bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative study on preparation of hybrid WS2@GO composites and its tribological application in paraffin liquid
Authors: Gao Xiaohong , Wang Yizheng , Wang Tianlong , Li Feibo , Wang Yanming , Zhang Xiaoliang
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The anti-friction and anti-wear properties of WS2@GO composites on paraffin liquid were investigated with a four-ball tribometer.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of graphene oxide (GO) nano hybrid composites decorated with tungsten disulfide (WS2) were prepared in-suit by hydrothermal strategy.

Findings

The results showed that compared to the virgin oil, friction coefficient and diameter of wear scare of lubricant oil containing W/G = 1:1 hybrid composite was reduced by 42.7% and 31.6%, respectively. At the microscopic, the excellent lubrication performance resulted from the tribo-chemical reaction on the sliding interface, which promotes the formation of tribo-film with a thickness of 8 nm. The carbonization compound, WO3 and Fe2O3 in the tribo-film results from the tribo-chemical reactions at the sliding interface, which can improve the stability and strength of tribo-film. Thereby the metal surface was further protected from friction and wear.

Originality/value

A series of WS2@GO composites were prepared in-suit by a hydrothermal strategy, and the tribo-film was analyzed by the transmission electron microscope and X-ray photoelectron spectrometer.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-10-2024-0397
Does industry sensitivity affect the relationship between board diversity and ESG performance? Fresh evidence from the G-7 countries
Authors: Amin Marian H. , Ali Heba , Mohamed Ehab K. A.
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This paper scrutinizes the nexus between firms’ board characteristics; environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and industry sensitivity, with the aim of examining how the impact of board diversity on ESG performance would vary among sensitive versus non-sensitive industries and identify which board characteristics are more influential on ESG performance in these industries.

Design/methodology/approach

A large sample of 31,255 firm-year observations in 5,471 companies listed in the G-7 countries from 2010 to 2022 is examined using a Heckman two-stage least squares (2SLS) approach to address the potential endogeneity concerns within our proposed relationships.

Findings

The findings show that the positive influence of diverse boards on a firm’s ESG performance is particularly amplified in sensitive industries and may be attributed to the greater need of these industries to address stakeholder concerns (as posited by the stakeholder and resource-dependence theories) and mitigate agency conflicts (supporting agency theory). Interestingly, the impact of diversity in board gender and education qualifications appears to be particularly influential and remains robust across a series of regression analyses.

Research limitations/implications

This study has important implications for policymakers and legislators as it provides guidelines pertaining to the composition of boards operating in sensitive industries. For practitioners and firms, the results allow for better understanding of firms’ tendency towards sustainability practices, particularly in the context of sensitive industries.

Practical implications

This study has important implications for policymakers and legislators as it provides guidelines pertaining to the composition of boards operating in sensitive industries.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the increasingly growing literature that investigates the nexus between industry sensitivity, board characteristics and ESG performance.
“Shifting goalposts” and “fishing expeditions”: police case preparation and the application of the full code test in cases of RASSO
Authors: Ferreira Joana , Horvath Miranda A.H. , Davies Kari
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Despite recent increases, the low level of convictions in cases of rape and serious sexual offences (RASSO), aligned with the subsequent lack of victim satisfaction with the process, has highlighted the various challenges and barriers throughout the criminal justice process. Whilst understanding the shortcomings of criminal justice processes in cases of RASSO requires a holistic approach, this paper focuses on case preparation and the application of the Full Code test. Its purpose is to explore the application of this test and preceding case preparation in police decision-making around submitting cases for charging decision, following the recommendations of the first year of Operation Soteria Bluestone.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a mixed-method approach, combining both interviews and case reviews of selected RASSO cases across five forces in England and Wales.

Findings

This research found a shift towards “threshold thinking”, whereby officers arguably no longer try to predict a prosecutor’s decision and instead focus on meeting the requirements for the application of the test. In terms of case preparation, the research demonstrates a move away from “fishing expeditions”, with a preference for more focused approaches to collecting evidence.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies looking at the use of full code test principles in police decision-making in RASSO cases.
Breaking the gender code: configurational insights on women directors and financial performance in family firms
Authors: Laique Usama , Abdullah Fahad , García-Ramos Rebeca , Rehman Ijaz Ur
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Previous studies have considered the presence of women directors on corporate boards and their impact on financial performance in isolation, disregarding their interaction with other corporate boards and firm-level attributes. Consequently, the results of such studies are largely inconclusive. This study addresses this gap by adopting a system’s approach to corporate governance characteristics and firm financial performance, rooted in a configurational approach.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis to investigate the association of outside executive women directors and family-affiliated executive women directors with financial performance in the presence of board and firm-level characteristics in 216 listed non-financial family firms in Pakistan over the period of 2014–2019.

Findings

The findings reveal that various configurations of board and firm characteristics lead to high financial performance, underscoring conjunction, equifinality and asymmetry. The authors note that, the presence of outside executive women directors on corporate boards is frequently associated with high financial performance compared to family-affiliated executive women directors. Additionally, results indicates that presence of either outside executive women directors, family-affiliated executive women directors or both on corporate board associates with low level of leverage and vice versa. Moreover, high proportion of independent directors, large board size and large firm size are frequently associated with high ROE and Tobin’s Q.

Originality/value

This study introduces a novel perspective by integrating board and firm-level characteristics using a configurational approach. Focusing on listed non-financial family firms, the study highlights the asymmetric association between women directors and financial performance, suggesting that their impact fluctuates based on their combination with other board- and firm-level attributes. The study’s findings challenge the notion of a one-size-fits-all approach to board gender diversity and call for a more contextual understanding of how different types of women directors contribute to firm performance in family firms.
Examining factors influencing the adoption of enterprise resource planning systems in secondary healthcare institutions
Authors: Reyes Eunice Gabrielle A. , Ong Ardvin Kester S. , Andrada Madonna F. , Diaz John Francis T. , Gumasing Ma. Janice J.
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The healthcare system in the Philippines has insufficient patient and personnel management, inefficient inventory systems and disorganized medical record-keeping, contributing to unsatisfactory patient care. This occurrence calls for a centralized database, like enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems that manage healthcare systems efficiently. This study utilized partial least squares-based structural equation modeling and random forest classifier (RFC) to identify the factors influencing the adoption of ERP systems in secondary healthcare institutions.

Design/methodology/approach

The study proposed an extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology framework integrated with the valence model to define behavioral intention and use behavior of ERP systems. A self-administered online survey was answered by 250 secondary healthcare stakeholders in the Philippines voluntarily.

Findings

Effort expectancy, performance expectancy and social influence result in a very high behavioral intention, leading to the use behavior of ERP systems, while facilitating conditions and innovativeness in information technology led to high significance. Price value and perceived benefits are significant factors. RFC was proven reliable in predicting the factors, with an accuracy of 96%, indicating that the proposed framework can be used in future research to examine enterprise system adoption in different healthcare facilities.

Originality/value

There has yet to be a study that covers ERP in the Philippines, let alone its adoption. Since the ERP system is relatively present for a certain period of time, its adoption among healthcare facilities has not been covered in the Philippines. This study is the first to decipher and understand the ERP adoption and its practical implications.
Authentic leadership and employee expediency: a moderated mediation framework
Authors: Wang Zhining , Yao Yanying , Cai Shaohan
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Based on self-verification theory, this study examines the impact of authentic leadership on employee expediency in China. Specifically, the authors investigate the mediating effects of self-verification striving on this relationship, as well as the moderating effects of leader–member exchange.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors surveyed 502 employees and their direct supervisors from 96 work units in one Chinese province and utilized multi-level path analysis to test a model of moderated mediation.

Findings

The study analysis results suggest that authentic leadership significantly contributes to reducing employee expediency in the surveyed Chinese companies. Self-verification striving mediates this relationship. Furthermore, leader–member exchange enhances the positive relationship between authentic leadership and self-verification striving.

Research limitations/implications

This study extends the understanding of antecedents of employee expediency and also extends previous research on the role of self-verification in shaping employee behaviors. The limitation is that the results are specific to China, and the study only relied on cross-sectional data.

Practical implications

The current study suggests that organizations should consider implementing training programs for their leaders to cultivate traits associated with authentic leadership. Furthermore, managers should actively promote employee engagement in discussions related to work objectives, methods and efficiency to assist them in their self-verification striving. They need to make efforts to enhance the climate of leader–member exchange, thereby reducing employee expediency.

Originality/value

This research identifies self-verification striving as key mediators that link authentic leadership to employee expediency and reveals the moderating role of leader–member exchange in the process.
Family matters: social support, parental stress, and psychological symptoms
Authors: Carvalhais Lénia , Alho Laura , Paulino Mauro , Vagos Paula
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Social support has been suggested to reduce psychological symptomatology, especially when facing stressful events. However, less is known about the underlying mechanisms through each social support from different sources may interact with parental stress in protecting parents’ symptomatology.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional study was conducted online using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale, the Parental Stress Scale and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support with 108 Portuguese parents of children attending Grades 1–9. Using a path analysis approach, we explored a mediating model with perceived social support as a factor that could reduce stress, anxiety, and depression directly, and indirectly by lessening perceived parental stress.

Findings

Social support, particularly from family, was the only significant predictor of lower levels of stress and depression. Alternatively, social support from family had only an indirect effect on anxiety connected with parental stress, particularly in the areas of fear and anguish.

Originality/value

These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between perceived social support, parental stress, and psychological symptomatology. They can also be used to develop relevant psychological intervention actions and to reinforce ways of strengthening social support—particularly from family—to make it continuously available to parents managing stressful situations.
Technology-driven sustainable tourism destinations: perspectives from key policymakers
Authors: Socratous Maria , Thrasyvoulou Georgia , Stylianou Christiana
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how technological developments can position Cyprus at the forefront of sustainable tourism through the perspectives of key policymakers. It examines the potential impacts, challenges and opportunities of integrating technological developments in the Cyprus tourism industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research methodology was employed, using a focus group comprising nine key policymakers from the tourism industry in Cyprus. A thematic analysis was conducted on the collected data.

Findings

The findings underscore significant challenges in implementing technological advancements in Cyprus, including the need for substantial investments, bureaucratic processes and reliance on outdated systems. However, there is a clear recognition of the importance of technological developments, with many innovative ideas being proposed to overcome obstacles and drive progress in sustainable tourism.

Originality/value

This paper provides a unique perspective by focusing on the role of technology in promoting sustainable tourism in Cyprus through the lens of key policymakers. Its value lies in exploring specific challenges and opportunities in integrating technology into the tourism sector, particularly within the context of a small island nation. The study offers practical solutions for overcoming barriers, emphasising the importance of stakeholder collaboration and investment in technological advancements to enhance Cyprus as a destination that has many aspects to offer in sustainable tourism.
Inclusion‐based rock‐physics modelling approach with connected‐porosity coefficient estimation for shale reservoirs
Authors: Zhai Hong‐Yu , Li Zheng , Guo Qiang , Zhang Wei
Published: February 2025

Rock‐physics modelling provides theoretical basis for predicting elastic and anisotropy parameters from petrophysical properties. However, shale rocks usually develop complex pore structures, wherein isolated and connected pores or cracks may coexist. Conventional methods that assume either isolated or connected pores have limited applicability to shale reservoirs. To this end, this work proposes a shale rock‐physics modelling method to address pore complexities. In specific, the proposed method combines inclusion‐based and Brown–Korringa models to consider both isolated and connected pores in shales. Connected‐porosity coefficient is introduced in the modelling to balance the effects of the two pore types. To better handle pore complexities and improve modelling accuracy, the coefficient and pore aspect ratio are jointly estimated from measured vertical P‐ and S‐wave velocities with a global optimization algorithm. Numerical analysis is performed to analyse the general effects of connectivity and pore geometry on elastic properties of shales. The proposed method is applied to a well data from the Longmaxi shale reservoir in southwest China. The method is also compared with two other methods to show its capability of predicting elastic properties with satisfactory accuracy. The estimated connected‐porosity coefficient also facilitates the characterization of velocity anisotropy to some degree.
Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Synechococcus Clade II and Other Microbes in the Eutrophic Subtropical San Diego Bay
Authors: Harding Katie J. , Nagarkar Maitreyi , Wang Maggie , Ramsing Kailey , Anidjar Niv , Giddings Sarah , Brahamsha Bianca , Palenik Brian
Published: February 2025

The diversity of the marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus can be broadly separated into clades, with clade II typically present in warm oligotrophic water, and clades I and IV found in cooler coastal water. We found amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) belonging to clade II in the nutrient‐replete waters of San Diego Bay (SDB). Using the 16S rRNA gene, 18S rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer region sequencing, we analysed multiple locations in SDB monthly for over a year, with additional samples dating back to 2015. Synechococcus community composition differed from the nearby coast into SDB in terms of dominant clade and ASVs. Specific clade II ASVs became relatively more abundant towards the back of the bay and showed seasonality, with higher relative abundance in the warm months. Select ASVs group phylogenetically and show similar seasonal and spatial distribution patterns, indicating these ASVs have adapted to SDB. Isolates matching clade II ASVs from SDB show pigment composition that is better adapted to the green light available in SDB, further supporting our findings. Other microbial taxa also show SDB enrichment, providing evidence that SDB is a chemostat‐like environment where circulation, temperature, light and other environmental conditions create a zone for microbial evolution and diversification.
Genetic Transfer in Action: Uncovering DNA Flow in an Extremophilic Microbial Community
Authors: Van Etten Julia , Stephens Timothy G. , Bhattacharya Debashish
Published: February 2025

Horizontal genetic transfer (HGT) is a significant driver of genomic novelty in all domains of life. HGT has been investigated in many studies however, the focus has been on conspicuous protein‐coding DNA transfers that often prove to be adaptive in recipient organisms and are therefore fixed longer‐term in lineages. These results comprise a subclass of HGTs and do not represent exhaustive (coding and non‐coding) DNA transfer and its impact on ecology. Uncovering exhaustive HGT can provide key insights into the connectivity of genomes in communities and how these transfers may occur. In this study, we use the term frequency‐inverse document frequency (TF‐IDF) technique, that has been used successfully to mine DNA transfers within real and simulated high‐quality prokaryote genomes, to search for exhaustive HGTs within an extremophilic microbial community. We establish a pipeline for validating transfers identified using this approach. We find that most DNA transfers are within‐domain and involve non‐coding DNA. A relatively high proportion of the predicted protein‐coding HGTs appear to encode transposase activity, restriction‐modification system components, and biofilm formation functions. Our study demonstrates the utility of the TF‐IDF approach for HGT detection and provides insights into the mechanisms of recent DNA transfer.
Antibiotic Economies: The Economisation of Antibiotic Use in Australia and Implications for the Mitigation of Antimicrobial Resistance
Authors: Davis M. , Schermuly A. , Rajkhowa A. , Thursky K. , Warren N. , Flowers P.
Published: February 2025

This paper examines how economic rationalities shape antibiotic usage with the aim of expanding options for the reduction of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Antibiotic usage is typically attributed to the individual behaviours of patients, pet owners and prescribers, an emphasis that has neglected sociological explanations, particularly the economic rationalities that are transforming healthcare. We used sociological theory of pharmaceutical capitalisation and economisation to explore in‐depth interviews on antibiotic usage with scientists, policymakers, prescribers, patients and pet owners in Australia. Antibiotics attracted values in terms of cost to the patient and pet owner, profit for the clinic, how the drugs saved time away from work and childcare, and how they eased the pressures of self‐care, parenting and pet ownership. Economic transactions that are only partially under individual patient and prescriber control shape antibiotic use. In these circumstances, antibiotic use is influenced by other social agents—for example, business managers and clinic owners—decentring prescriber authority. Adoption of socio‐economic values of antibiotic usage and inclusion of its other economic agents is needed to improve AMR intervention effectiveness.
Cancer Survivorship and the Significance of an Integrated Diachronic Life Course Perspective
Authors: Tieu Matthew
Published: February 2025

Standardised health care is primarily focused on remediation and delivered episodically through costly and fragmented health‐care systems. Such an approach is untenable, given the diversity and complexity of peoples' health‐care needs, increasing prevalence of chronic disease and existing heath inequities. A life course perspective fundamentally challenges our current understanding of health care and has great potential to promote innovation in health‐care practice, systems and policy. However, the way that health develops and manifests across the life course is a highly complex process underpinned by a plethora of causal antecedents, consequences and interdependencies that have yet to be adequately captured and articulated in current life course frameworks. The field of cancer survivorship and its recent rise to prominence provides a highly relevant and compelling case example to inform development and refinement of existing life course frameworks. Cancer survivorship exemplifies what can be described as an integrated diachronic life course perspective, which serves as a conceptual framework to enhance our understanding of health development across the life course and guide health‐care practice, systems and policy to meet the increasingly complex health‐care needs of current and future generations.
Bamboozle: A Bioinformatic Tool for Identification and Quantification of Intraspecific Barcodes
Authors: Pinder Matthew I. M. , Andersson Björn , Blossom Hannah , Svensson Marie , Rengefors Karin , Töpel Mats
Published: February 2025

Evolutionary changes in populations of microbes, such as microalgae, cannot be traced using conventional metabarcoding loci as they lack intraspecific resolution. Consequently, selection and competition processes among strains of the same species cannot be resolved without elaborate isolation, culturing, and genotyping efforts. Bamboozle, a new bioinformatic tool introduced here, scans the entire genome of a species and identifies allele‐rich barcodes that enable direct identification of different genetic strains from a population using amplicon sequencing of a single DNA sample. We demonstrate its usefulness by identifying hypervariable barcoding loci (< 500 bp) from genomic data in two microalgal species, the diploid diatom Skeletonema marinoi and the haploid chlorophyte Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Across the two genomes, four and twenty‐two loci, respectively, were identified that could in silico resolve all analysed genotypes. All of the identified loci are within protein‐coding genes with various metabolic functions. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) provided the most reliable genetic markers, and among 54 strains of S. marinoi, three 500 bp loci contained, on average, 46 SNPs, 103 strain‐specific alleles, and displayed 100% heterozygosity. This high level of heterozygosity was identified as a novel opportunity to improve strain quantification and detect false positive artefacts during denoising of amplicon sequences. Finally, we illustrate how metabarcoding of a single genetic locus can be used to track abundances of S. marinoi strains in an artificial selection experiment. As future genomic datasets become available and DNA sequencing technologies develop, Bamboozle has flexible user settings enabling optimal barcodes to be designed for other species and applications.
calibrar: An R package for fitting complex ecological models
Authors: Oliveros‐Ramos Ricardo , Shin Yunne‐Jai
Published: February 2025

The fitting or parameter estimation of complex ecological models is a challenging optimisation task, with a notable lack of tools for fitting complex, long runtime or stochastic models.

calibrar is an R package that is dedicated to the fitting of complex models to data. It is a generic tool that can be used for any type of model, especially those with non‐differentiable objective functions and long runtime, including individual or agent based models.

calibrar supports multiple phases and constrained optimisation, includes 20 optimisation algorithms, including derivative‐based and heuristic ones. It supports any type of parallelisation, the capability to restart interrupted optimisations for long runtime models and the combination of different optimisation methods during the multiple phases of a calibration.

User‐level expertise in R is necessary to handle calibration experiments with calibrar, but there is no need to modify the model's code, which can be programmed in any language. It implements maximum likelihood estimation methods and automated construction of the objective function from simulated model outputs. For more experienced users, calibrar allows the implementation of user‐defined objective functions.

The package source code is fully accessible and can be installed directly from CRAN.
Biosimilars for Australian Dermatologists
Authors: Li Grace X. , Marabani Mona , Sebaratnam Deshan F.
Published: February 2025

Biosimilars offer the potential for substantial cost savings within the Australian healthcare system. This is particularly salient in dermatology, where biologics are used to treat chronic skin diseases and cost savings will be accrued throughout the life of a patient. However, uptake of biosimilars in clinical practice has been hindered by barriers including insufficient clinician education, concerns about safety and efficacy, and negative patient perception. Increased availability of biosimilars promotes long‐term sustainability of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and may help maintain equitable access to healthcare across Australia.
Parental perceptions of economic inequality and investment in children's organized extracurricular activities: The influences of perceived child competition and expected educational returns
Authors: Zhang Yifan , Wang Tianxin , Yang Shuting , Sun Xiaomin , Yang Yiyin
Published: February 2025

Escalations in parental investments in organized extracurricular activities (OEAs) have garnered significant interest from both scholars and policymakers. The current study investigates the relationship between parental perceived economic inequality and parental investment in OEAs while also considering the potential mediating role of parental perceived competition among children and the moderating role of the expected return to education. Study 1 analysed two waves of data from the China Family Panel Studies Project (n = 1516) and found that parental perceived economic inequality was significantly and positively related to parents' investment behaviours 2 years later. Study 2 classified OEAs into two categories, academic‐oriented OEAs and nonacademic‐oriented OEAs, and recruited 232 Chinese parents whose children were in elementary school from grades 3 to 6. The Results indicated that the direct effect of parental perceived economic inequality, the mediating role of perceived competition among children, and the moderating role of the expected return to education on the direct effect were confirmed for academic‐oriented OEAs but not for nonacademic‐oriented OEAs. These results offer novel insights into the dynamics of educational fervour in regions marked by pronounced economic disparities.
The effects of source credibility and content objectivity on pro‐environmental post engagement on social media: A case study of Chinese TikTok (Douyin)
Authors: Jiang Zixiao , Wang Bo , Cheng Dawei , Lou Fangyuan , Wang Ziao
Published: February 2025

Social media has become a primary channel for disseminating environmental information aimed at raising pro‐environmental awareness. Post engagement plays a crucial role in effective information dissemination; therefore, environmentalists, government organizations and environmental protection agencies are increasingly focusing on enhancing pro‐environmental post engagement on social media. This study applies the heuristic‐systematic model to examine the effects of source credibility—a heuristic cue—and content objectivity—a systematic cue—on pro‐environmental post engagement. Using 700 short videos from the Chinese TikTok (Douyin) platform, we empirically tested the proposed model. The results show that source credibility positively influences pro‐environmental post engagement, whereas content objectivity negatively impacts pro‐environmental post engagement, with a more significant effect than source credibility. Furthermore, this study reveals that content objectivity weakens the relationship between source credibility and pro‐environmental post engagement. These findings provide empirical support for the attenuation effect in the heuristic‐systematic model, demonstrating that when heuristic and systematic cues exert opposing influences on post engagement, systematic processing inhibits heuristic processing.
‘Once an Army man always an Army man’: The role of military culture and identity in military to civilian transition
Authors: Sachdev Shivani , Dixit Shikha
Published: February 2025

Military institutionalization involves internalizing military values, norms and structured behaviours that differ significantly from civilian life, leading to culture shock during the transition. Career experiences in the military imprint behaviours and identities that shape subsequent roles and how retired officers transition to the civilian world. The present study explored how military culture and identity influence military‐to‐civilian transition difficulty among retired army officers. Fourteen semi‐structured interviews were conducted and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis, resulting in three overarching themes: Transition and Contrasting Cultures, Transition and the Role of Military Imprinting and Relearning—Connecting Disparate Cultures. The themes are divided into subthemes that shed light on how veterans navigate cultural disparities, experience identity and ego conflict tribulation and highlight factors that facilitate bridging the military–civilian cultural gap. The study's findings underscore the pivotal influence of military culture and the identity forged within military organizations on veterans' transition experiences. These insights carry significant implications for veterans and reintegration programs. It further offers possible suggestions to enhance transition interventions by addressing psychological distress related to reculturation and identity transition to facilitate smoother integration.
The role of self‐regulated learning in modelling the relationships between learning approaches, FoMO and smartphone addiction among university students
Authors: Gezgin Deniz Mertkan , Türk Kurtça Tuğba , Mihci Can , Lin Chung‐Ying , Griffiths Mark D.
Published: February 2025

Smartphone addiction (SA) has become a pervasive issue among university students. Therefore, it is important to better understand the conditions under which SA develops. Previous studies indicate that fear of missing out (FoMO), a psychological barrier to behavioural self‐regulation, is often associated with SA risk. In the pedagogical context, poor self‐regulation may manifest as lack of self‐regulated learning skills (SRLSs), which may, in turn, be associated with the adoption of a superficial approach to learning tasks. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to examine and model the associations between deep and surface learning approaches, SRLSs, SA and FoMO among university students. The sample comprised 687 university students, and structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to analyse the data. The results indicated that SLRSs were positively associated with deep learning, and negatively associated with surface learning. It was also shown that higher SRLSs were associated with lower risk of FoMO and SA. However, while SRLSs may help reduce the level of SA among surface learners by helping them overcome FoMO, the same may not be said for students with a deep learning approach, whose reduced risk of SA due to higher SRLSs was not explained through FoMO. Based on the findings, interventions that aim to improve SRLSs appear warranted, as these may help reduce SA.

Practitioner Notes

What is already known about this topic

Fear of missing out (FoMO) is commonly associated with smartphone addiction (SA) risk.

Smartphone notifications disrupt the learning activities of surface learners and FoMO may be the reason.

FoMO is considered to be a challenge for behavioural self‐regulation.

What this paper adds

Higher levels of self‐regulated learning skills (SRLSs) are associated with deeper approaches to learning.

Although a deeper approach to learning is associated with lower SA risk, a reduction in FoMO is irrelevant in explaining this effect.

As far as surface learners are concerned, better SRLSs are associated with FoMO but are not associated with lower SA risk.

Implications for practice and/or policy

For deep learners, interventions that support the development of SRLSs are advised because these are important not only for fostering a deep approach to learning but also for helping reduce the risk of SA.

Further research is necessary to identify the underlying mechanism by which improved SRLSs are associated with lower SA risk among deep learners.

Further research is necessary to identify factors other than FoMO that may be associated with SA risk among surface learners.
Refining partial gland ablation for localised prostate cancer: the FALCON project
Authors: Rodriguez‐Sanchez Lara , Cathelineau Xavier , de Reijke Theo M. , Stricker Phillip , Emberton Mark , Lantz Anna , Miñana López Bernardino , Dominguez‐Escrig Jose Luis , Bianco Fernando J. , Salomon Georg , Haider Aiman , Mitra Anita , Bossi Alberto , Compérat Eva , Reiter Robert , Laguna Pilar , Fiard Gaelle , Lunelli Luca , Schade George R. , Chiu Peter Ka‐Fung , Macek Petr , Kasivisvanathan Veeru , Rosette Jean J.M.C.H. , Polascik Thomas J. , Rastinehad Ardeshir R. , Rodriguez Alejandro , Sanchez‐Salas Rafael ,   for The FALCON group
Published: February 2025

Objectives

To provide a contemporary statement on focal therapy (FT) for localised prostate cancer (PCa) from an international and diverse group of physicians treating localised PCa, with the aim of overcoming the limitations of previous consensus statements, which were restricted to early adopters, and to offer direction regarding the various aspects of FT application that are currently not well defined.

Materials and Methods

The FocAL therapy CONsensus (FALCON) project began with a 154‐item online survey, developed following a steering committee discussion and literature search. Invitations to participate were extended to a large, diverse group of professionals experienced in PCa management. From 2022 to 2023, a Delphi consensus study consisting of three online rounds was conducted using the Modified Delphi method. A 1–9 Likert scale was used for the survey, which was followed by an in‐person expert meeting. The threshold for achieving consensus was set at 70% agreement/disagreement. Six main aspects of FT were covered: (i) patient selection; (ii) energy source selection; (iii) treatment approach; (iv) treatment evaluation and follow‐up; (v) treatment cost and accessibility; and (vi) future perspectives.

Results

Of 246 initial participants, 148 (60%) completed all three rounds. Based on participant feedback, 27 new statements were added in the second round, and 33 questions related to personal expertise, for which consensus was not necessary, were excluded. After the third and final round, consensus had not been reached for 69 items. These items were discussed at the in‐person meeting, resulting in a consensus of 57 additional items. Consensus was finally not reached on 12 items. Given the volume of data, the voting outcomes are summarised in this article, with a detailed breakdown presented in the form of figures and tables.

Conclusions

The FALCON project delivered a significant consensus on the approach to FT for localised PCa. Additionally, it highlighted gaps in our knowledge that may provide guidance for future research.
Type 4 plant metallothioneins – players in zinc biofortification?
Authors: Mierek‐Adamska Agnieszka , Kulasek Milena , Dąbrowska Grażyna B. , Blindauer Claudia A.
Published: February 2025

Food security is defined as uninterrupted access to food that meets people's dietary needs. One essential trace element of a complete diet is zinc, which is vital for various processes, including growth, development, and the immune response. The estimated global prevalence of zinc deficiency is around 30%. Meat and meat products provide an abundant and also bioavailable source of zinc. However, in developing countries, access to meat is restricted, and in developed countries, meat consumption has declined for ethical and environmental reasons. The potential for zinc deficiency arises from (i) low concentrations of this element in plant‐based diets, (ii) poor zinc absorption from plant‐based food in the human intestine, and (iii) the risk of uptake of toxic metals together with essential ones. This review summarises the current knowledge concerning type 4 metallothioneins, which represent promising targets for zinc biofortification. We describe their place in the zinc route from soil to seed, their expression patterns, their role in plants, and their three‐dimensional protein structure and how this affects their selectivity towards zinc. This review aims to provide a comprehensive theoretical basis for the potential use of type 4 plant metallothioneins to create zinc‐biofortified crops.
Clinical Presentation of Congenital Hypopituitarism: Lessons From a Large Academic Centre
Authors: Ladd Jennifer M. , Pyle‐Eilola Amy L. , Mamilly Leena , Chaudhari Monika , Henry Rohan K.
Published: February 2025

Objective

Pituitary hormone deficiencies are associated with considerable morbidity, yet the variability of presentation and evolution of congenital hypopituitarism remains unexplored. This study investigated differences in presentation of congenital isolated pituitary hormone deficiency (cIPHD) versus congenital multiple pituitary hormone deficiency (cMPHD) and the progression of cIPHD to multiple deficiencies.

Design/Patients/Measurements

We conducted a single centre retrospective chart review of children ≤ 3 years old with abnormal brain/pituitary imaging and ≥ 1 pituitary hormone deficiency. cIPHD was defined as 1 hormone deficiency diagnosed within 1 month of endocrine consultation; cMPHD was ≥ 2 deficiencies. Data were summarised by descriptive statistics; Wilcoxon tests (continuous variables) and chi‐square or Fisher's exact tests (categorical variables) were used for comparisons with significance at p < 0.05.

Results

Fifty‐six individuals were identified; 46.4% presented with cIPHD and 53.6% with cMPHD. Those with cIPHD were older at initial endocrine consultation (median 62.5 days [IQR 7.3–240.8]) vs. those with cMPHD (10.0 days [6.3–26.5], p = 0.02). Reason for consultation (e.g., abnormal imaging or hypoglycemia) was associated with presentation as cIPHD or cMPHD (p = 0.01). The most common cIPHD at presentation was AVP deficiency (34.6%); the most common cMPHD at presentation was combined ACTH and TSH deficiencies (43.3%). Most individuals with cIPHD (65.4%) progressed to multiple hormone deficiencies by 3 years of age.

Conclusions

Individuals with cMPHD were more likely to be identified earlier and present with hypoglycemia than those with cIPHD. As the majority with cIPHD evolved to cMPHD, close monitoring is necessary to facilitate timely detection and treatment of evolving hormone deficiencies.
Rare Cause 5q SMA: Molecular Genetic and Clinical Analyses of Intragenic Subtle Variants in the SMN Locus
Authors: Mikhalchuk Kristina , Zabnenkova Viktoria , Braslavskaya Svetlana , Chukhrova Alena , Ryadninskaya Nina , Dadaly Elena , Rudenskaya Galina , Sharkova Inna , Anisimova Inga , Bessonova Ludmila , Mishina Irina , Repina Svetlana , Petukhova Marina , Sparber Peter , Kuchina Anna , Saushev Dmitry , Artemieva Svetlana , Kurbatov Sergey , Kanivets Ilya , Zarubina Vera , Barykova Daria , Lisakonova Ekaterina , Polyakov Alexander , Shchagina Olga
Published: February 2025

Spinal muscular atrophy 5q (5q SMA) is one of the most prevalent autosomal recessive disorders globally. The underlying cause of 5q SMA is attributed to variants in SMN1. Exon 7 of SMN1 is not detectable in major of probands with 5q SMA, and minor of probands have a combination of the deletion and an intragenic subtle variant in the second allele. From 1991 to 2023, DNA samples from 2796 probands representing unrelated families were analyzed at the Research Centre for Medical Genetics for the diagnosis of 5q SMA. The copy number of Exon 7 of SMN1 and SMN2 was determined for all probands by MLPA. Subsequently, direct automated Sanger sequencing was employed to perform intragenic subtle variant screenings in all 116 probands with one copy of Exon 7 of SMN1. The diagnosis of 5q SMA was confirmed in 1495 probands. Among the 41 probands with one copy of Exon 7 of SMN1 from the initial 116 tested, 24 intragenic subtle variants in SMN1/SMN2 were documented. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize intragenic subtle variants in SMN1 and analyze their relationship with clinical manifestations in probands with 5q SMA in the Russian cohort.
ACKNOWLEDGING THE GAP WHILE BRIDGING IT: The Experimental Versus Theoretical Divide on the Cognitive Science Study of Language
Authors: Luo Zhuosi
Published: February 2025

In recent years, the intersection of psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics, and theoretical linguistics has gained considerable attention in studies on the cognitive science of language. However, a significant gap still persists between advanced theoretical models and current experimental research capabilities. This study examines this divide, highlighting examples across various linguistic subfields and proposing potential approaches to bridge the gap.
C2C—conflict to coexistence: A global approach to manage human–wildlife conflict for coexistence
Authors: Gross Eva M. , Jayasinghe Nilanga , Dahal Smriti , Tenzin Sither , Klenzendorf Sybille , Vannelli Kate , van Gils Elke , Hilderink‐Koopmans Femke , McVey Drew , Banasiak Natalia , Boron Valeria , Frances Diana , Petrone Sandra , Elliott Wendy , Cranston Kayla , Clemens Kate , Moore Jennifer F. , Glikman Jenny A. , Kansky Ruth , Marchini Silvio , Bhatia Saloni , Kinnaird Margaret F.
Published: February 2025

Human–wildlife conflict (HWC) presents a growing challenge to conservation and development worldwide. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and experts on human–wildlife coexistence strategies have responded to this challenge by developing a holistic, globally applicable approach to HWC management that can be tailored to specific local, regional, or national contexts. Its framework addresses the complexity of essential HWC management and long‐term coexistence strategies and is implemented in a structured yet contextualized step‐by‐step sequence by a team of facilitators and multiple stakeholders. The C2C: Conflict to Coexistence Approach centers on four principles (tolerance is maintained, responsibility is shared, resilience is built, holism is fundamental), four outcomes (wildlife thrives alongside human presence, habitat sufficient to maintain viable wildlife populations, people able and willing to live alongside wildlife, livelihoods/assets secured against presence of wildlife), and six HWC management elements (policy and governance, understanding interactions, prevention, response, mitigation, monitoring) that are to be implemented in an integrated way. It is currently undergoing testing in diverse pilot sites across three continents and demonstrating positive initial results. Here, we share the framework and methodology of the approach and initial results and experiences from these pilot sites.
Assembly processes inferred from eDNA surveys of a pond metacommunity are consistent with known species ecologies
Authors: Cai Wang , Pichler Maximilian , Biggs Jeremy , Nicolet Pascale , Ewald Naomi , Griffiths Richard A. , Bush Alex , Leibold Mathew A. , Hartig Florian , Yu Douglas W.
Published: February 2025

Technological advances are enabling ecologists to conduct large‐scale and structured community surveys. However, it is unclear how best to extract information from these novel community data. We metabarcoded 48 vertebrate species from their eDNA in 320 ponds across England and applied the ‘internal structure' approach, which uses joint species distribution models (JSDMs) to explain compositions as the result of four metacommunity processes: environmental filtering, dispersal, species interactions, and stochasticity. We confirm that environmental filtering plays an important role in community assembly, and find that species' estimated environmental preferences are consistent with known ecologies. We also detect negative biotic covariances between fish and amphibians after controlling for divergent environmental preferences, consistent with predator–prey interactions (likely mediated by predator avoidance behaviour), and we detect high spatial autocorrelation for the palmate newt, consistent with its hypothesised relict distribution. Promisingly, ecologically and spatially distinctive sites are better explained by their environmental covariates and geographic locations, respectively, revealing sites where environmental filtering and dispersal limitation act more strongly. These results are consistent with the recent proposal that applying JSDMs to species distribution patterns can help reveal the relative importance of environmental filtering, dispersal limitation, and biotic interaction processes for individual sites and species. Our results also highlight the value of the modern interpretation of metacommunity ecology, which embraces the fact that assembly processes differ among species and sites. We discuss how novel community data allow for several study design improvements that will strengthen the inference of metacommunity assembly processes from observational data.