bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Competitive priorities and engagement: can they be a source of satisfaction? Customer-centered model
Authors: Awwad Abdulkareem Salameh , Anouze Abdel Latef , Cudney Elizabeth A.
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate and test the impact of competitive priorities, in terms of quality, speed, dependability, flexibility, cost and patient engagement, on patient satisfaction with healthcare services. It considers patients’ rather than managers’ points of view to collect responses about competitive priorities.

Design/methodology/approach

This research employed a cross-sectional survey design to analyze a sample of customers through an empirical study of 488 patients in Qatar’s healthcare service context.

Findings

The confirmatory factor analysis results show that competitive priorities and engagement positively and significantly impact patient satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

Researchers can use this methodology to explore the role of competitive priorities in different service contexts and sectors. The researchers conducted the study in Qatar; therefore, the results are not generalizable to all healthcare sectors. However, regardless of geographic location, the research approach can be used in healthcare.

Practical implications

Managers can employ the developed scales to diagnose competitive priorities and improve customer service experiences.

Originality/value

The paper is original as it suggests using competitive priorities as a measurement tool for predicting patient satisfaction compared to prior research that mostly measured competitive priorities based on internal perspectives (managers’ perspectives). Further, this paper is original because it depends on the external perspective (customers’ perspective) for the competitive priorities for measuring patient satisfaction.
Risk and protective factors for self-harm in secure mental health hospitals: a systematic review
Authors: Steene Lisa Maria Beethoven , Gaylor Lisa , Ireland Jane L.
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The current review aims to focus on how risk and protective factors for self-harm in secure mental health hospitals are captured in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

Fifty-seven articles were included in a systematic review, drawn from an initial 1,119 articles, post duplicate removal. Databases included Psycinfo, Psycarticles, Psycnet, Web of Science and EBSCO host. A thematic analysis was used, which included a meta-ethnographic approach for considering qualitative papers.

Findings

There was a clear focus on risk factors, with eight identified (in order of occurrence): raised emotional reactivity and poor emotion regulation; poor mental health; traumatic experiences; personality disorder diagnosis and associated traits; increased use of outward aggression – dual harm; constraints of a secure environment and lack of control; previous self-harm and suicide attempts; and hopelessness. Protective factors featured less, resulting in only three themes emerging (in order of occurrence): positive social support and communication; positive coping skills; and hope/positive outlook.

Research limitations/implications

This includes a proposal to move focus away from “risk” factors, to incorporate “needs”, in terms of individual and environmental factors. There is also a need for more attention to focus on developing high quality research in this area.

Originality/value

The research captures an area where a synthesis of research has not been comprehensively undertaken, particularly with regards to capturing protective as well as risk factors.
Indian students' psychological and behavioral aspects on studying abroad decisions amidst fear of uncertainty and social unrest
Authors: Srivastava Khusboo , Dhamija Somesh
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The study is an attempt to expand the knowledge about the psychological and behavioral aspects of Indian students studying abroad amidst fear of uncertainty and social unrest.

Design/methodology/approach

The exploratory study is employed to seek a better and deeper understanding of the possible impact of the potential war on the student abroad study process. In the study, the participants were selected from Delhi NCR of India. The thoughts and opinions of students on studying abroad under the fear of uncertainty were covered in a semi-structured interview.

Findings

Five broad themes emerged from the analysis of the interviews that influence students' choices and attitudes toward their decisions on studying abroad. The themes are “safety”, “fear of incomplete degree”, “financial stress”, “parents' apprehension” and “emotional breakdown”.

Practical implications

The study leveraged an understanding of the mindset of Indian students. Considering the student's doubts and fear over such uncertainty and war-like situations, the higher education policymaker can adopt some measures (hybrid education, short-term programs, student exchange programs, shift in destination, distance learning and new forms of educational technology) to cope with such upcoming challenges, ensuring their safety and pursuing their dreams by taking higher education abroad.

Originality/value

This qualitative study develops a comprehensive understanding of how students perceive such extreme crises and how their thoughts, attitudes and behavior toward studying abroad change. The study contributes to comprehending the student's description of perceptions, emotions, opinions and behaviors under the fear of uncertainty and social unrest.
Influence of emotional intelligence attributes on human resource management practices implementation in the Nigerian construction industry
Authors: Babalola Ifedolapo Helen , Aigbavboa Clinton Ohis , Aliu John , Oke Ayodeji Emmanuel
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The workforce upon which the construction industry relies, known as human resources (HRs), faces challenges such as poor management, inadequate implementation of human resource management practices (HRMPs) and psychosocial issues. This study aims to identify and assess the impact of emotional intelligence (EI) attributes on the implementation of HRMPs in the Nigerian construction industry (NCI) to enhance business performance as well as the performance and productivity of HRs.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-methods research design combining qualitative and quantitative approaches was used to gather expert perspectives on specific EI attributes. Data analysis involved the use of interquartile deviation, median, standard deviation, mean, Cronbach’s alpha and exploratory factor analysis (EFA).

Findings

The study identified 12 EI attributes that influenced HRMPs implementation, with 1 attribute having a very high impact (9.00–10.00) and 11 scoring high impact (7.00–8.99). Further analysis using EFA resulted in the identification of two major attribute clusters: “team relationship” and “self-management”.

Practical implications

These findings have significant implications for construction professionals, HRs and policymakers, as they address the challenges faced by construction stakeholders in terms of physical and mental well-being, which can affect their emotions while carrying out construction activities. Construction organizations should consider incorporating support systems into their policies to influence HRMPs implementation in the workplace.

Originality/value

The study provides valuable insights for developing nations such as Nigeria regarding the essential EI attributes for successful HRMPs implementation.
Importance of traditions and family business at Christmas: a quantitative analysis of practices and values in Portugal
Authors: Santos Eulália , Tavares Fernando Oliveira , Foliveira Margarida Freitas
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Christmas is the most consumed event of the year, always full of traditions, namely family ones, which are very significant. In this way, it is intended to find out the importance of traditions at Christmas time and analyze their implications for family businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is quantitative in nature, based on a questionnaire survey carried out with 551 Portuguese individuals, over 18 years of age, where different issues related to Christmas traditions and family are addressed.

Findings

The results demonstrate that the Christmas traditions scale is made up of four factors: family traditions on Christmas Eve, aspects related to the Christmas spirit, changes in Christmas traditions with the COVID-19 pandemic and traditions of participating in events with family at Christmas. Cod and octopus dishes are the most popular dishes on Christmas Eve. In relation to sweets/desserts, king cake, rabanadas, vermicelli, children's bread and sponge cake are the most common on Christmas Eve.

Originality/value

The study helps to understand Portuguese Christmas traditions, providing knowledge that allows defining strategies for family businesses, improving the experience and relationship with consumers at a special time of year. It is hoped that the trends in Christmas traditions in this study will contribute to unveiling the Christmas spirit, also serve as a marketing image and create curiosity and motivation on the part of other cultures to visit Portugal during this festive season, in order to experience Christmas traditions.
Conceptualising a chameleon: social enterprise as a public provider
Authors: Hunt Sophie , Haneberg Dag Håkon , de Boer Luitzen
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to make sense of the social enterprise in a frame of social procurement and conceptualise it as a provider of public welfare based on bibliometric material. Comprehensively, it contributes to developments in social procurement, which has received limited attention.

Design/methodology/approach

Scoping literature from Web of Science and using bibliometric methods, the paper identifies and qualitatively explores the literary intersections between social enterprise and social procurement.

Findings

Of the 183 articles, four literary clusters are revealed illustrating scholarly intersections and a detailed exploration of social enterprise as a public provider. The alignment and themes of the clusters further indicate the application of, and role played by, social enterprise in social procurement. Collectively, they reveal the dominance of social enterprise in this dyadic relationship and a minor undertaking of research in social procurement.

Social implications

This “sense-making” groundwork forms a foundational step in developing our understanding of procurements through social enterprises. Furthermore, a positioning and conceptualisation of social enterprise accredits their utility and applicability in delivering public benefits. In this way, the paper informs and supports scholarly and practice-based interest into social enterprises for the delivery of public services.

Originality/value

The paper presents the first bibliometric conceptualisation of social enterprise in relation to social procurement and offers detailed insights through the bibliometric clusters. Furthermore, the paper contributes to the underdeveloped social dimension of procurement and bridges the gap between two distinct fields of scholarship: public management and administration and social entrepreneurship.
Digital preservation practices for information resources in university libraries of Pakistan
Authors: Ahmad Rafiq , Rafiq Muhammad
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The digital contents (d-contents) are vulnerable to various threats either natural or manmade. Digital preservation is the plethora of a wide array of strategies necessary for the long-term preservation of digital objects. This study was carried out to assess the digital preservation practices for information resources in university libraries of Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative survey based on a structured questionnaire was carried out to conduct the study. The questionnaire containing two sets of strategies (general and technical) was distributed amongst the whole population and received 90% response rate.

Findings

Overall, progressive implementation of general digital preservation practices was noted in these libraries like checking the digital collections for viruses, keeping the digital media in fire/water/theft proof locations, restricting unauthorized access, maintaining ideal humidity and temperature, and checking the digital media for functionality. Amongst the technical practices, only replication was in practice at a progressive rate, followed by metadata recording and media refreshing that was sometimes practiced in these libraries. The other technical practices were rarely or never practiced in these libraries. Significant variances in general and technical digital preservation practices were noted based on their physical locations (regional distribution).

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes a comprehensive set of digital preservation practices divided into general and technical types to conduct similar studies in other parts of the world.

Practical implications

The findings stress the need for national and institutional policies, funding streams and skill enhancement of library staff.

Originality/value

The study fills the literature gap and contributes a comprehensive set of digital preservation practices divided into general and technical types to conduct similar studies in other parts of the world.

Peer review

The peer-review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-02-2023-0074
Decentering whiteness in libraries: relational work for an inclusive culture
Authors: Denke Jessica , Cunningham Nicholas
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to share a year-long initiative of a predominantly white liberal arts college library that fostered relationality and inclusive culture through an understanding and critique of White Supremacy Culture.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study presents the development and implementation of a library-wide reading group to discuss Okun's (2021) White Supremacy Culture Characteristics through relational meetings (Chambers, 2003). Relational-cultural theory provided a guiding framework for implementation of relational meetings in the context of conversations about race.

Findings

After participation in the reading group, participants reported their ability to identify characteristics of White Supremacy Culture in their lives and a greater preparedness to participate in work related to diversity, equity and inclusion. The authors suggest vulnerability, consideration of power and privilege and observations of White Supremacy Culture within the local context frequently occurred in the reading group conversations.

Research limitations/implications

This work operates as an opportunity for library staff to learn about White Supremacy Culture in a way that helps to undermine white privilege and, therefore, holds similar aims to anti-racist affinity work (Michael and Conger, 2009). However, the library staff only has one person of color and, therefore, the authors cannot speak to engaging a more racially diverse staff. The authors include reflections on how their racial identities impact their engagement in this work.

Originality/value

Attention to White Supremacy and white privilege is, according to Gulati-Partee and Potapchuk (2014), an overlooked part of diversity, equity and inclusion work. This case study demonstrates a path toward inclusive culture that focuses on the identification of White Supremacy Culture Characteristics (Okun, 2021) in the authors’ local context and provides rationale for utilizing relational meetings (Chambers, 2003) to emphasize individual and collective reflection.
Male pathology regardless of behaviour drives transmission in an avian host–pathogen system
Authors: Sauer Erin L. , Connelly Chloe , Perrine Weston , Love Ashely C. , DuRant Sarah E.
Published: December 2023

Host sex is an important source of heterogeneity in the severity of epidemics. Pinpointing the mechanisms causing this heterogeneity can be difficult because differences in behaviour among sexes (e.g. greater territorial aggression in males) can bias exposure risk, obfuscating the role of immune function, which can lead to differences in pathology, in driving differential susceptibility between sexes. Thus, sex‐biased transmission driven by differences in immune function independent of behaviour is poorly understood, especially in non‐mammalian systems.

Here we examine the previously unexplored potential for male‐biased pathology to affect transmission using an avian host–pathogen system. We employ a sex‐dependent multistate transmission model parameterized with isolated, individual‐based experimental exposures of domestic canaries and experimental transmission data of house finches.

The experiment revealed that male birds have shorter incubation periods, longer recovery periods, higher pathogen burdens and greater disease pathology than females. Our model revealed that male‐biased pathology led to epidemic size rapidly increasing with the proportion of male birds, with a nearly 10‐fold increase in total epidemic size from an all‐female to an all‐male simulation.

Our results demonstrate that female‐biased resistance, independent of male behaviour, can drive sex‐dependent transmission in wildlife, indicating that sex‐based differences in immune function, not just differences in exposure risk, can shape epidemic dynamics.
Chocs pétroliers, effets potentiels de l'invasion de l'Ukraine par la Russie sur le solde budgétaire des économies africaines
Authors: Zongo Kirsi , Ndong Ntah Marcellin
Published: December 2023

Cet article analyse les effets de l'invasion de l'Ukraine par la Russie sur les économies africaines en se focalisant sur les effets induits par la hausse du prix de pétrole sur le solde budgétaire. L'étude a mobilisé les modèles VAR structurels et a porté sur six pays dont trois exportateurs et trois importateurs nets de pétrole en utilisant des séries temporelles sur la période 1980‐2021 et une simulation portant sur la période 2022‐2023. Les résultats montrent qu'un choc pétrolier entraîne une réaction positive du solde budgétaire des pays exportateurs de pétrole et une réaction négative dans les pays importateurs mais l'effet est asymétrique. Les simulations des scénarii ont montré que la guerre en Ukraine entraînerait une amélioration du solde budgétaire du Nigéria d'environ 2 points de pourcentage et d'environ 1,25 de pourcentage pour l'Angola et l'Algérie. Cependant, l'effet contraire est observé pour les pays importateurs en aggravant leur déficit budgétaire. Aussi, préconisons−nous d'une part aux pays exportateurs de pétrole de diversifier les exportations en s'investissant notamment dans des secteurs hors pétrole, et d'autre part aux pays importateurs de consentir des efforts pour le développement d'énergies renouvelables afin de briser leur dépendance vis‐à‐vis du pétrole.
Income–environmental nexus in Africa: The integrating role of renewable energy transition and governance quality
Authors: Iorember Paul Terhemba , Yusoff Nora Yusma Mohamed
Published: December 2023

The economies of the African countries are gradually expanding, but they mostly depend on fossil fuels for energy use. This exacerbates environmental damage, which renders the continent susceptible to the effects of climate change. Therefore, this study aims to examine the integrating role of renewable energy transition and governance quality in the income–environmental quality nexus in Africa. The study applies second‐generation econometric techniques on annual panel data of 34 African countries covering the period 1996–2018. The fixed effect ordinary least square (OLS‐FE), feasible generalized least squares (FGLS), system generalized method of moments (SYS‐GMM) and cross‐sectionally augmented ARDL (CS‐ARDL) are applied to both the baseline model and the interactive models. The results provide diverse findings. In the baseline models, the study verifies the increasing effect of income on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, which continues to dampen environmental quality. Regarding the interaction effect models, the findings show that the interactive term of renewable energy transition and income per capita has a significant negative effect on CO2 emission levels which implies that renewable energy transition ensures green growth. Further, the results indicate that the interactive terms of governance quality have significant reducing effect on emission levels. In terms of policy, achieving green growth necessitates increased renewable energy deployment and policies that will enhance governance effectiveness towards enforcing environmental regulations.
On knowing nature's syntax: Preliminary cisness, victorian physiology and George Eliot
Authors: Ferguson Alexis A.
Published: December 2023

As a trans intervention in Victorian studies and historical extension of recent work in trans studies, this article argues that the theorisation of natural laws in mid‐nineteenth century, British physiology produces a ‘preliminary cisness’ in Victorian sexual science. By then juxtaposing George Eliot's Adam Bede with work by Herbert Spencer and George Henry Lewes and undertaking a close study of the characters Hetty Sorrel and Dinah Morris, this article suggests that Eliot offers social sympathy as a non‐cis, epistemological alternative to the ethical risks of pre‐cis sex.
Preparation of food ingredients for the PKU patients: Two‐step enzymatic hydrolysis and activated carbon adsorption for the removal of phenylalanine from whey protein hydrolysates
Authors: Zhang Shuhua , Zheng Yao , Wu Zhengyan , Zhang Yuanyuan , Liu Xiaohui , Luo Zhigang , Li Hongjuan , Li Hongbo , Yu Jinghua
Published: December 2023

In this study, we developed a two‐step enzymatic hydrolysis method followed by activated carbon adsorption to remove phenylalanine (Phe) from whey protein. The results showed that the free rate of Phe after sequential enzymatic hydrolysis of trypsin and flavorzyme was 90.8%. After adsorption by activated carbon No. 1, the removal efficiency of Phe from the hydrolysates reached 89.79% at 2.19 mg/g protein equivalent. Therefore, low Phe protein hydrolysates (LPHs) can be used to prepare low Phe food for phenylketonuria patients who cannot metabolise Phe properly by themselves and need to maintain a low Phe diet for life.
Laparoscopic approach for port site mass diagnosed as a Schloffer tumor following surgery of ascending colon cancer
Authors: Mitsuyoshi Masahiro , Nagata Jun , Akiyama Yasuki , Yamauchi Masumi , Sannomiya Hiroto , Kohi Shiro , Tanoue Takayuki , Mori Yasuhisa , Sato Nagahiro , Tamura Toshihisa , Inoue Yuzuru , Sato Norihiro , Shibao Kazunori , Hirata Keiji
Published: December 2023

Schloffer tumor is a foreign body granuloma that develops in the subcutaneous layer of the abdomen over several months to several years after surgery due to sutures. Here, we performed a laparoscopic resection for a benign Schloffer tumor that showed positive F‐18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) at the port site of a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy for advanced colon cancer. We report a case in which systemic chemotherapy was avoided as a result of the histological examination following the laparoscopic approach. A 66‐year‐old female, who underwent laparoscopic right hemi colectomy for stage IIIA ascending colon cancer, was revealed an enhanced mass at the right side of the abdominal subcutaneous layer. PET examination showed a high accumulation of FDG. Laparoscopic tumor resection was performed. Pathological findings reported the formation identical to the Schloffer tumor. Schloffer tumor, which is rare, should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses for tumor with FDG‐PET positivity at the port site during the postoperative surveillance period of colorectal cancer.
Autologous point‐of‐care stromal vascular fraction transplantation in dogs with advanced osteoarthritis of the knee and hip joints
Authors: Schroers M , Bruns Y , Waselau A‐C , Steigmeier‐Raith S , Meyer‐Lindenberg A
Published: December 2023

Objective

The aim of the study was to assess lameness in dogs with advanced osteoarthritis of the hip and knee joints after a single autologous point‐of‐care transplantation of the Stromal Vascular Fraction (SVF) into the affected joint.

Materials and methods

During a minilaparotomy, 10 g of falciform fat was removed from each patient for each joint to be treated. A modern and time‐saving procedure (ARC TM System, InGeneron GmbH, Houston, USA) was used for the in‐house preparation of the SVF, so that the isolated cells could be applied to the respective joint within 2 h after fat removal. In total, five knee joints of five patients and seven hip joints of four patients were treated.

Results

Improvement in lameness according to owner questionnaires was seen in 3 of 5 patients with knee joint arthritis and 2 of 4 patients with hip joint arthritis. Based on gait analysis, only one dog with gonarthrosis and one dog with coxarthrosis showed improvement up to a maximum of 3 months after surgery.

Conclusion

This is the first case series on the treatment of osteoarthrosis of the knee or hip joint using point‐of‐care transplantation of the SVF. In individual cases, this method may represent a therapeutic approach for the treatment in dogs with advanced cox‐ or gonarthrosis, although only a short‐term effect can be expected, which calls into question the effort and costs involved.
Epidemiological insights into the burden of feline upper respiratory tract infections in Queensland RSPCA shelters
Authors: Kennedy U , Paterson M , Clark N
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Feline upper respiratory tract infection (FURTI) is a severe problem in animal shelters where there is high turnover of populations and compromised immunity. This retrospective cohort study explores associations of potential animal‐based and environmental‐based factors with the risk of FURTI, where a previously modelled infection classification is used as the outcome of interest. The study type is a retrospective cohort and the measures of association include Odds Ratios and conditional predictions.

Objectives

To gain epidemiological insights into variation in FURTI using retrospective data from one of Australia's leading animal shelters.

Methods

We stratified FURTI by admission and environmental variables. Predicted infection status, obtained using a machine‐learning classifier trained on clinical text (accuracy 0.95 [CI 0.92, 0.97]), was used as the outcome of interest. Prior assumptions were represented by a causal framework or a direct acyclic graph (DAG), which informed creation of multiple Bernoulli models with an observational and prior component.

Results

We analysed 43,431 feline entries over 8 years. Males were 1.24 (95% CI 1.19 to 1.31) times more likely than females to be classified as positive, while already desexed animals were only 0.68 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.72) as likely to be classified as positive compared to those not desexed on entry. Cats (>4 months) were twice as likely (95% CI 1.91 to 2.09) as kittens (0–4 months) to be classified positive. Animals entering the shelter as seized by the inspectorate (n = 415) were more likely to be classified positive compared to animals from other sources. Predicted infection probability increased in winter and showed a linear pattern with how full the shelter was.

Conclusion

This study estimates the association between animal and environmental variables of interest and FURTI classification status, thus better interpreting the distribution of disease as predicted by a previously uninterpretable model. This analysis gives much needed insight into the types of changes in an animal's environment that can impact final animal outcomes.
The correlation between 4 adherence measurements methods in patients with rheumatoid arthritis using methotrexate
Authors: Hebing Renske C. F. , Elhendy Nada , van Geel Eva H. , van Heuckelum Milou , Nurmohamed Michael T. , van den Bemt Bart J. F.
Published: December 2023

Aims

Methotrexate (MTX) is the cornerstone in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. However, adherence to MTX therapy is not optimal, and instruments to assess medication nonadherence are warranted. To date there is no consensus on the best method to determine adherence to MTX. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between adherence assessed with a Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS) vs. pill count, MTX‐polyglutamate (PG) concentration and Compliance Questionnaire–Rheumatology (CQR) in patients with established RA. Second, the correlations between these methods and the Disease Activity Scores of 28 joints (DAS28) were examined.

Methods

Adult RA patients currently treated with MTX were included. Multivariable linear and logistic regression were used, with adherence assessed with MEMS as dependent variable vs. pill count, MTX‐PG concentrations, CQR as independent variables and DAS28 vs. each of the 4 adherence measurements. Covariates were included, such as comedication, age and use of corticosteroids.

Results

In total, 190 consecutive RA patients were included. Pill count was correlated with adherence assessed with MEMS (linear regression, β = 0.588, 95% confidence interval = 0.255–0.921, P < .001), whereas CQR and MTX‐PGs were not. Logistic regression confirmed the correlation between dichotomized adherence and pill count only (β = 4.47, 95% confidence interval = 1.31–7.64, P =  .006). No other correlations were found, either for all adherence outcomes or DAS28.

Conclusion

Measuring adherence with MEMS is correlated with pill count, whereas other methods were not correlated with MEMS or with DAS28. Pill count can be used to estimate adherence to MTX therapy, in case MEMS is not achievable.
Spontaneous public response to a marauding knife attack on the London underground: Sociality, coordination and a repertoire of actions evidenced by CCTV footage
Authors: Au‐Yeung Terry , Philpot Richard , Stott Clifford , Radburn Matt , Drury John
Published: December 2023

Across a range of recent terrorist attacks in the United Kingdom, the question of how crowds behave in confined public space is an important concern. Classical theoretical assumptions are that human behaviour in such contexts is relatively uniform, self‐interested and pathological. We contest these assumptions by reporting on a study of public response to a marauding knife attack that occurred on London's underground rail network in 2015. The analysis draws primarily upon footage from 27 CCTV cameras positioned across the station footprint supplemented by social media, news footage, radio logs and incident reports. Using an innovative methodology, we topographically and chronologically mapped behaviours during the incident. The analysis demonstrates that while rapid egressions occurred as the threat escalated, at every phase of the incident members of the public intervened spontaneously with coordinated, purposeful, socially oriented actions. This behavioural pattern contrasts with classical assumptions of a chaotic and apathetic crowd in emergencies. We highlight eight complementary categories of actions in the public response that appeared functional for the collective safety of the crowd during the short period before the police arrived. The policy implications for emergency planning, and the methodological innovations involving the use of video data are discussed.
Bruceine D restrains colorectal cancer tumorigenesis and autophagy by downregulating circ_0068464
Authors: Yang Yong , Li Peng , Li Xiaojia , Zhu Ying , Guo Xiutian
Published: December 2023

Bruceine D (BD) from Brucea javanica (L) exerts an antitumor effect in several human cancers. At present, it has not been reported whether BD inhibits the malignancy of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Therefore, investigating the role and regulatory mechanisms of BD in CRC is the main thrust of this study. Effect of BD on CRC cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and autophagy was determined by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide, 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine, flow cytometry, transwell invasion, and western blotting assays. Expression changes of has_circ_0068464 (circ_0068464) were detected using real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The molecular mechanisms related to circ_0068464 were predicted through online prediction websites Starbase 2.0, circinteractome, and CircBank and validated using dual‐luciferase reporter and RNA pull‐down assays. The tumorigenic ability of BD and circ_0068464 on CRC was confirmed by xenograft experiments. The results showed that BD lessened CRC cell proliferation, invasion, autophagy, and prompted cell apoptosis. Circ_0068464 was overexpressed in CRC samples and cells. BD led to a significant reduction in circ_0068464 levels in cells of this carcinoma, but circ_0068464 overexpression partially rescued these effects urged by BD. Also, the combination of BD and circ_0068464 silencing decreased xenograft tumor growth compared to BD alone. Importantly, circ_0068464 could regulate ATG5 expression by functioning as a miR‐520h molecular sponge. In conclusion, BD might suppress CRC growth by inhibiting the circ_0068464/miR‐520h/ATG5 axis, providing a new perspective for the molecular pathogenesis of CRC and preliminarily indicating that BD may be a promising drug for CRC treatment.
Formation‐Aware Planning and Navigation with Corridor Shortest Path Maps
Authors: Sharma Ritesh , Weiss Tomer , Kallmann Marcelo
Published: December 2023

The need to plan motions for agents with variable shape constraints such as under different formations appears in several virtual and real‐world applications of autonomous agents. In this work, we focus on planning and execution of formation‐aware paths for a group of agents traversing a cluttered environment. The proposed planning framework addresses the trade‐off between being able to enforce a preferable formation when traversing the corridors of the environment, versus accepting to switch to alternative formations requiring less clearance in order to utilize narrower corridors that can lead to a shorter overall path to the final destination. At the planning stage, this trade‐off is addressed with a multi‐layer graph annotated with per‐layer navigation costs and formation transition costs, where each layer represents one formation together with its specific clearance requirement. At the navigation stage, we introduce Corridor Shortest Path Maps (CSPMs), which produce a vector field for guiding agents along the solution corridor, ensuring unobstructed in‐formation navigation in cluttered environments, as well as group motion along lengthwise‐optimal paths in the solution corridor. We also present examples of how our multi‐layer planning framework can be applied to other types of multi‐modal planning problems.
Early closing of hotels: Impacts on alcohol consumption, drunkenness, liver disease and injury mortality
Authors: Dunt David R. , Jiang Heng , Room Robin
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Early (six o'clock) closing of hotels was introduced in 1916 in Australia to curb heavy drinking. It lasted between 21 and 51 years in four Australian states. The aim of this study is to assess the impact of early closing on alcohol consumption, liver disease mortality rates, drunkenness and various forms of injury.

Methods

Time series analysis was undertaken using an Autoregressive Integrated Moving Averages modelling technique. Relevant data were derived from annual publications of the Australian Bureau of Statistics and its predecessor organisations.

Results

Early closing had a substantial downward effect on alcohol consumption across 1901–2006. It had a substantial and beneficial effect on liver disease mortality. Drunkenness rates declined pre‐World War II (WWII), though they increased post‐WWII. Rates for homicide decreased substantially, and close to substantially for suicide and female homicide. Early closing impacts were more beneficial pre‐WWII than post‐WWII.

Discussion and Conclusions

Early closing has not been favourably remembered in Australia in recent years. However, all pre‐WWII impacts of early closing were beneficial including public drunkenness rates. Post‐WWII, beneficial effects were less clear‐cut and drunkenness increased. Resistance to early closing may also have arisen in the 1950s as families had more disposable income and ability to consume alcohol. While universal six o'clock closing is no longer feasible or desirable, opening hours and days for hotels are still part of the policy discussion in Australia. The experience of early closing pre‐WWII gives confidence that the impacts of these can be beneficial.
Metabolic control of mitophagy
Authors: Zimmermann Andreas , Madeo Frank , Diwan Abhinav , Sadoshima Junichi , Sedej Simon , Kroemer Guido , Abdellatif Mahmoud
Published: December 2023

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a major hallmark of ageing and related chronic disorders. Controlled removal of damaged mitochondria by the autophagic machinery, a process known as mitophagy, is vital for mitochondrial homeostasis and cell survival. The central role of mitochondria in cellular metabolism places mitochondrial removal at the interface of key metabolic pathways affecting the biosynthesis or catabolism of acetyl‐coenzyme A, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, polyamines, as well as fatty acids and amino acids. Molecular switches that integrate the metabolic status of the cell, like AMP‐dependent protein kinase, protein kinase A, mechanistic target of rapamycin and sirtuins, have also emerged as important regulators of mitophagy. In this review, we discuss how metabolic regulation intersects with mitophagy. We place special emphasis on the metabolic regulatory circuits that may be therapeutically targeted to delay ageing and mitochondria‐associated chronic diseases. Moreover, we identify outstanding knowledge gaps, such as the ill‐defined distinction between basal and damage‐induced mitophagy, which must be resolved to boost progress in this area.
Gender stereotypes and hiding low performance
Authors: He Shuya , Noussair Charles N.
Published: December 2023

Do men incur a psychological cost when they are outperformed by a woman competitor? We conduct a laboratory experiment that allows us to measure this cost. The experiment is conducted in both the US and China. In our Chinese sample, men are willing to pay more to hide the fact that they have performed worse than another individual than women are, while there is no gender difference in the US. In China, women are willing to pay more to hide poor performance when losing to another woman than to a man, while in the US, the opposite pattern is observed.
miR‐221 and Parkinson's disease: A biomarker with therapeutic potential
Authors: Zamanian Mohammad Yasin , Ivraghi Mehraveh Sadeghi , Gupta Reena , Prasad K. D. V. , Alsaab Hashem O. , Hussien Beneen M. , Ahmed Hazem , Ramadan Montather F. , Golmohammadi Maryam , Nikbakht Nikta , Oz Tuba , Kujawska Małgorzata
Published: December 2023

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to various motor and non‐motor symptoms. Several cellular and molecular mechanisms such as alpha‐synuclein (α‐syn) accumulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of this disease. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in post‐transcriptional gene regulation. They are typically about 21–25 nucleotides in length and are involved in the regulation of gene expression by binding to the messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules. miRNAs like miR‐221 play important roles in various biological processes, including development, cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. miR‐221 promotes neuronal survival against oxidative stress and neurite outgrowth and neuronal differentiation. Additionally, the role of miR‐221 in PD has been investigated in several studies. According to the results of these studies, (1) miR‐221 protects PC12 cells against oxidative stress induced by 6‐hydroxydopamine; (2) miR‐221 prevents Bax/caspase‐3 signalling activation by stopping Bim; (3) miR‐221 has moderate predictive power for PD; (4) miR‐221 directly targets PTEN, and PTEN over‐expression eliminates the protective action of miR‐221 on p‐AKT expression in PC12 cells; and (5) miRNA‐221 controls cell viability and apoptosis by manipulating the Akt signalling pathway in PD. This review study suggested that miR‐221 has the potential to be used as a clinical biomarker for PD diagnosis and stage assignment.
Unsettled adoptive identity: Understanding relationship challenges in adopted adolescents' identity narratives
Authors: Lo Albert Y. H. , Grotevant Harold D. , Baden Amanda L. , Hogan Christina M.
Published: December 2023

Adopted adolescents create identity narratives conceptualizing their connections to their families of adoption and birth. Previous work with a sample of adoptive adolescents identified a sub‐group who reported negative experiences regarding adoption as part of their navigating of adoptive identity processes (the “Unsettled” group). The current study examined interviews with adolescents in the “Unsettled” group to elucidate these negative experiences, specifically through identifying the relationship challenges linked to adoption. Participants included 30 adopted adolescents (18 females, 12 males) from a longitudinal study of adoptive families. All the adolescents (M age = 15.2 years) were domestically adopted in infancy by heterosexual couples who were the same race as the adolescents (29 White, 1 Mexican American). Thematic analysis revealed six themes reflecting adolescents' relationship challenges as related to adoption, both in terms of interpersonal interactions and how relational experiences influenced adolescents' thoughts and feelings of past, present, and future selves: (a) Negative experiences in relationships with adoptive family members, (b) Negative experiences in relationships with birth family members, (c) Difficulties in the adoptive kinship network, (d) Negative thoughts and feelings toward the self as an adopted person, (e) Negative views toward adoption as a form of building a family, and (f) Negative connections between adoption and future relationships. Multiple subthemes were also identified that built upon topics within the adoption and family systems literature, such as communication among family members, navigation of birth family contact, and adopted adolescents' perceptions of loss. Also identified were four profiles across themes. Implications for mental health providers and adoption professionals are discussed.
Megafire: An ambiguous and emotive term best avoided by science
Authors: Stoof Cathelijne R. , de Vries Jasper R. , Castellnou Ribau Marc , F. Fernández Mariña , Flores David , Galarza Villamar Julissa , Kettridge Nicholas , Lartey Desmond , Moore Peter F. , Newman Thacker Fiona , Prichard Susan J. , Tersmette Pepijn , Tuijtel Sam , Verhaar Ivo , Fernandes Paulo M.
Published: December 2023

Background

As fire regimes are changing and wildfire disasters are becoming more frequent, the term megafire is increasingly used to describe impactful wildfires, under multiple meanings, both in academia and popular media. This has resulted in a highly ambiguous concept.

Approach

We analysed the use of the term ‘megafire’ in popular media to determine its origin, its developments over time, and its meaning in the public sphere. We subsequently discuss how relative the term ‘mega’ is, and put this in the context of an analysis of Portuguese and global data on fire size distribution.

Results

We found that ‘megafire’ originated in the popular news media over 20 years before it appeared in science. Megafire is used in a diversity of languages, considers landscape fires as well as urban fires, and has a variety of meanings in addition to size. What constitutes ‘mega’ is relative and highly context‐dependent in space and time, given variation in landscape, climate, and anthropogenic controls, and as revealed in examples from the Netherlands, Portugal and the Global Fire Atlas. Moreover, fire size does not equate to fire impact.

Conclusion

Given the diverse meanings of megafire in the popular media, we argue that redefining megafire in science potentially leads to greater disparity between science and practice. Megafire is widely used as an emotive term that is best left for popular media. For those wanting to use it in science, what constitutes a megafire should be defined by the context in which it is used, not by a metric of one‐size‐fits‐all.
A pilot study of US HTC physical therapists' concordance of PT MASAC recommendations and educational needs
Authors: Volland Lena , Nichols Cindy , Santaella Maria E. , Lambing Angela , Nammacher Kate , Frick Neil
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Physical therapists (PTs) are essential providers within the Hemophilia Treatment Centers (HTCs) team caring for persons with inherited blood disorders (PWBD).

Objective

Little is known regarding PTs understanding and concordance of MASAC PT Recommendations (MASAC#238), educational resources used to maintain competency and support for a mentorship programme.

Methods

PTs at federally funded HTCs were eligible to participate in a descriptive non‐validated study exploring: (i) demographics, (ii) educational background, (iii) experience in evaluation and treatment of PWBD, (iv) practice patterns indicative of concordance with MASAC#238 and (v) opinion regarding PT mentorship.

Results

Respondents experience caring for PWBD ranged 1–36 years, treating both adults and children. Although most acknowledged awareness of MASAC#238, dropout (14/44, 31.8%) was noted; 28/30 (93.3%) who continued were aware of the recommendations. Level of concordance with MASAC#238 varied (range 64.3%–96.2%) regarding: signs/symptoms, treatment of muscle/joint bleeding and pre/post synovectomy and knee replacement treatment. Many PTs identified patients as individual and unique, thus not all recommendations may apply. PTs utilised available educational programmes. No relationships were noted regarding years of practice, education and years caring for PWBD. All respondents favoured a mentorship programme citing benefits, but also outlined barriers.

Conclusions

Provision of necessary financial support for optimal function of a full‐time PT within the HTC can enhance standards of care for PWBD. Supporting educational opportunities may enhance concordance with current MASAC PT Recommendations. Respondents valued development of a structured, hands‐on mentorship programme. MASAC#23 has recently been updated in May 2023 to MASAC#275.