bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Uniform diffracted fields of the extended theory of BDW from the circular aperture on a perfectly magnetic conductive surface
Authors: Altınel Mustafa , Yalçın Uğur
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the uniform diffracted fields from a perfectly magnetic conductive (PMC) surface with the extended theory of boundary diffraction wave (BDW) approach.

Design/methodology/approach

Miyamoto and Wolf’s symbolic expression of the vector potential was used in the extended theory of BDW integral. This vector potential is applied to the problem, and the nonuniform field expression found was made uniform. Here, the expression is made uniform, using the detour parameter with the help of the asymptotic correlation of the Fresnel function. The BDW theory for the PMC surface extended the diffracted fields, and the uniform diffracted fields were calculated.

Findings

The field expressions obtained were interpreted with the graphs numerically for different aperture radii and observation distances. It has been shown that the BDW is continuous behind the diffracting aperture. There does not exist any discontinuity at the geometrically light-to-shadow transition boundary, as is required by the theory.

Originality/value

The results were graphically compared with diffracted fields for other surfaces. As far as we know, the uniform diffracted fields from the circular aperture on a PMC surface were calculated for the first time with the extended theory of the BDW approach.
Multichannel relational communication strategy: does one-sized strategy fit all customers?
Authors: Ramos Carla , Bruscato Bortoluzzo Adriana , Claro Danny P.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study aims to capture how the association between a multichannel relational communication strategy (MRCS) and customer performance is contingent upon such customer performance (low- versus high-performance customers) and to reconcile past contradictory results in this marketing-related topic. To this end, the authors propose and validate the method of quantile regression as an unconventional, yet effective, means to proceed to that reconciliation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected data from 4,934 customers of a private pension fund firm and accounted for both firm- and customer-initiated relational communication channels (RCCs) and for customer lifetime value (CLV). This study estimated a generalized linear model and then a quantile regression model was used to account for customer performance heterogeneity.

Findings

This study finds that specific RCCs present different levels of association with performance for low- versus high-performance customers, where outcome customer performance is the dependent variable. For example, the relation between firm-initiated communication (FIC) and performance is stronger for low-CLV customers, whereas the relation between customer-initiated communication (CIC) and performance is increasingly stronger for high-CLV customers but not for low-CLV ones. This study also finds that combining different forms of FIC can result in a negative association with customer performance, especially for low-CLV customers.

Research limitations/implications

The authors tested the conceptual model in one single firm in the specific context of financial services and with cross-sectional data, so there should be caution when extrapolating this study’s findings.

Practical implications

This study offers nuanced and precise managerial insights on recommended resource allocation along with relational communication efforts, showing how managers can benefit from adopting a differentiated-customer performance approach when designing their MRCS.

Originality/value

This study provides an overview of the state of the art of MRCS, proposes a contingency analysis of the relationship between MRCS and performance based on customer performance heterogeneity and suggests the quantile method to perform such analysis and help reconcile past contradictory findings. This study shows how the association between RCCs and CLV varies across the conditional quantiles of the distribution of customer performance. This study also addresses a recent call for a more holistic perspective on the relationships between independent and dependent variables.
Built environment professionals’ perspective on digital technology skills
Authors: Balogun Teslim Bamidele
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the opinions of Built Environment Professionals (BEP) on the usage of fourth-generation digital technologies in the construction industry.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a qualitative research approach and conducts semi-structured interviews with Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) professionals to explore the adoption and utilisation of fourth-generation digital technologies in the construction industry. The semi-structured interviews allowed the participants to elaborate on their experiences, and thematic analysis was employed to identify and analyse significant themes related to the topic.

Findings

Accounts from BAME construction professionals reveal that the increased popularity of fourth-generation digital technologies, also known as Industry 4.0 technologies, does not necessarily result in increased usage. This is because many of these new technologies have not been embraced and are unpopular in certain circles. A more significant revelation is the impact of BAME community settings on determining the career pathways of most individuals, which often do not support the construction or digital technology pathways within the construction industry.

Research limitations/implications

Research targeting ethnic minorities may not necessarily yield a large response due to the sensitivity of the issues raised. However, conducting a nationwide research with a larger sample size drawn from various locations in the UK could achieve more robust findings and uncover additional issues. Meanwhile, the results of this research can serve as a framework for more extensive investigations.

Practical implications

The research offers valuable recommendations to industry and academia regarding the need to address the specific challenges faced by the BAME community in terms of digital technology adoption. These issues are often overlooked in most discussions about digital technology.

Originality/value

The study provides critical recommendations that are relevant to Further and Higher Education (HE) institutions, industries, construction organisations, government bodies, etc. Recommendations include a call for collaboration between educational institutions, industry partners and local communities to facilitate awareness and orientation programmes within the community.
Does bankruptcy law affect the relation between leverage and firm performance?
Authors: Rastogi Nikhil , Kumar Satish
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of bankruptcy reform in the year 2016 on the relation between leverage and firm performance for Indian firms, separately for business group and standalone firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Fixed effects panel regression is used to understand the role of bankruptcy reform on firm-level data to examine the relationship between leverage and firm performance after controlling for size, growth, age, liquidity and promoter shareholding. The authors also apply the generalized method of moments (GMM) to control for the endogeneity concerns.

Findings

The authors show that the introduction of the insolvency and bankruptcy code (IBC) positively moderates the relation between leverage and firm performance such that the extent of negative relation between leverage and firm performance is less in the post-IBC period. The positive impact of IBC on the relation between leverage and firm performance holds only for firms not affiliated to business groups and for firms with higher debt in their capital structure.

Practical implications

The study’s findings will help the regulators appreciate the effectiveness of bankruptcy reforms resulting from IBC implementation in terms of sound bankruptcy process and leading to safeguard the interests of minority shareholders.

Originality/value

The authors provide the only study to examine the role of bankruptcy law in moderating the relation between leverage and firm performance across a sample of business group and standalone firms.
Cross ownership and merger under technology adoption
Authors: Mukherjee Arijit
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to consider the effects of a merger on technology adoption and welfare in the presence of passive cross ownership. Merger increases investments in process technology and may increase welfare. The results are important for antitrust policies and suggest that the antitrust authorities may not need to be too concerned about mergers in industries with cross ownership.

Design/methodology/approach

Game-theoretic analysis.

Findings

Merger increases investments in process technology and may increase welfare.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is original.
Perceptions of religious Israeli high school principals regarding school climate after the COVID-19 pandemic, and its connection to their management style
Authors: Ben Harush Eli
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The global COVID-19 crisis posed many managerial and leadership challenges for principals. More specifically, after the crisis passed noticeable changes in school climate manifested and affected principal management style. The present study examined perceptions of principals regarding school climate and its impact on management style. The research literature clearly affirms the profound impact of school climate in terms of the relationship between students and school leaders. The study focused solely on religious high schools because, in Israel, the negative impact of the pandemic was most marked there.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was qualitative in nature, and included semi-structured interviews with 10 religious school principals in Israel. Study participants were asked about the existing school climate and their management style in light of the COVID-19 period.

Findings

This study indicated that positive school climate and interpersonal relationships between principals and students were affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Study participants reported that principals had to work arduously in the post-COVID-19 period to restore and improve positive school climate and consequently their management style also needed altering. Specifically, restoring open lines of communication and a sense of belonging as the main components of the school climate were the main foci of principal work. The principals' management style had to be more open and inclusive to restore a sense of belonging and security among students.

Originality/value

The study highlights the importance of an open and inclusive management style to restore positive school climate after crises.
Quantifying BIM investment value: a systematic review
Authors: Gharaibeh Lina , Eriksson Kristina , Lantz Björn
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Perceived benefits of building information modelling (BIM) have been discussed for some time, but cost–benefit benchmarking has been inconsistent. The purpose of this paper is to investigate BIM feasibility and evaluate investment worth to elucidate and develop the current understanding of BIM merit. The aim of the study is to propose a research agenda towards a more holistic perspective of BIM use incorporating quantifying investment return.

Design/methodology/approach

An in-depth examination of research patterns has been conducted to identify challenges in the assessment of the investment value and return on investment (ROI) for BIM in the construction industry. A total of 75 research articles were considered for the final literature review. An evaluation of the literature is conducted using a combination of bibliometric analysis and systematic reviews.

Findings

This study, which analysed 75 articles, unveils key findings in quantifying BIM benefits, primarily through ROI calculation. Two major research gaps are identified: the absence of a standardized BIM ROI method and insufficient exploration of intangible benefits. Research focus varies across phases, emphasizing design and construction integration and exploring post-construction phases. The study categorizes quantifiable factors, including productivity, changes and rework reduction, requests for information reduction, schedule efficiency, safety, environmental sustainability and operations and facility management. These findings offer vital insights for researchers and practitioners, enhancing understanding of ’BIM’s financial benefits and signalling areas for further exploration in construction.

Originality/value

The ’study’s outcomes offer the latest insights for researchers and practitioners to create effective approaches for quantifying ’BIM’s financial benefits. Additionally, the proposed research agenda aims to improve the current limited understanding of BIM feasibility and investment worth evaluation. Results of the study could assist practitioners in overcoming limitations associated with BIM investment and economic evaluations in the construction industry.
Reasons for Muslim and Christian white meat consumption: examples of England and Turkey
Authors: Öztürk Bilge Nur
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The psychological foundations of consumers’ reasons for product choices are analyzed in the field of marketing. The purpose of this research is to identify the implicit reasons for white meat consumption in the UK and Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach

In the scope of the means-end chain theory, in-depth interviews were conducted with individuals, and the reasons for consumers’ product preferences were revealed by moving from concrete to abstract.

Findings

It has been determined that the white meat consumption of Muslims in the UK is primarily shaped by their religious approach. In Turkey, on the contrary, both consumption patterns and reasons for preference are changing. It has been found that white meat consumption is associated with values such as security needs, satisfaction with life, self-fulfillment and happiness.

Research limitations/implications

This research has contributed to the marketing literature by examining consumers’ implicit consumption reasons for white meat in the context of religion and culture.

Practical implications

Marketing strategies should focus on building trust in halal certification, particularly in the UK. Brands should associate their promotion strategies with feelings of security and happiness, which are associated in the minds of consumers.

Originality/value

This study is a new study in terms of revealing the connotations of consumers about consuming chicken and fish and showing the implicit needs that the brands can emotionally associate with.
A Millennial’s leadership perspective: reflections on a decade of mentorship from a servant leader
Authors: Hadley Craig
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This article illustrates the transformational nature of servant leadership and its capacity to empower and develop others. In it, I recount my close relationship with a high school mentor who embodied the key tenants of Greenleaf’s (1970) servant leadership philosophy. I also advocate for others to provide mentorship and support in a similar fashion.

Design/methodology/approach

This Origins contribution was constructed as a reflective narrative in response to a mentorship experience earlier in my life.

Findings

A mentorship experience from my youth profoundly shaped my approach to leadership and teamwork that I still embrace to this day. Readers are asked to consider the power of servant leadership in their own lives.

Originality/value

Students of leadership can utilize this reflective essay as a touchstone for further classroom discussion.
Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin ski area changes its marketing strategy: the Vail epic pass decision
Authors: Wittmer Dennis , Bowen Jeff
Published: March 2024

Research methodology

The case was developed from two 2-h interviews with the Chief Operating Officer of A-Basin, Alan Henceroth; there is no CEO of A-Basin. The second interview was recorded on a Zoom call to provide accuracy of quotations and information. A variety of secondary sources were used in terms of better understanding the current state of the ski industry, as well as its history.

Case overview/synopsis

Arapahoe Basin (A-Basin) is a historic, moderately sized, ski area with proximity to metropolitan Denver, Colorado. For over 20 years A-Basin partnered with Vail, allowing skiers to use the Vail Epic Pass, for which A-Basin received some revenue from Vail for each skier visit. The Epic Pass allowed pass holders unlimited days of skiing at A-Basin. More and more skiers were buying the Epic Pass, thus increasing the customer traffic to A-Basin. However, the skier experience was compromised due inadequate parking, long lift lines and crowded restaurants. The renewal of the contract with Vail was coming due, and A-Basin had to consider whether to renew the contract with Vail. The case is framed primarily as a strategic marketing case. The authors use Porter’s five forces model to assess the external environment of A-Basin, and the authors use the resource-based view and the VRIO tool to assess A-Basin’s internal strengths. Both frameworks provide useful analysis in terms of deciding whether to continue A-Basin’s arrangement with Vail or end the contract and pursue a different strategy. In 2019, after consultation with the Canadian parent company Dream, A-Basin made the decision to disassociate itself from the Epic Pass and Vail to restore a quality ski experience for A-Basin’s customers. No other partner had ever left its relationship with Vail. An epilogue details some of A-Basin’s actions, as well as the outcomes for the ski area. Generally A-Basin’s decision produced positive results and solidified its competitive position among competitors. Other ski areas have since adopted a similar strategy as A-Basin. A-Basin’s success is reflected in a pending offer from Alterra, Inc., to purchase the ski area.

Complexity academic level

The A-Basin case can be used in both undergraduate and graduate strategic (or marketing) management courses. It is probably best considered during the middle of an academic term, as the case requires students to apply many of the theoretical concepts of strategy. One of the best books to enable students to use Porter’s five forces is Understanding Michael Porter by Joan Magretta (Boston: Harvard Business Review Press, 2012). Magretta was a colleague of Porter for many years and was an Editor of the Harvard Business Review. For a discussion of the VRIN/VRIO concept, see Chapter 4 of Essentials of Strategic Management by Gamble, Peteraf and Thompson (New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2019).
Work-integrated learning in managers’ cooperative work practices
Authors: Chatzipanagiotou Niki , Mirijamdotter Anita , Mörtberg Christina
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on academic library managers’ learning practices in the context of cooperative work supported by computational artefacts. Academic library managers’ everyday work is mainly cooperative. Their cooperation is supported predominantly by computational artefacts. Learning how to use the computational artefacts efficiently and effectively involves understanding the changes in everyday work that affect managers and, therefore, it requires deep understanding of their cooperative work practices.

Design/methodology/approach

Focused ethnography was conducted through participant observations, interviews and document analysis. Ten managers from a university library in Sweden participated in the research. A thematic method was used to analyse the empirical material. Computer supported cooperative work (CSCW) and work-integrated learning was used as the conceptual lens.

Findings

Five learning practices were identified: collaboration, communication, coordination, decision-making processes and computational artefacts’ use. The findings show that learning is embedded in managers’ cooperative work practices, which do not necessarily include sufficient training time. Furthermore, learning was intertwined with cooperating and was situational. Managers learned by reflecting together on their own experiences and through joint cooperation and information sharing while using the computational artefacts.

Originality/value

The main contribution lies in providing insights into how academic library managers learn and cooperate in their everyday work, emphasizing the role of computational artefacts, the importance of the work context and the collective nature of learning. It also highlights the need for continual workplace learning in contemporary knowledge work environments. Thus, the research generates contributions to the informatics field by extending the understanding of managers’ work-integrated learning in their everyday cooperative work practices supported by computational artefacts’ use. It also contributes to the intersection of CSCW and work-integrated learning.
Determination of the magnetization direction via correlation between reduced‐to‐the‐pole magnetic anomalies and total gradient of the magnetic potential with vertical magnetization
Authors: Jian Xiange , Liu Shuang , Hu Zuzhi , Liu Yunxiang , Cai Hongzhu , Hu Xiangyun
Published: March 2024

The total magnetization of an underground magnetic source is the vector sum of the induced magnetization and the natural remanent magnetization. The direction of the total magnetization serves as important a priori information in the inversion and processing of magnetic data. We demonstrated that the total gradient of the magnetic potential with vertical magnetization constitutes the envelope of the vertical component of the magnetic field for all directions of the Earth's field and source magnetization. The total gradient of the magnetic potential with vertical magnetization and the reduction‐to‐the‐pole field simultaneously tend to achieve maximum symmetry near the correct total magnetization direction. As a result, the total magnetization direction can be estimated by computing the correlations between the reduction‐to‐the‐pole and the total gradient of the magnetic potential with vertical magnetization. The proposed method yields accurate magnetization directions in synthetic model examples. The total gradient of the magnetic potential with vertical magnetization is less susceptible to data noise than transforms which are derived from the high‐order magnetic field derivatives or tensors. The estimation results are slightly affected by changes in the source magnetization direction. In a field example in the Weilasito region (North China), the reduction‐to‐the‐pole fields calculated using the estimated magnetization directions are well centred over the source. The proposed method obtained a more focused magnetization direction than that of a three‐dimensional magnetization vector inversion. The total gradient of the magnetic potential with vertical magnetization therefore provides a novel and accurate approach to determine the total magnetization direction from the total field anomaly in a variety of situations.
State capacity, tax evasion, and wage inequality
Authors: Pi Jiancai , Liu Xinyi
Published: March 2024

This paper explores how state capacity in the sense of controlling tax evasion affects wage inequality through constructing several general equilibrium models. We analyse six types of redistribution in urban areas, and find that effect variations in urban wage inequality arise depending on the specific recipients of redistribution. Notably, under redistribution to urban unskilled labour, changes in wage inequality will depend on the capital intensity of the urban skilled sector when state capacity increases.
Investigating revealed preferences for urban waterway conditions: A hedonic property valuation study
Authors: Thomy Buyani , Morrison Mark , Duncan Roderick , Bark Rosalind H. , Boyle Kevin J. , Birtles Phillip J.
Published: March 2024

This study examines the impact of urban waterway conditions on property market prices. In general, similar revealed preference studies typically focus on identifying the value associated with changes in attributes such as riparian vegetation or water quality. Using an index that classifies waterways based on the vegetation and channel conditions, we analyse both attributes. Our spatial hedonic property price model findings indicate that buyers are willing to pay premiums ranging from 2.7% to 8.5%, depending on vegetation and channel conditions. However, when the proximity to the waterway is accounted for, we found that properties adjacent to the highest‐ranked vegetation and channel conditions attract a higher premium of 12.8%. Overall, the implicit marginal effects for the distance–condition interaction variables indicate that for lower‐ranked waterway conditions, there is a relative aversion to being adjacent to waterways. The results suggest that there are significant gains to be realised from removing concrete‐lined channels and replacing them with stones for banks, or re‐creating unmodified channels, even if there is only limited scope for increasing vegetation.
‘Fledgling Financial Needs’, Affordability and Attitudes as Drivers of Noninsurance Among Young Australians*
Authors: Bourova Evgenia , Ramsay Ian , Ali Paul
Published: March 2024

Building, home contents and comprehensive car insurance promise protection against loss or damage from fire, flooding, accident and theft. In Australia, young people aged 18–24 are among the groups most likely to forego these insurance products. Yet research on the reasons for this remains limited, as noninsurance among young people is attributed to their dependent or ‘fledgling’ life stage, with minimal income and assets warranting protection. In this article, we argue that noninsurance may have serious consequences for young people, particularly if they have limited savings and cannot count on financial assistance from their families. Drawing upon survey findings, we undertake an in‐depth investigation into the role of asset levels, affordability and attitudes in driving young people to forego insurance. Our findings suggest that young people are not especially predisposed to distrust insurers, to consider insurance inessential or to oppose insurance on principle. However, other attitudes—including lesser risk aversion, higher confidence in their capacity to mitigate risks and perceptions of insurance as irrelevant to their circumstances or ‘not for them’—may be more prevalent in this age group, driving them to remain uninsured even when they have assets warranting protection and sufficient income to offset affordability concerns.
Safety and efficacy evaluation of personalized exercise prescription during chemotherapy for lung cancer patients
Authors: Li Qian , Guo Chen , Cao Baoshan , Zhou Fanjie , Wang Jiulong , Ren Hong , Li Yanchun , Wang Mopei , Liu Yane , Zhang Hua , Ma Liwen
Published: March 2024

Background

To explore the safety and effectiveness of personalized exercise intervention during chemotherapy for lung cancer patients who were relatively weak and with compromised cardiopulmonary function.

Methods

Thirty‐eight lung cancer patients treated with chemotherapy at Peking University Third Hospital were enrolled in this prospective study. The exercise group (N = 21) received individualized exercise guidance based on personal test results and exercised regularly, while the control group (N = 17) only received exercise education and planed exercise methods according to their own preferences. Both groups underwent three fitness tests and clinical indicator assessments at 0, 6, and 12 weeks after starting the exercise, and the differences in trends of various indicators between the two groups were compared.

Results

No exercise‐related adverse events occurred during the 12‐week exercise period. After 12 weeks of exercise training, in terms of fitness, the exercise group showed significant improvements in 6‐min walk test (6MWT) (p < 0.001), peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) (p = 0.005), muscle content (p < 0.001), muscle percentage (p < 0.001), and grip strength (p = 0.008) compared to the control group. In terms of clinical indicators, the exercise group showed significant improvements in vital capacity (p = 0.018), D‐dimer (p = 0.031), and C‐reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.01), uric acid (p = 0.003), triglycerides (p < 0.001), functional average score (p < 0.001), and main symptom average score (p = 0.004) compared to the control group in trends over time.

Conclusion

Rehabilitation exercises using individualized exercise prescriptions tailored by exercise prescription specialists during chemotherapy are safe for lung cancer patients. Adhering to exercise can achieve comprehensive improvements in physical fitness and quality of life at 12 weeks.
E‐cigarettes: A framework for comparative history and policy
Authors: Berridge Virginia , Fairchild Amy Lauren , Morphett Kylie , Gartner Coral , Hall Wayne , Bayer Ronald
Published: March 2024

Background

England, Australia and the United States have approached the regulation of e‐cigarettes in very different ways, yet all three countries have appealed to the concept of evidence as underpinning policy responses. We compared these policy responses using a combination of the methodologies of historians and policy scientists in order to elucidate the factors that had influenced policy in each country.

Argument/Analysis

Each country’s evidence and values intersected in different ways, producing very different responses within specific national contexts and histories. Our analysis accordingly emphasized the historical precursors of the policy issues raised by e‐cigarettes and placed the policy debate within the context of regulatory bodies and the networks of researchers and advocates who influenced policy. Issues also of importance were the nature of the state; political context; the pre‐history of nicotine for smoking cessation; the role of activism and its links with government; the influence of harm reduction ideas from drugs and HIV; and finally, whom policy was perceived to benefit. In the United Kingdom, based on this pre‐history of the smoking issue, it was the existing smoker, while in the United States and Australia, protecting children and adolescents has played a central role.

Conclusions

Structural and historical factors appear to underpin differences in e‐cigarette policy development in England, Australia and the United States.
Pretreatment ocular blood flow and retinal oxygen metabolism in the acute uveitic phase is associated with final outcome in Vogt‐Koyanagi‐Harada disease
Authors: Abu El‐Asrar Ahmed M. , AlBloushi Abdulrahman F. , Alzubaidi Abdullah , Gikandi Priscilla W. , Stefánsson Einar
Published: March 2024

Purpose

To investigate the association between pretreatment blood flow velocity in the choroid and optic nerve head (ONH) and retinal oxygen metabolism in the acute uveitic phase and the development of ‘sunset glow fundus’ in Vogt‐Koyanagi‐Harada (VKH) disease.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of 41 patients (82 eyes). Laser speckle flowgraphy and retinal oximetry measurements were performed at the presentation. The main outcome measure was the development of ‘sunset glow fundus’.

Results

Twenty patients (40 eyes) presented in the phase preceding anterior segment inflammation (early presentation), and 21 patients (42 eyes) presented with anterior segment inflammation (late presentation). In ONH, mean blur rate (MBR)‐vessel, representing blood flow velocity in retinal vessels, was significantly lower in the late presentation group, while choroidal MBR was not significantly different. The late presentation group had significantly lower oxygen saturation in retinal venules, a higher arteriovenous oxygen saturation difference and a smaller calibre of retinal arterioles compared with the early presentation group. Eyes that subsequently developed ‘sunset glow fundus’ had significantly lower ONH MBR‐vessels, lower oxygen saturation in retinal venules, a higher arteriovenous oxygen saturation difference and a smaller calibre of retinal arterioles compared with eyes without ‘sunset glow fundus’. ONH MBR‐vessel had a significant negative correlation with arteriovenous oxygen saturation difference and a significant positive correlation with calibre of retinal arterioles.

Conclusions

In the acute uveitic phase of VKH disease, the development of ‘sunset glow fundus’ is associated with pretreatment reduced retinal blood flow velocity, calibre of retinal arterioles and oxygen saturation in retinal venules, as well as an increased arteriovenous oxygen saturation difference.
Higher awakening threshold of preterm infants in prone position may be a risk factor for SIDS
Authors: Ikels Alina Kristin , Herting Egbert , Stichtenoth Guido
Published: March 2024

Aim

The supine sleeping position in the prevention of sudden infant death syndrome in preterm infants is poorly understood. We aimed to investigate the effect of sleep posture on cardiorespiratory parameters and movement patterns in preterm infants close to discharge.

Methods

This observational study included neonates born in 2022 at the University Hospital Schleswig‐Holstein, Lübeck, Germany. Motion sensor data, heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen saturation were recorded for infants with postconceptional age 35–37 weeks during sleep in the prone and supine positions.

Results

We recorded data from 50 infants, born at 31 (24–35) weeks of gestation (mean(range)), aged 5.2 ± 3.7 weeks (mean ± SD), of whom 48% were female. Five typical movement patterns were identified. In the prone position, the percentage of calm, regular breathing was higher and active movement was less frequent when compared to the supine position. The percentage of calm irregular breathing, number of apnoeas, bradycardias, desaturations and vital sign changes were not influenced by position.

Conclusion

The prone position seems to be associated with a higher arousal threshold. The supine position appears advantageous for escape from life‐threatening situations such as sudden infant death syndrome.
Surgery of enlarging lesions after stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer with oncogenic driver mutations frequently reveals radiation necrosis: case series and review
Authors: Zhou Fang , Jiang Leilei , Sun Xuankai , Wang Zhen , Feng Jialin , Liu Ming , Ma Zhao
Published: March 2024

In brain metastases, radiation necrosis (RN) is a complication that arises after single or multiple fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS/FSRS), which is challenging to distinguish from local recurrence (LR). Studies have shown increased RN incidence rates in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with oncogenic driver mutations (ODMs) or receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). This study investigated enlarging brain lesions following SRS/FSRS, for which additional surgeries were performed to distinguish between RN and LR. We investigated seven NSCLC patients with ODMs undergoing SRS/FSRS for BM and undergoing surgery for suspicion of LR on MRI imaging. Descriptive statistics were performed. Among the seven patients, six were EGFR+, while one was ALK+. The median irradiation dose was 30 Gy (range, 20–35 Gy). The median time to develop RN after SRS/FSRS was 11.1 months (range: 6.3–31.2 months). Moreover, gradually enlarging lesions were found in all patients after 6 months post‐SRS/FSR. Brain radiation necrosis was pathologically confirmed in all the patients. RN should be suspected in NSCLC patients when lesions keep enlarging after 6 months post‐SRS/FSRS, especially for patients with ODMs and receiving TKIs. Further, this case series indicates that further dose reduction might be necessary to avoid RN for such patients.
Delayed notes: Responding to two unsettling street encounters in Santiago
Authors: Martínez Soledad
Published: March 2024

A common fieldwork recommendation is to keep a notebook and to write descriptions and reflections in it as soon as possible after each spell of participant observation. The idea is that we should record the details of the situations we encounter while they are still fresh in our memory. But sometimes, when faced with challenging situations, this may not be the best time to write. In this short article, I reflect on the timing of notetaking and how the more reflective purpose of fieldnotes may require more flexibility about how and when to take notes. Drawing on my PhD focused on pedestrian mobilities in Santiago, Chile, and with reference to two unsettling fieldwork experiences, I examine the merits of delayed and experimental notetaking in pursuit of both personal wellbeing and more insightful entries.
Screening of dermatology drugs for aberrant use‐patterns: An application of epidemiologic estimates and measures of inequality in drug use
Authors: Delvin Thomas , Bygum Anette , Lund Lars Christian , Andersen Jacob Harbo , Hallas Jesper
Published: March 2024

Aims

Dermatology treatments require adherence for safe and effective use. Real‐world healthcare databases can reveal drug utilization patterns and uncover inappropriate or unexpected use. This study aimed to analyse dermatology drug utilization patterns using epidemiological and inequality measures, leveraging Danish nationwide registries. It also assessed the feasibility of this method for detecting aberrant drug use.

Methods

We formed a 2019 cohort of all patients treated for skin conditions through Danish healthcare registries. We calculated prevalence, incidence rates and treatment duration for dermatological drugs. Inequality in drug utilization was assessed using Lorenz curves, Gini coefficients and other measures.

Results

The study encompassed 1 021 255 patients using 94 dermatology drugs. Most usage aligned with ‘expected clinical use’, but we detected inequality, with some drugs having high Gini coefficients and disproportionate consumption by the top percentile of users. Notable findings included potential inappropriate antibiotic use, excessive topical corticosteroid use and unexpected drug use duration.

Conclusions

In Denmark, dermatology drugs are used primarily as anticipated, with minimal unexpected patterns. Specific follow‐up is required to draw conclusions about inappropriate use. This approach demonstrates broad applicability for screening aberrant drug utilization.
Green finance, management power, and environmental information disclosure in China—Theoretical mechanism and empirical evidence
Authors: Gao Jiazhan , Hua Guihong , AbidAli Randhawa , Mahamane Famanta , Li Zilian , Alfred Aliya Jamila , Zhang Teng , Wu Dailong , Xiao Quan
Published: March 2024

Green finance plays a crucial bridge as an intermediary between finance and the environment, facilitating resource allocation. The disclosure of environmental information (EID) is vital for promoting sustainable economic development. This study utilizes panel data covering the period from 2012 to 2019, focusing on Chinese companies listed in high‐polluting industries. The findings demonstrate that green finance policies have a significant positive impact on EID, while increased managerial power has a detrimental effect. However, green finance policies can mitigate the negative consequences arising from moral hazard and adverse selection resulting from managerial power. They enhance the quality of EID by restricting long‐term loan resources for polluting entities. The heterogeneity test reveals that the effectiveness of green finance policies in promoting EID varies across different regions of China. In non‐state‐owned companies, green finance policies are more effective in constraining managerial power. The moderating effect of green finance on managerial power is weakened by improvements in internal control. Green financing can offset the adverse impact of managerial power on EID when debt levels are high. Our research plays a crucial role in advancing micro‐academic studies in the field of green finance. By strengthening internal controls for corporate managers and promoting EID policies, we provide essential support and guidance to decision‐makers.
Capture‐based targeted sequencing using a T‐cell control in myeloid malignancies and idiopathic cytopenias
Authors: Pietka Grzegorz , De Lord Corinne , Matthias Gwynn , Cheung Betty , Atwal Sangeeta , Furtado Michelle , Cullis Jonathan , Grey‐Davies Liz , Narayanan Srinivasan , McGregor Andrew , Kilner Mari , Bosworth Jenny , McMullin Mary Frances , Coats Thomas , Parcharidou Agapi , Cavenagh Jamie , Byrne Jenny , Iyengar Sunil , Mohammed Kabir , Cross Nicholas , Hubank Mike , Ribeiro Sara , Khorashad Jamshid , Wren Dorte , O'Connor Simon , Taussig David
Published: March 2024

We report on a study of next‐generation sequencing in 257 patients undergoing investigations for cytopenias. We sequenced bone marrow aspirates using a target enrichment panel comprising 82 genes and used T cells from paired blood as a control. One hundred and sixty patients had idiopathic cytopenias, 81 had myeloid malignancies and 16 had lymphoid malignancies or other diagnoses. Forty‐seven of the 160 patients with idiopathic cytopenias had evidence of somatic pathogenic variants consistent with clonal cytopenias. Only 39 genes of the 82 tested were mutated in the 241 patients with either idiopathic cytopenias or myeloid neoplasms. We confirm that T cells can be used as a control to distinguish between germline and somatic variants. The use of paired analysis with a T‐cell control significantly reduced the time molecular scientists spent reporting compared to unpaired analysis. We identified somatic variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in a higher proportion (24%) of patients with myeloid malignancies or clonal cytopenias compared to less than 2% of patients with non‐clonal cytopenias. This suggests that somatic VUS are indicators of a clonal process. Lastly, we show that blood depleted of lymphocytes can be used in place of bone marrow as a source of material for sequencing.
Learning to cope with the reality of endometriosis: A mixed‐methods analysis of psychological therapy in women with endometriosis
Authors: Dowding Charlotte , Mikocka‐Walus Antonina , Skvarc David , O'Shea Melissa , Olive Lisa , Evans Subhadra
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Despite the need and uptake of mental health support by women with endometriosis, no research to date has explored their experience of psychological therapy. We aimed to understand the factors that predict engagement in psychological therapy by Australian women with endometriosis and to qualitative explore their experience of psychological support.

Design

Mixed‐methods design.

Methods

A total of 200 women with self‐reported endometriosis were recruited from the community. We explored; (1) the demographic and clinical predictors of engagement in psychological therapy, (2) the psychological approaches that seem most valuable to women in the management of endometriosis and (3) their experience engaging in psychological therapy for endometriosis.

Results

Nearly half of women reported to have seen a psychologist within the past year, particularly for pain. Younger age (OR, .94; 95% CI, .886–.993), depressive symptoms (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.002–1.099), and working part time compared to full time (OR, 2.17, 95% CI, 1.012–4.668), increased the likelihood of engaging in psychological therapy. Template thematic analysis identified three themes; (1) endometriosis and pain have multi‐faceted psychological effects, (2) psychological support is sought to adjust and live with endometriosis and (3) there are helpful and unhelpful psychological tools for women with endometriosis.

Conclusions

Our findings support the use of psychological therapy in the management of endometriosis, and the need for psychological therapy to acknowledge the chronicity and impact of symptoms, to enlist multidisciplinary support and to consider alternative options. Further advocacy is required to educate women on the benefits of psychological therapy for endometriosis.
Unpacking the Relationship Between COVID‐19‐Related Stress and Quality of Life Among High School Students: A Socio‐Ecological Resilience Perspective
Authors: Jiang Chaoxin , He Wenjiong , Jiang Shan
Published: March 2024

The COVID‐19 pandemic is a serious public health challenge that causes negative effects on adolescents. This study aims to investigate the mediating roles of individual, family and community resilience in the association between COVID‐19‐related stress and quality of life according to the socio‐ecological theory. The sample consists of 814 adolescents from high schools in Zhejiang province, China (mean age = 16.79 years; 51.11% girls), collected by a multi‐stage cluster random sampling. The multiple mediation model is performed by SPSS macro PROCESS. The results show that individual resilience (β = −0.017, 95% CI [−0.044, −0.003]), family resilience (β = −0.028, 95% CI [−0.058, −0.008]) and community resilience (β = −0.031, 95% CI [−0.062, −0.007]) partially mediate the relationship between COVID‐19‐related stress and life satisfaction. Moreover, individual resilience (β = −0.028, 95% CI [−0.056, −0.008]), family resilience (β = −0.017, 95% CI [−0.042, −0.002]) and community resilience (β = −0.033, 95% CI [−0.065, −0.007]) also partially mediate the relationship between COVID‐19‐related stress and subjective well‐being. This study not only elucidates the mediating roles of multidimensional resilience but also provides valuable insights into improving adolescent resilience across different systems.
Re‐thinking youth work as initial mental health support for young people
Authors: Ní Charraighe Alison , Reynolds Andie
Published: March 2024

Youth work is a practice that supports young people and bolsters mental health and well‐being. In the aftermath of the Covid‐19 pandemic, young people in the UK have experienced rising levels of mental distress. However, in the broader youth policy field, youth work is rarely acknowledged as a mental health support. This article draws upon research uncovering to what extent youth workers provide mental health support for young people. A survey questionnaire was distributed to youth workers across selected local authorities in central Scotland and north‐east England. Our original findings show that most youth workers provide initial mental health support for young people and, since the pandemic, this has become a key component of youth work practice. The youth workers surveyed were confident that they had the skills, experience and training to provide such support but were struggling to meet increased demand due to funding shortages in the sector.
Seeing like police: Surveillant practices and scopic skills in Recife, Brazil
Authors: Frossard Carolina M.
Published: March 2024

Drawing on public–private circuits for urban surveillance in Recife, Brazil, this article unpacks how camera operators and ordinary residents are sensorially attuned to what constitutes a threat to urban order, from the perspective of state security governance. Through the notion of sensory enskilment, the piece delves into how surveillant civilians learn to distinguish such threats in digitally mediated urban sightings. By attending to the development of scopic skills in everyday surveillance contexts, I shed light on how security events become visible and legible across communities of practice, contributing to the formation of policing subjectivities and the maintenance of broader regimes of vigilance. The analysis draws on qualitative research on two sets of sites that cultivate civilians' visual skills around urban security: video‐surveillance control rooms managed by the security secretariats of Recife and Pernambuco, and WhatsApp groups dedicated to the policing of specific territories. This article seeks to deepen recent debates on how vertical and lateral forms of surveillance shape political communities and sociospatial divides.