bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring mixed-reality approaches for inclusive blended learning in higher education
Authors: Burnett Gary
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate how mixed-reality (MR) can be used to enhance inclusivity in synchronous working activities where groups of people may be present either face-to-face or online – focusing on blended learning in the higher education (HE) context.

Design/methodology/approach

In a research methods module, 140 university master’s-level students were given the option to attend and engage in seminars/practical sessions either in a real lecture room or online through a virtual version of an equivalent environment, accessible on everyday devices. The MR platform provided two-way video “windows” enabling all students on the module to freely interact with staff and their peers. Attendance was recorded throughout the semester and survey data was captured after all sessions (33% response rate). In addition, student activity was video recorded within both the real and virtual spaces.

Findings

Attendance was high throughout the semester and students were very positive about this novel approach to their education. Students chose to either engage purely in-person, online or as a mixture of the two; performance on the module was not impacted by this decision. The survey highlighted several factors that impacted on students’ choice of learning space, including those related to intrinsic characteristics of individual students (e.g. desire for traditional/novel social interactions) and those related to extrinsic influences (e.g. weather and travel demands). Video analysis revealed numerous differences in the behaviours exhibited across the virtual and real spaces, related to individual versus team mentalities.

Practical implications

Conclusions are drawn regarding how MR can be used in HE and potentially other work-related contexts to enhance engagement, a sense of community and ultimately learning/productivity outcomes.

Originality/value

This study investigated how a large (>100) cohort of students responded to an MR blended learning experience across a whole semester. In this respect, to the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to consider such issues at this scale in a university education setting.
Hybrid variable admittance force tracking and fixed-time position control for robot–environment interaction
Authors: Zhan Hong , Ye Dexi , Zeng Chao , Yang Chenguang
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to deal with the force and position tracking problem when a robot performs a task in interaction with an unknown environment and presents a hybrid control strategy based on variable admittance control and fixed-time control.

Design/methodology/approach

A hybrid control strategy based on variable admittance control and fixed-time control is presented. Firstly, a variable stiffness admittance model control based on proportional integral and differential (PID) is adopted to maintain the expected force value during the task execution. Secondly, a fixed-time controller based on radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) is introduced to handle the model uncertainties and ensure the fast position tracking convergence of the robot system, while the singularity problem is also avoided by designing the virtual control variable with piecewise function.

Findings

Simulation studies conducted on the robot manipulator with two degrees of freedom have verified the superior performance of the proposed control strategy comparing with other methods.

Originality/value

A hybrid control scheme for robot–environment interaction is presented, in which the variable stiffness admittance method is adopted to adjust the interaction force to the desired value, and the RBFNN-based fixed-time position controller without singularity problem is designed to ensure the fast convergence of the robot system with model uncertainty.
Do business-wide sustainability labels boost consumer trust and enhance perceptions of sustainability information quality? An experiment among Z-generation members
Authors: Sanchez-Chaparro Teresa , Gomez-Frias Victor , Onrubia Fernando , Sanchez-Naranjo Maria Jesus
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the emerging trend of business-wide Sustainability Third-Party Labels (STPLs), exemplified by entities like B-Corp. These labels are awarded to organizations committed to a distinctive approach to business, typically embracing the triple-bottom-line (TBL) framework, prioritizing not only financial performance but also social and environmental impact. The research investigates whether these labels enhance trust and influence perceptions of sustainability information quality among young consumers in Spain.

Design/methodology/approach

A factorial experiment has been conducted among a convenience sample of individuals belonging to the Z-generation (n = 126). The experiment involved randomly exposing the participants to different versions of an informational brochure from a fictional company in the agricultural sector (with and without label). Following the experiment, a focus group with 15 participants was conducted to assist in interpreting the results.

Findings

The results of this study suggest that the use of a nonsector specific label across various sectors with distinct sustainability challenges can lead to confusion among Z-generation consumers. Especially within sectors grappling with environmental concerns, such labels may be susceptible to being perceived as manifestations of greenwashing. Additionally, the study adds supporting evidence to the existing body of literature asserting gender differences in the interpretation of sustainability signals, including labels.

Originality/value

As far as this research is concerned, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research that studies the perception of Z-generation members regarding business-wide STPLs. Focusing on studying, the attitudes toward sustainability of younger generations and how they respond to signals like business-wide STPLs are relevant, as they not only possess the longevity to drive substantial change but are also more susceptible to behavioral shifts, thereby holding significant potential in shaping a sustainable future. The study combines both qualitative and quantitative perspective and provides critical insights, relevant to stakeholders within business-wide STPL ecosystems, emphasizing the need for strategic coherence and transparency in label implementation.
Outpatient Hysteroscopy
Authors: De Silva Prathiba M. , Smith Paul P. , Cooper Natalie A. M. , Clark T. Justin ,   the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Published: August 2024

Key recommendations

All gynaecology departments should provide a dedicated outpatient hysteroscopy service to aid care of women and people with abnormal uterine bleeding, reproductive problems, and insertion/retrieval of intrauterine devices. [Grade A]

Written information should be provided to the woman prior to their appointment. This should include details about the procedure, the benefits and risks, advice regarding pre‐operative analgesia, as well as alternative options for care and contact details for the hysteroscopy unit. [Good Practice Point]

Women should be made aware of other settings and modes of anaesthesia for hysteroscopy (e.g. under general or regional anaesthesia or intravenous sedation). [GPP]

The woman should be advised that if they find the procedure too painful or distressing at any point, they must alert the clinical team who will stop the procedure immediately. The clinical team should alert the hysteroscopist if the woman appears to be in too much pain or is experiencing a vasovagal episode and therefore unable to voice the concerns so that the procedure can be stopped. [GPP]

Women should be advised to take standard doses of oral non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) one hour before their scheduled appointment.

Vaginoscopy should be the standard technique for outpatient hysteroscopy unless the use of a vaginal speculum is required (e.g. for administering local cervical anaesthesia or dilating the cervix). [Grade A]

When performing operative hysteroscopy, the smallest diameter hysteroscope should be used, with consideration given to the use of hysteroscopes with expandable outer working channels because they are associated with less pain. [Grade B]

Mechanical hysteroscopic tissue removal systems should be preferred over miniature bipolar electrodes to remove endometrial polyps. [Grade A]

Local anaesthesia should not be routinely administered prior to outpatient hysteroscopy where a vaginoscopic approach is used. It should be considered where use of a vaginal speculum is planned e.g. for cervical dilatation if anticipated, due to either cervical stenosis and/or the utilisation of larger‐diameter hysteroscopes (≥5mm outer diameter). [Grade A]

Saline should be instilled at the lowest possible pressure to achieve a satisfactory view. [Grade A]

Conscious sedation should not be routinely used in outpatient hysteroscopic procedures. [Grade B]
Improving the production of 22‐hydroxy‐23,24‐bisnorchol‐4‐ene‐3‐one in Mycolicibacterium smegmatis
Authors: Hernández‐Fernández Gabriel , Acedos Miguel G. , de la Torre Isabel , Ibero Juan , García José L. , Galán Beatriz
Published: August 2024

The 22‐hydroxy‐23,24‐bisnorchol‐4‐ene‐3‐one (4‐HBC) is a C22 steroid synthon of pharmaceutical interest that can be produced as a lateral end‐product of the catabolism of natural sterols (e.g., cholesterol or phytosterols). This work studies the role of an aldehyde dehydrogenase coded by the MSMEG_6563 gene of Mycolicibacterium smegmatis, named msRed, in 4‐HBC production. This gene is located contiguously to the MSMEG_6561 encoding the aldolase msSal which catalyses the retroaldol elimination of acetyl‐CoA of the metabolite intermediate 22‐hydroxy‐3‐oxo‐cholest‐4‐ene‐24‐carboxyl‐CoA to deliver 3‐oxo‐4‐pregnene‐20‐carboxyl aldehyde (3‐OPA). We have demonstrated that msRed reduces 3‐OPA to 4‐HBC. Moreover, the role of msOpccR reductase encoded by MSMEG_1623 was also explored confirming that it also performs the reduction of 3‐OPA into 4‐HBC, but less efficiently than msRed. To obtain a M. smegmatis 4‐HBC producer strain we deleted MSMEG_5903 (hsd4A) gene in strain MS6039‐5941 (ΔkshB1, ΔkstD1) that produces 4‐androstene‐3,17‐dione (AD) from natural sterols (cholesterol or phytosterols). The triple MS6039‐5941‐5903 mutant was able to produce 9 g/L of 4‐HBC from 14 g/L of phytosterols in 2 L bioreactor, showing a productivity of 0.140 g/L h−1. To improve the metabolic flux of sterols towards the production of 4‐HBC we have cloned and overexpressed the msSal and msRed enzymes in the MS6039‐5941‐5903 mutant rendering a production titter of 12.7 g/L with a productivity of 0.185 g/L h−1, and demonstrating that the new recombinant strain has a great potential for its industrial application.
Chapter 7. Mapping land use with integrated environmental archaeological datasets
Authors: Marston John M. , Vaiglova Petra
Published: August 2024

Archaeologists have developed tools to reconstruct the locations of farming and animal herding using ecological and digital modeling of ancient landscapes. The determination of where on a landscape farming and herding took place, however, can remain elusive in environments with evidence for substantial geomorphological and/or ecological change since the period of occupation. Archaeobotanical and geoarchaeological evidence from the site of Gordion, in central Anatolia, indicates substantial landscape change over the last 4000 years, including deforestation, overgrazing, erosion, and alluviation. These have been inferred to be the result of past agricultural practices, but no firm evidence has pointed to specific locations (geographic and temporal) where ancient farming and herding may have caused these changes. Integrating extant archaeobotanical, zooarchaeological, and geoarchaeological evidence with new isotopic data provides a more detailed reconstruction of the sequence of agricultural practices that shaped the present landscape and ecology of the region, offering a model for future archaeological research within substantially transformed landscapes.
Chapter 9. Feral fields of Northern Dalmatia (Croatia)
Authors: Countryman James , Zaro Gregory , Blaće Ante , Čelhar Martina
Published: August 2024

How do we identify ancient fields and farming systems in areas where the same spaces of cultivation have been used repeatedly over thousands of years? In the limestone karst landscapes of northern Dalmatia, on the Adriatic coast of Croatia, drystone field walls, terraces, and cairns are common features that attest to generations of working the land for agriculture. While confounding archaeological objects due to complex histories of reuse, drystone terraced field systems throughout the Mediterranean are believed to have roots in ancient and prehistoric land use. Against this backdrop, this paper works to better understand the dynamic patterns and outcomes of field “recycling” through multiple lines of evidence for long‐term changes in cropping patterns and agroecology in multi‐millennial agricultural landscapes of northern Dalmatia. We compare archaeobotanical data from the Ravni Kotari plain to documents of preindustrial land use from the 1826 Franciscan cadastre. We also draw upon contemporary observations of traditionally managed, semi‐wild olive groves on the nearby Adriatic island of Ugljan to better understand the land‐use legacies inherent in the landscapes of northern Dalmatia today. These data show that, despite a relatively static agricultural built environment of field walls and terraces, Dalmatian communities held historically dynamic relationships with domesticated and wild plant ecologies. Prehistoric integration of cereal agriculture with wild forest resources appears to have shifted to commercial‐scale domesticated arboriculture in the Classical period, leaving a multifaceted legacy of commercial agriculture, traditional farming, and rewilding among the contemporary cultural landscapes of Dalmatia.
Mitigating invasive species using biochar derived from invasive plants in saline‐alkaline wetland plant communities dominated by Amaranthus palmeri
Authors: Yin Shuting , Wang Xiaofang , Meng Zirui , Mo Xunqiang , He Mengxuan , Liu Jie
Published: August 2024

Aims

Effective prevention and management of biological invasions are crucial. One promising approach involves introducing biochar to invaded plant communities to modify interspecific relationships among invasive and native plants, ultimately aiding in the suppression of invasive species. This study aimed to explore the effects of invasive‐plant biochar on an established invaded plant community.

Location

Tianjin coastal saline‐alkaline wetland, China (38°46′ N, 117°34′ E).

Methods

Invaded plant communities were established using soils from an Amaranthus palmeri‐invaded wetland with an intact seed bank, incorporating invasive‐plant biochar derived from A. palmeri and Spartina alterniflora into the soil at 0%, 1%, 3%, and 5% addition rates (m/m). Plant above‐ground biomass, height, stem diameter, abundance, α/β‐diversity, niche breadth, and species co‐occurrence networks were analyzed.

Results

The addition of invasive‐plant biochar significantly decreased the performance measures of the invaded plant community. The biochar addition rate had a more substantial impact on plant community structure than the type of biochar used. There was a decrease in the abundance of A. palmeri and an increase in native plants across most treatments, with S. alterniflora biochar exhibiting a more pronounced effect compared to A. palmeri biochar. Invasive‐plant biochar affected the niche breadth of A. palmeri and other dominant native species, particularly at higher addition rates, resulting in reduced niche overlap. At a 5% addition rate, A. palmeri and S. alterniflora biochar had contrasting effects on the complexity of interspecific relationships within the plant community. Phylogenetic β‐diversities were significantly correlated with the biochar addition rate and stochastic processes primarily governed plant community assembly across all treatments.

Conclusions

Our findings underscore the potential of biochar derived from invasive plants to mitigate the impact of invasive species on saline‐alkaline wetland plant communities dominated by A. palmeri. This approach offers a promising avenue for managing biological invasions and restoring native plant species.
Development of a quick guide for assessment of the most frequently used renal risk medication in Danish hospitals and primary care
Authors: Ravn‐Nielsen Lene Vestergaard , Andersen Trine Rune Høgh , Olesen Charlotte , Hedegaard Ulla , Coric Faruk , Routhe Lisa Greve , Revell Joo Hanne Poulsen , Press Anita Buch Grann , Houlind Morten Baltzer , Kjeldsen Lene Juel
Published: August 2024

Due to changes in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, patients with impaired renal function suffer an increased risk of suboptimal and potentially harmful medication treatment. This necessitates careful consideration of medications affected by impaired renal function when performing medication reviews. The aim of this study was to develop a quick guide (a list of recommendations) for assessing renal risk medications in medication reviews led by hospital pharmacists. The list was based on the 100 most frequently used medications in Danish hospitals and primary care. After combining the 200 records, 29 duplicates were excluded resulting in a pool of 171 medications. Assessment by two clinical pharmacists led to the exclusion of 121 medications. Of the remaining 50 medications, seven were discussed among the two pharmacists, and two of these were also in the research group to reach a consensus. The renal risk quick guide comprised 50 medications. The most prevalent medications on the list were from Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System (ATC)‐group N, C and L. Recommendations from two databases were included in the quick guide in order to provide clinical pharmacists with existing, updated evidence on medication use in impaired renal function. The next step is to test the feasibility of the quick guide in daily practice when performing medication reviews.
Interactivity and identity impact learners' sense of agency in virtual reality field trips
Authors: McGivney Eileen
Published: August 2024

Agency, or the capacity to take intentional actions, is considered one of the primary affordances of virtual reality (VR) for learning. VR is expected to increase learners' agency because it allows for full‐body interactivity from a first‐person perspective, giving them novel ways of interacting with the digital environment. Yet, agency in immersive learning has not been well‐studied relative to other affordances like presence, and more evidence is needed to understand how varied media and designs heighten or diminish agency. This mixed‐method study addressed this need by developing and validating measures of sense of agency with 30 high school students who used VR field trips in their engineering class over four lessons. By comparing immersive videos to video game‐like interactive graphical environments, the study illustrates some of the complexities of agency in VR. The findings indicate agency is not a unidimensional construct nor is it equivalent to full‐body interactivity in VR as learners felt some types of agency when using immersive videos. Furthermore, learners' identities moderated associations between the type of VR media and their sense of agency, and agency did not change over time as the novelty of VR waned. These results suggest VR designers should consider varied ways of interacting in VR that are beneficial for learning. They also support the use of immersive videos when the educator's goal is to increase agency over learning or focus, and provide measures and direction for future research to assess the relationship between varied types of agency, features of VR experiences and learning outcomes.

Practitioner notes

What is already known about this topic

Virtual reality (VR) can enhance learning by giving learners a strong sense of presence in the virtual environment and giving them agency over their learning through novel forms of interactivity.

Many studies have looked at increasing the learner's presence in VR, but fewer have assessed learners' agency.

Prior work found the impact of increased interactivity on learning was mixed: sometimes it increased learning outcomes and motivation, other times it did not.

What this paper adds

This study develops and validates measures of learners' sense of agency within VR learning environments.

This study finds that more interactivity in VR increases how much agency learners feel over their actions but not necessarily their agency over learning and attention.

This study also finds variation in students' experiences of agency based on their culturally defined sense of self‐construal.

Implications for practice and/or policy

Practitioners interested in immersive learning technologies should consider the design of the media used rather than focusing only on the device's capability.

Immersive videos may be effective tools for enhancing student agency, depending on the aims of the learning experience.

Designers and educators should consider learners' identities such as self‐construal, and understand student experiences may vary.
Long‐term outcome after allogeneic stem cell transplantation for GATA2 deficiency: An analysis of 67 adults and children from France and Belgium
Authors: Sicre de Fontbrune Flore , Chevillon Florian , Fahd Mony , Desseaux Kristell , Poiré Xavier , Forcade Edouard , Sterin Arthur , Neven Bénédicte , Gandemer Virginie , Thepot Sylvain , Garnier Alice , Lioure Bruno , Marcais Ambroise , Nguyen‐Quoc Stephanie , Tavitian Suzanne , Vincent Laure , Donadieu Jean , Resche Riggon Matthieu , Chevret Sylvie , Pasquet Marlene , Peffault de Latour Regis
Published: August 2024

Modalities and timing of haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) in patients with GATA2 deficiency are still subject to debate. On June 2022, 67 patients (median age 20.6 years) underwent a first allogeneic HSCT among 21 centres. Indications for HSCT were myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) ≤5% blasts ± immunodeficiency (66%), MDS >5% blasts (15%), acute myeloid leukaemia (19%). Conditioning regimen was myeloablative in 85% and anti‐thymocyte globulins were used in 67%. The cumulative incidence (CInc) of acute graft versus host disease (GvHD) grade II–IV and III–IV at day 100 were 42% and 13%, and CInc of chronic and extensive chronic GvHD at 2 years were 42% and 23%. CInc of relapses was 3% and 11% at 1 and 5 years. Overall survival (OS) at 1 and 5 years was 83% and 72% (median follow‐up 5.6 years). The factors associated with worse OS in multivariable analysis were the year of HSCT, a history of excess blasts before transplant and peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) grafts. Age at HSCT, non‐myeloablative conditioning and PBSC grafts were associated with increased non‐relapse mortality. In conclusion, bone marrow monitoring to identify clonal evolution and perform HSCT before the appearance of excess blast is mandatory.
Variations in healthcare costs by body mass index and obesity‐related complications in a UK population: A retrospective open cohort study
Authors: Pearson‐Stuttard Jonathan , Holloway Sara , Sommer Matthiessen Kasper , Thompson Andrew , Capucci Silvia
Published: August 2024

Aims

To estimate healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and healthcare costs by body mass index (BMI) in a UK cohort and to explore how this varied by defined BMI strata.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective open cohort study used Discover, a linked primary and secondary electronic health records database covering 2.7 million individuals. Adults were stratified by BMI as: overweight (25–<30 kg/m2); obesity class I (30–<35 kg/m2); obesity class II (35–<40 kg/m2); or obesity class III (≥40 kg/m2). Cost data, comprising primary care, secondary care (inpatient admissions, outpatient appointments and emergency room visits) and prescriptions, were reported for 2015–2019.

Results

Overall, 1 008 101 individuals were overweight, 278 782 had obesity class I; 80 621 had obesity class II, and 42 642 had obesity class III. Healthcare costs and HCRU events per person per year increased over time (2015: £851–£1321 and 10.6–13.4 events; 2019: £1143–£1871 and 11.4–14.9 events), and were higher for each successive BMI group. Groups with chronic kidney disease or cardiovascular disease incurred particularly high costs. In 270 493 individuals with obesity in 2019, more than 72% of total healthcare costs were incurred by the highest cost quintile, which had a higher mean age and more obesity‐related complications (ORCs) than lower cost quintiles.

Conclusions

The economic impact of obesity could be alleviated by weight management support based on unmet need, to limit the effects of BMI progression and ORC development.
Nicotinamide N‐methyltransferase inhibition mitigates obesity‐related metabolic dysfunction
Authors: Babula JoAnne J. , Bui Dinh , Stevenson Heather L. , Watowich Stanley J. , Neelakantan Harshini
Published: August 2024

Aim

To assess the effects of a small‐molecule nicotinamide N‐methyltransferase (NNMT) inhibitor, 5A1MQ, on body composition, metabolic variables, fatty liver pathologies, and circulating biomarkers in diet‐induced obese (DIO) mice, and characterize its plasma pharmacokinetics (PK) and tissue distribution in vivo.

Materials and Methods

DIO mice were administered vehicle or 5A1MQ once daily for 28 days. Longitudinal measures of body composition, blood glucose and plasma insulin levels, and terminal measures of liver histopathology and serum markers, were evaluated. Plasma and tissue PK were established in age‐ and strain‐matched mice after intravenous, oral, and subcutaneous dosing of 5A1MQ.

Results

5A1MQ treatment dose‐dependently limited body weight and fat mass gains, improved oral glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity, and suppressed hyperinsulinaemia in DIO mice. Liver histology from 5A1MQ‐treated DIO mice showed attenuated hepatic steatosis and macrophage infiltration, and correspondingly reduced liver weight, size, and triglyceride levels. 5A1MQ treatment normalized circulating levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and ketone bodies, supporting an overall improvement in liver and metabolic functions. The pharmacodynamic effects of 5A1MQ were further corroborated by its high systemic exposure and effective distribution to metabolically active tissues, including adipose, muscle and liver, following subcutaneous dosing of mice.

Conclusions

This work validates NNMT inhibition as a viable pharmacological approach to ameliorate metabolic imbalances and improve liver pathologies that develop with obesity.
Neoscytalidium dimidiatum associated with Albizia lebbeck disease in Saudi Arabia: Symptomatology, pathogenicity and molecular identification
Authors: Hamed Khalid E. , Alsohim Abdullah S. , Baschien Christiane , Sayyed Riyaz Z.
Published: August 2024

Botryosphaeriaceae fungi cause infections that generate disease symptoms in plants in extreme environments. The present study identified the causal agent of dieback disease on lebbeck trees in Saudi Arabia. Albizia lebbeck trees showed widespread dieback, decline and cracking symptoms of samples taken during a Qassim University, Saudi Arabia survey. The survey showed that over 80% of lebbeck trees showed wilted roots, stem cankers and death of wilted trees. Fungal colonies were obtained from symptomatic tissues cultured on water agar for 3 weeks at 25°C. Elongation factor alpha (EF1‐728 F, AL33R), ITS (ITS4) and LSU (128) regions of the rDNA operon and the partial beta‐tubulin gene (tub2; Bt2aF, Bt2bR) were sequenced for molecular identification. Based on morphological and molecular characterization, the pathogen was identified as Neoscytalidium dimidiatum. During the pathogenicity investigation, the fungus re‐isolated from the infected seedlings expressed the same morphological characteristics on the culture media as the N. dimidiatum isolate. A host range study involving six tree species inoculation with N. dimidiatum caused wilting and death in three plants. To our knowledge, this study is the first to report on N. dimidiatum in Saudi Arabia.
Rapid integration of face detection and task set in visually guided reaching
Authors: Mekhaiel David Y. , Goodale Melvyn A. , Corneil Brian D.
Published: August 2024

The superior colliculus (SC) has been increasingly implicated in the rapid processing of evolutionarily relevant stimuli like faces, but the behavioural relevance of such processing is unclear. The SC has also been implicated in the generation of express visuomotor responses (EVR), which are very short‐latency (~80 ms) bursts of muscle activity time‐locked to visual target presentation. These observations led us to investigate the influence of faces on EVRs. We recorded upper limb muscle activity from healthy participants as they reached toward targets in the presence of a distractor. In some experiments, faces were used as stimuli. Across blocks of trials, we varied the instruction as to which stimulus served as the target or distractor. Doing so allowed us to assess the impact of instruction on muscle recruitment given identical visual stimuli. We found that responses were uniquely modulated in tasks involving high‐contrast faces, promoting reaches toward or away from a face depending on instruction. Follow‐up experiments confirmed that the phenomenon required highly salient repeated faces and was not observed to non‐facial stimuli nor to faces expressing different affects. This study extends the hypothesis that the SC mediates the EVR by demonstrating that faces impact muscle recruitment at short latencies that precede cortical activity for face perception. Our results constitute direct evidence for the behavioural relevance of face detection in the brainstem, and also implicate a role for top‐down cortical pre‐setting of the EVR depending on task context.
How do organizations refine their post‐merger integration routines over consecutive acquisitions?
Authors: Abravanel Ika , Biron Michal , Brueller Nir N.
Published: August 2024

The post‐merger integration (PMI) phase of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) can determine M&A success. Little is known about how organizations refine their PMI routines with accumulated M&A experience. This study proposes a process model of PMI‐routine development, where the outcomes of routines enacted in earlier acquisitions shape routines in subsequent acquisitions. We test the model using 312 instances of routine implementation, across five consecutive acquisitions by the same acquiring company, and make two key scholarly contributions. First, we advance prior research by identifying how a routine's level of complexity moderates the association between routine adherence and routine outcomes. Second, we elucidate the effect of learning from failure—uncovering a learning process with performance feedback as input. Specifically, negative routine outcomes at the focal acquisition strengthened the positive effect of the improvisation (low adherence) enacted in the focal acquisition on the subsequent modifications to the codified routine, which are likely to improve its performance in future acquisitions.
Significance of lignin and fungal markers in the Devonian (407 Ma) Rhynie Chert
Authors: Holman Alex I. , Poropat Stephen F. , Greenwood Paul F. , Bhandari Rajendra , Tripp Madison , Hopper Peter , Schimmelmann Arndt , Brosnan Luke , Rickard William D. A. , Wolkenstein Klaus , Grice Kliti
Published: August 2024

The Rhynie Chert (Lower Devonian, Scotland) hosts a remarkably well‐preserved early terrestrial ecosystem. Organisms including plants, fungi, arthropods, and bacteria were rapidly silicified due to inundation by silica‐rich hot spring fluids. Exceptional molecular preservation has been noted by many authors, including some of the oldest evidence of lignin in the fossil record. The evolution of lignin was a critical factor in the diversification of land plants, providing structural support and defense against herbivores and microbes. However, the timing of the evolution of lignin decay processes remains unclear. Studies placing this event near the end of the Carboniferous are contradicted by evidence for fungal pathogenesis in Devonian plant fossils, including from the Rhynie Chert. We conducted organic geochemical analyses on a Rhynie Chert sample, including hydropyrolysis (HyPy) of kerogen and high‐resolution mass spectrometric mapping of a thin section, to elucidate the relationship between lignin and the potential fungal marker perylene. HyPy of kerogen showed an increase in relative abundance of perylene supporting its entrapment within the silicate matrix of the chert. Lignin monomers were isolated through an alkaline oxidation process, showing a distribution dominated by H‐type monomers. G‐ and S‐type monomers were also detected, preserved by rapid silicification. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons including perylene, a known marker for lignin‐degrading fungi, were also concentrated in the kerogen and found to be localized within silicified plant fragments. Our results strongly link perylene in the Rhynie Chert to the activity of phytopathogenic fungi, demonstrating the importance of fungal degradation processes as far back as the Early Devonian.
Thermal refugia reinforce macroalgal resilience against climate change in the southeastern Bay of Biscay
Authors: Arriaga O. , Wawrzynkowski P. , Muguerza N. , Díez I. , González J. , Gorostiaga J. M. , Quintano E. , Becerro M. A.
Published: August 2024

Rising global temperatures present unprecedented challenges to marine ecosystems, demanding a profound understanding of their ecological dynamics for effective conservation strategies. Over a comprehensive macroalgal assessment spanning three decades, we investigated the spatiotemporal evolution of shallow‐water benthic communities in the southern Bay of Biscay, uncovering climate‐resilient areas amidst the ongoing phase shift in the region. Our investigation identified seven locations serving as potential climate refugia, where cold‐affinity, canopy‐forming macroalgal species persisted and community structure was similar to that observed in 1991. We unveiled a clear association between the emergence of these refugia, sea surface temperature (SST), and the Community Temperature Index, positioning SST as a significant driver of the observed phase shift in the region. Warming processes, defined as tropicalization (increase of warm‐affinity species) and deborealization (decrease of cold‐affinity species), were prominent outside refugia. In contrast, cooling processes, defined as borealization (increase of cold‐affinity species) and detropicalization (decrease of warm‐affinity species), prevailed inside refugia. Refugia exhibited approximately 35% lower warming processes compared to non‐refuge areas. This resulted in a dominance of warm‐affinity species outside refugia, contrasting with the stability observed within refugia. The persistence of canopy‐forming species in refuge areas significantly contributed to maintaining ecosystem diversity and stability. These findings underscored the pivotal role of climate refugia in mitigating climate‐driven impacts. Prioritizing the protection and restoration of these refugia can foster resilience and ensure the preservation of biodiversity for future generations. Our study illustrates the importance of refining our understanding of how marine ecosystems respond to climate change, offering actionable insights essential for informed conservation strategies and sustainable environmental management.
A New Look at Diffusion in Vapor Intrusion Assessments; Passive Adsorptive Diffusion Samplers
Authors: Niemet Michael , Thompson Ben , Rabe Katie , O'Neill Harry
Published: August 2024

Vapor intrusion of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from subsurface soil vapor, through a building slab/floor, and into the indoor air is an important environmental contaminant transport mechanism. It is widely believed that advective flow, driven by the pressure differential between the subslab and indoor air, is the primary mechanism of subslab soil vapor entry into buildings. This paper explores the hypothesis that molecular diffusion through the slab may potentially play a larger role in vapor intrusion than previously believed and may even be the predominant vapor intrusion mechanism when the subslab vapor source strength is sufficiently high or the pressure differential is relatively low. A novel sampling device, referred to as a Passive Adsorptive Diffusion Sampler (PADS), is presented for the purpose of directly measuring the diffusion of VOCs through a building slab. A vacant warehouse was identified as a case study site where historical sampling had determined that vapor intrusion of trichloroethene (TCE) was adversely impacting the indoor air. Calculations using Fick's First Law of Diffusion are presented which demonstrate that diffusion alone can theoretically account for all the TCE observed in the indoor air at this building based on an effective diffusion coefficient for concrete that was calculated from the Johnson and Ettinger Model. Two groups of nine replicate PADS were deployed at two areas on the slab and used to measure the flux and effective diffusion coefficient at each of the 18 total points, which showed an order of magnitude variability within each area and over two orders of magnitude variability overall. These results indicate that diffusion through concrete is inherently variable when measured at a sub‐meter scale. However, when combined over both areas, the overall average approached that calculated from the Johnson and Ettinger Model. An additional 12 PADS were deployed across the building slab (for a total of 30) to quantify the overall building‐wide diffusive flux. This area‐weighted average diffusive flux was consistent with the predicted diffusive flux as calculated from Fick's First Law and the vapor intrusion mass input required to achieve the observed indoor air TCE concentration. The results of this study show that PADS provides a simple way to measure diffusive flux directly without having to drill through the slab. However, significant variability in the measured flux should be expected and will need to be accounted for by the inclusion of a relatively large number of samples including replicates. When using PADs at a new site, the collection of traditional subslab vapors at a select number of locations is recommended for the verification of a building‐specific effective diffusion coefficient, which may not necessarily be the same as for this building.
What can an analysis of Australian tropical rainforest bark beetles suggest about the missing millions of Earth's insect species?
Authors: Stork Nigel E. , Boyle Michael J. W. , Wardhaugh Carl , Beaver Roger A.
Published: August 2024

Only 20% of the estimated 5 million species of insects on Earth are named and yet insects are poorly represented in protected area assessments, and insect declines are of concern globally.

Here, we explore how to increase the discovery of new species and understanding of this group through analysis of 10,097 tropical rainforest bark beetles (Scolytinae) from eight different ecological studies between 2000 and 2018 in the Australian Wet Tropics.

Of the 107 species identified, 58 are undescribed: an increase of 37% on the 156 species known from Australia. Rarefaction indicates doubling sampling would increase the number of species by 17. As hypothesised, new species are significantly smaller, less abundant and less widespread than described species making them more extinction‐prone than named species.

Flight interception traps collected 84% of individuals and 98% of species confirming the effectiveness of a single sampling method for some beetles. Increased locations and collection from the canopy may sample further species rather than additional collecting methods.

Scolytines are relatively well studied with taxonomists at the forefront of using modern methods to resolve formerly intractable groups. Hence, these new species are more likely to be named than others in many other beetle groups where taxonomy has largely stalled.

To increase species description rates and to avoid most species becoming extinct before being named, we call on taxonomists to use new character systems provided by DNA methods and advances in the rapidly developing field of artificial intelligence.
Ethical Consumption: A Review and Research Agenda
Authors: Arman Saleh Md , Mark‐Herbert Cecilia
Published: August 2024

Ethical consumption is a domain of consumer research that focuses on individuals' ethical concerns when making consumption decisions. Owing to its enormous potential as a research domain, ethical consumption has gained increasing importance, especially in view of the impact of consumption choices on the environment and society as a whole. This study consolidates the existing body of information on ethical consumption through a systematic literature review (SLR) employing the SPAR‐4‐SLR methodology in conjunction with the ADO‐TCM framework. An extensive search was conducted using the Scopus and Web of Science databases, carefully selecting 125 publications related to ethical consumption from 2002 to 2023. Next, a comprehensive descriptive analysis was conducted to identify the most substantial gaps in the literature and propose concrete directions for future research. Scholars across academic fields can utilize these findings and guidelines to inform their research, while practitioners can implement ethical consumption behavioral philosophies in their sustainable business practices.
Hair cortisol concentrations are associated with greater adiposity in late adolescence amongst non‐Hispanic White individuals
Authors: Sidote Melissa N. , Bornkamp Nicole , Rifas‐Shiman Sheryl L. , Hivert Marie‐France , Oken Emily , Nichols Amy R. , Zhang Mingyu
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Hair cortisol concentration (HCC) is a biomarker of long‐term stress. Higher HCC is associated with higher adiposity in adults; however, associations are not well characterized in adolescents.

Objective

To examine cross‐sectional associations of HCC with adiposity in late adolescence.

Methods

Amongst 336 non‐Hispanic White participants (48.5% female, mean 17.7 years) in Project Viva, we used multivariable linear regression models, overall and sex‐stratified, to estimate associations of HCC with body mass index (BMI), bioelectric impedance (BIA) percent body fat, waist circumference (WC) and dual X‐ray absorptiometry‐measured percent and total fat or trunk fat mass. We adjusted models for age and known predictors of adiposity.

Results

Median (interquartile range) HCC was 2.1 pm/mg (1.0–4.5) and mean (SD) BMI was 23.1 kg/m2 (3.9), BIA %body fat 20.2% (9.9) and WC 80.6 cm (10.9). In adjusted models, higher HCC (per doubling) was associated with higher BMI (β = 0.19 kg/m2; 95%CI 0.00, 0.37) and BIA percent body fat (β = 0.41%; 95%CI 0.04, 0.77). We observed no evidence of effect modification by sex.

Conclusions

Higher HCC was associated with greater adiposity in late adolescence. Further research is needed to disentangle the relationship between HCC and adolescent adiposity, including the temporal direction of the relationship and sex‐specific associations.
Self‐reported sleep duration and quality and cardiovascular diseases among middle‐aged and older Chinese: A 7‐year longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Lv Zhe , Ji Yuqiang , Li Chao , Zhao Zhao , Jia Wanru , Hou Jingjing , Yan Hong
Published: August 2024

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death worldwide, and several studies have attempted to identify its risk factors. This study aimed to investigate the association between sleep duration and sleep quality, and the 7‐year incidence of CVD among middle‐aged and older Chinese individuals. A total of 6682 participants aged 45–90 years from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study database were included in this study. The authors estimated sleep duration and quality based on self‐reported data of night sleep hours and disturbance symptoms, and examined the associations between them and the composite outcome of CVD using logistic regression models. A total of 1692 participants (25.32%) reported new CVD events during follow‐up. Short sleep duration (< 6 h/night) was significantly associated with a higher risk of CVD in all three models (p < .05). However, this was not observed for long sleep duration (> 8 h/night). Additionally, participants with mild sleep disturbance in all three models, and severe sleep disturbance in Models 2 and 3 had a significantly higher risk of CVD (p < .05). After stratification by age and daytime napping, we still found a significant association between short sleep duration and CVD in individuals aged 45–59 years, and between sleep disturbance and CVD in non‐nappers (p < .05). However, these associations were not significant in individuals aged ≥60 years or in nappers (p > .05). In conclusion, short sleep duration and sleep disturbance are both associated with an increased risk of CVD in middle‐aged and older Chinese individuals.
Fasting hypertriglyceridemia in relation to mortality in an elderly male Chinese population
Authors: Wang Xin‐Yu , Ye Xiao‐Fei , Wang Wen‐Yuan‐Yue , Zhang Wei , Sheng Chang‐Sheng , Huang Qi‐Fang , Li Yan , Wang Ji‐Guang
Published: August 2024

We investigated fasting hypertriglyceridemia as predictors of all‐cause, cardiovascular, and non‐cardiovascular mortality in an elderly male Chinese population, while accounting for various conventional cardiovascular risk factors. Our participants were elderly men recruited from residents living in a suburban town of Shanghai (≥60 years of age, n = 1583). Hypertriglyceridemia was defined as a fasting serum triglycerides concentration ≥1.70 mmol/L. Subgroup analyses were performed according to current smoking (yes vs. no), alcohol intake (yes vs. no), and the presence and absence of hypertension and hyperglycemia. During a median of 7.9 years follow‐up, all‐cause, cardiovascular, and non‐cardiovascular deaths occurred in 279, 112, and 167 participants, respectively. After adjustment for confounding factors, fasting hypertriglyceridemia was not significantly (p ≥ .33) associated with the risk of all‐cause, cardiovascular, and non‐cardiovascular mortality. However, there was significant (p = .03) interaction between hypertriglyceridemia and the presence and absence of hypertension in relation to all‐cause mortality. In normotensive, but not hypertensive individuals, hypertriglyceridemia was significantly associated with a higher risk of all‐cause mortality (hazard ratio 1.57, 95% confidence interval 1.06–2.31). In further non‐parametric analyses in normotensive individuals, the age‐standardized rate for all‐cause mortality increased from 18.9 in quartile 1 to 20.0, to 24.7, and to 39.9 per 1000 person‐years in quartiles 2, 3, and 4 of serum triglycerides concentration, respectively (ptrend = .0004). Similar results were observed for cardiovascular mortality. Our study in elderly male Chinese showed that fasting hypertriglyceridemia was associated with a higher risk of all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with normotension but not those with hypertension.