resilience and its inter‐relationship with symptomatology, illness course, psychosocial functioning, and mediational roles in schizophrenia: A systematic review
Authors: Yeo Jerry Jay , Chew Qian Hui , Sim Kang
Published: August 2021

Background

Schizophrenia is a major psychiatric disorder which poses substantial illness burden on affected individuals. In view of the need to better understand the growing literature on resilience (adaptation in the face of adversity) and its clinical correlates to inform and optimize clinical management in schizophrenia, we sought to summarize the extant literature which examined the inter‐relationships between resilience and demographic features, phenomenology, illness course, psychosocial functioning, and its mediational role among relevant factors.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted on published empirical studies examining the topic of resilience and clinical correlates within schizophrenia spectrum conditions up until December 2020.

Results

Higher level of resilience was associated with lower severity of specific symptomatology including positive, negative, depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, cognitive deficits, and better insight. Moreover, higher resilience was significantly associated with different aspects of illness course (such as shorter duration of untreated psychosis, longer duration of illness, improved symptom remission and recovery), internal factors (such as lower stigma, better self‐esteem), and psychosocial functioning (better overall, real‐life, social and interpersonal functioning, better quality of life). Resilience also acts as a mediator in pathways leading to depression, functioning, and quality of life within schizophrenia spectrum conditions.

Discussion

Viewed within the context of various resiliency models (compensatory, challenge, protective factor models), suggestions were made to enhance resilience and balance risk versus protective factors in order to improve disease management. Future research should seek to better elucidate associated biomarkers, inter‐relationships with carer resilience, and evaluate the efficacy of suitable resilience‐targeted interventions in schizophrenia.
Effects of arousal reappraisal on the anxiety responses to stress: Breaking the cycle of negative arousal intensity and arousal interpretation
Authors: Ginty Annie T. , Oosterhoff Benjamin J. , Young Danielle A. , Williams Sarah E.
Published: August 2021

Arousal reappraisal has been shown to be an effective strategy during stress to improve anxiety. However, the exact psychological mechanism through which arousal reappraisal improves anxiety is unknown. In a large, cross‐sectional study (Study 1, N = 455) participants engaged in an acute psychological stress task and rated their levels of physiological arousal, cognitive anxiety, and somatic anxiety, and whether they perceived this physiological arousal, cognitive anxiety, and somatic anxiety as helpful or hurtful (i.e., interpretation). Structural equation models supported a previously hypothesized model demonstrating that higher levels of physiological arousal were interpreted more negatively and this negative interpretation was associated with higher levels of anxiety intensity and more negative interpretations of anxiety. In an independent sample (Study 2, N = 155), participants were randomly assigned to an arousal reappraisal intervention or control condition prior to engaging in the psychological stress task. Results indicated that arousal reappraisal resulted in more positive interpretations of physiological arousal and anxiety. Results also supported a previously hypothesized model demonstrating that arousal reappraisal ‘broke’ the connection between physiological arousal intensity and physiological arousal interpretation. The present studies suggest that arousal reappraisal could possibly be acting through improving interpretations of physiological arousal symptoms.
Real‐world safety of nivolumab in patients with non‐small‐cell lung cancer in Japan: Postmarketing surveillance
Authors: Yamamoto Nobuyuki , Nakanishi Yoichi , Gemma Akihiko , Nakagawa Kazuhiko , Sakamoto Takahiko , Akamatsu Ayumi , Ohe Yuichiro
Published: August 2021

Postmarketing surveillance of Japanese patients with unresectable, previously treated, advanced or recurrent non‐small‐cell lung cancer treated with nivolumab was undertaken during the conditional approval period. The study aim was to evaluate the occurrence of treatment‐related adverse events of nivolumab in the real world. Patients were registered between December 2015 and March 2016 at 536 sites. Nivolumab was given intravenously (3 mg/kg every 2 weeks); the observation period was 12 months after the first dose of nivolumab. Patients were evaluated for safety (n = 3601; 18.2% ≥75 years, 22.4% ECOG performance status ≥2) and effectiveness (n = 3570). The frequencies of any grade and grade 3 or higher treatment‐related adverse events were 47.1% and 15.9%, respectively. The most frequent treatment‐related adverse events (any grade) were interstitial lung disease (6.4%), hypothyroidism (5.7%), and diarrhea (4.4%). Treatment‐related adverse events of special interest (priority items) occurring at a frequency of 5% or more were adverse events related to interstitial lung disease, thyroid dysfunction, liver dysfunction, colitis/severe diarrhea, infusion reaction, and infusion reaction within 24 hours. Significant risk factors for these priority items were identified by competing risk analysis: interstitial lung disease (previous/comorbid interstitial lung disease, abnormal findings on chest imaging, and smoking history); liver dysfunction (previous/comorbid liver disease, smoking history, and metastasis); thyroid dysfunction (previous/comorbid thyroid disease and performance status); and colitis/severe diarrhea (treatment line 2 vs ≥3). The 12‐month survival rate was 40.7%. In conclusion, the safety profile of nivolumab in this postmarketing surveillance was similar to that in clinical trials, and no new safety signals were identified. The study was registered with the Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center (clinicaltrials.jp: Japic‐163271).