bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative capitalism and the empirical taxonomy of context: enhancing the institutionalist blueprint
Authors: Woodhouse Drew , Johnston Andrew
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Critiques of international business (IB) have long pointed to the weaknesses in the understanding of context. This has ignited debate on the understanding of institutions and how they “matter” for IB. Yet how institutions matter ultimately depends on how IB applies institutional theory. It is argued that institutional-based research is dominated by a narrow set of approaches, largely overlooking institutional perspectives that account for institutional diversity. This paper aims to forward the argument that IB research should lend greater attention to comparing the topography of institutional configurations by bringing political economy “back in” to the IB domain.

Design/methodology/approach

Using principal components analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis, the authors provide IB with a taxonomy of capitalist institutional diversity which defines the landscape of political economies.

Findings

The authors show institutional diversity is characterised by a range of capitalist clusters and configuration arrangements, identifying four clusters with distinct modes of capitalism as well as specifying intra-cluster differences to propose nine varieties of capitalism. This paper allows IB scholars to lend closer attention to the institutional context within which firms operate. If the configurations of institutions “matter” for IB scholarship, then clearly, a quantitative blueprint to assess institutional diversity remains central to the momentum of such “institutional turn.”

Originality/value

This paper provides a comprehensive survey of institutional theory, serving as a valuable resource for the application of context within international business. Further, our taxonomy allows international business scholars to utilise a robust framework to examine the diverse institutional context within which firms operate, whilst extending to support the analysis of broader socioeconomic outcomes. This taxonomy therefore allows international business scholars to utilise a robust framework to examine the institutional context within which firms operate.
Facilitating the building commissioning process using building information modeling: an action-research project
Authors: Frommweiler Charles , Poirier Erik
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The building commissioning (BCx) phase is a critical stage in a building's lifecycle. It is also a complex process that involves a large number of actors and activities. While the use of building information modeling (BIM) in the commissioning phase of building equipment and systems could be beneficial, few studies have investigated the processes behind its implementation. The research presented in this paper aims to investigate the implementation of BIM for the commissioning phase within a general contracting company through action-research.

Design/methodology/approach

Through direct involvement with the research partner, a large general contractor, a diagnosis on the current limitations of the commissioning process was conducted. An action plan to implement BIM for commissioning was developed and implemented in two pilot projects. Evaluation was performed through on-site observations and informal discussions with field staff. Learning was specified through the development of a formal protocol for BIM-enabled BCx.

Findings

This action-research project helped the partner organization identify the challenges and a way forward to formalize its BIM-enabled BCx process. The action plan aimed at countering the lack of knowledge about the status of equipment and system commissioning as well as the lack of standardization. The research team co-developed and tested a formal protocol, including BIM-enabled processes and technologies to address these observed problems. A complete implementation ecosystem was structured and deployed. Preliminary feedback indicated that improvements were obtained using a BIM-enabled approach over a traditional approach.

Originality/value

While past studies have investigated the BCx process, this study identified current challenges considering recent advances in BIM and focused on a large general contractor. This work provides an in-depth account of a large general contractor attempting to streamline its BCx process. The results of the study could help guide practitioners in implementing more streamlined BIM-enabled BCx processes.
Leading innovation in an inter-organizational team together: the moderating role of shared leadership behavior in the transitioning between different phases of the open innovation process
Authors: Edelbroek Robin , Peters Pascale , Blomme Robert J.
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study aims to contribute to the open innovation (OI) literature by investigating the transitions between three phases in the OI process (i.e. idea generation, idea promotion and idea realization) and how these are moderated by different forms of shared leadership (i.e. transactional, and transformational) as perceived by participants in the OI process.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors tested a set of hypotheses using moderated mediation PLS-SEM models on a bootstrapped sample of OI participants (N = 173).

Findings

The authors found a direct relationship between idea generation and realization, as well as indirectly through idea promotion. This study implies that the promotion of ideas by participants can be beneficial in inter-organizational OI teams, as promotion of ideas provides a linkage between the generation of ideas and the idea realization phase. However, while shared leadership has been shown to be beneficial in conventional teams, the authors found evidence that this may not be the case in inter-organizational OI teams. Higher levels of shared transformational leadership from colleagues with whom employees do not share the same organizational background may hamper the promotion of ideas.

Originality/value

In contrast to the mainstream view, the authors found significant evidence that transformational shared leadership negatively moderates the direct relationship between idea generation and the promotion of ideas and the indirect relationship between idea generation and realization via idea promotion.
Preparing for the future: understanding collective grief through the lens of the Kubler-Ross crisis cycle
Authors: Gerhardt Trevor , Puchkov Roman
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper explored collective grief through the case of a Business Management College which suddenly and unexpectedly went into administration. The aim was to gain and apply insight to future crises in collective grief such as what occurred during Covid 19.

Design/methodology/approach

120 EVRE submissions with weekly reflective journal entries and 121 Capstone submissions including reflections were analysed as secondary textual data using content-thematic analysis and inferential statistics.

Findings

This study confirms the theory that grief is not linear. However, even though no positive correlation was found between two different cohorts (EVRE and CAPP submissions), who did experience the same crisis in different ways, those people did all seem to share the stage of avoidance.

Research limitations/implications

The textual data was limited in scope as not all students chose to express their grief through the written submission or the Kubler-Ross lens.

Practical implications

This research does suggest that initially, institutional responses to collective grief should address initial stages of “avoidance”.

Social implications

In responding to collecting grief, such as Covid 19, institutions need to recognise the non-linear process of grief and not expect a “one-size-fits-all” approach to be a viable solution.

Originality/value

There is not much research available looking at student experience and emotional pressures (if at all) collectively during a crisis.
Multilevel method for predicting flow fields in radial turbines based on sparsity-promoting dynamic mode decomposition
Authors: Zheng Mingqiu , Hu Chenxing , Yang Ce
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to propose a fast method for predicting flow fields with periodic behavior with verification in the context of a radial turbine to meet the urgent requirement to effectively capture the unsteady flow characteristics in turbomachinery. Aiming at meeting the urgent requirement to effectively capture the unsteady flow characteristics in turbomachinery, a fast method for predicting flow fields with periodic behavior is proposed here, with verification in the context of a radial turbine (RT).

Design/methodology/approach

Sparsity-promoting dynamic mode decomposition is used to determine the dominant coherent structures of the unsteady flow for mode selection, and for flow-field prediction, the characteristic parameters including amplitude and frequency are predicted using one-dimensional Gaussian fitting with flow rate and two-dimensional triangulation-based cubic interpolation with both flow rate and rotation speed. The flow field can be rebuilt using the predicted characteristic parameters and the chosen model.

Findings

Under single flow-rate variation conditions, the turbine flow field can be recovered using the first seven modes and fitted amplitude modulus and frequency with less than 5% error in the pressure field and less than 9.7% error in the velocity field. For the operating conditions with concurrent flow-rate and rotation-speed fluctuations, the relative error in the anticipated pressure field is likewise within an acceptable range. Compared to traditional numerical simulations, the method requires a lot less time while maintaining the accuracy of the prediction.

Research limitations/implications

It would be challenging and interesting work to extend the current method to nonlinear problems.

Practical implications

The method presented herein provides an effective solution for the fast prediction of unsteady flow fields in the design of turbomachinery.

Originality/value

A flow prediction method based on sparsity-promoting dynamic mode decomposition was proposed and applied into a RT to predict the flow field under various operating conditions (both rotation speed and flow rate change) with reasonable prediction accuracy. Compared with numerical calculations or experiments, the proposed method can greatly reduce time and resource consumption for flow field visualization at design stage. Most of the physics information of the unsteady flow was maintained by reconstructing the flow modes in the prediction method, which may contribute to a deeper understanding of physical mechanisms.
Toward an understanding of Pakistani customers' adoption of smart banking services: an extended application of UTAUT2 model with big brother effect and information privacy concern
Authors: Hassaan Muhammad , Li Gang , Yaseen Asif
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study examines the main factors influencing banking customers' behavior toward smart banking services (SBS) adoption in Pakistan. This study extends the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2) by integrating information privacy concern and big brother effect into an overarching conceptualization.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts theoretical constructs from the related literature and develops hypotheses. An analysis of 385 banking customers was performed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).

Findings

The results show that most predictors of behavioral intention, including facilitating conditions, effort expectancy, habit, performance expectancy, hedonic motivation (except for social influence and price value), big brother effect and perceived information privacy concern are significant. Indeed, all predictors of use behavior are also significant. Gender and age differences between individuals further moderate the relationship between UTAUT2 constructs. Moreover, information privacy concern mediates the relationship between big brother effect and behavioral intention.

Research limitations/implications

This cross-sectional study focused only on Pakistan as a developing country, which limits the generalizability of the results.

Practical implications

The roles of social influence and price value must be strengthened by employing marketing strategies and personalized communication. Banks should offer incentives and rewards to customers who recommend SBS to friends and family members. In addition, banks must consider the price factor when offering these services to increase their market share.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the field of technology adoption by providing a unique perspective of SBS adoption in Pakistan. This empirical study is the first to extend the UTAUT2 model by integrating information privacy concern and big brother effect to assess SBS acceptance and use behavior. This study examines SBS adoption issues at the national level, especially in Pakistan.
Examining multiple mediation of escapism and ethnic food experience in the relationship between diversity and behavioral intentions: the case of Vietnam
Authors: Sezgin Emrah Köksal , Tanrısevdi Abdullah , Sezgin Ahu
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The study aims to examine the mediating effects of escapism (ESC) and ethnic food experience (EFE) in the relationship between diversity (DIV) and behavioral intentions (BI) of visitors attending Hoi An International Food Festival held in Vietnam.

Design/methodology/approach

The research takes a predictive and explanatory approach rather than theory confirmation. Partial least squares (PLS) algorithm was used to analyze multiple mediation. The data were collected from 323 attendees through a self-administered questionnaire.

Findings

The research highlights that escapism and EFE have positive and significant mediating effects on the relationship between DIV and BI. Furthermore, while EFE is the most important predictor of BI, escapism has emerged as an antecedent variable that deserves to be given the highest importance. Finally, visitors who are participating in their first international food festival do not seem to consider the nexus between DIV and ESC as much as repeaters.

Research limitations/implications

The study's limitations include the collection of data from a single festival and the fact that the analyses are only quantitative. The results contribute to festival organizers by revealing the importance of multiple mediation roles.

Originality/value

This study contributes novel insights to the literature on festival and event management, extending previous studies and filling a gap by proposing ESC and EFE as multiple mediators in the nexus between DIV and BI. The present study provides a comprehensive examination of the influence of individual variables previously analyzed separately on festival-goers' experiences. This facilitated the identification of crucial aspects of the circumstance, thereby reducing any ambiguity.
Leadership styles of academic deans and department heads: university dons' perspectives on how they affect their job satisfaction
Authors: Mgaiwa Samson John
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Leadership has been recognised as a critical factor for employees' job satisfaction. However, much remains to be learned about how university academics who work in developing country contexts perceive their head of departments (HoDs) and deans' leadership styles and how such leadership styles influence their job satisfaction. Therefore, extending earlier research on higher education leadership, this study was pioneered to examine deans' and heads of departments' leadership styles and how such leadership styles influenced their job satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed an exploratory research design to draw on data from in-depth interviews with university academics sourced from two private and two public universities. Participants constituted fifteen academics (N = 15) from the studied universities. The collected data from interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis.

Findings

The findings revealed that overall, academics perceived their HoDs and deans as employing both transformational and transactional leadership styles. As such, both styles of leadership influenced academics' job satisfaction in diverse ways although the transformational leadership style appeared to be the most dominant in influencing academics' job satisfaction.

Practical implications

The article highlights the need for university managers (i.e. heads of departments and deans) to flexibly employ preferred leadership styles to achieve job satisfaction among academics.

Originality/value

From the theoretical point of view, this article contributes to expanding the earlier research by showing how academics' perceptions of leadership styles employed by their academic leaders shape their job satisfaction.
Financial markets regulation: political accountability challenged
Authors: Heritier Adrienne
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to conceptualize and empirically illustrate the challenges that financial market regulation presents to politicians and the organization tasked with specifying regulations and supervising their implementation in the interest of users and consumers of financial instruments. It analyses the problem from the viewpoint of the governor's dilemma and the control/competence conflict, the linked problem of the rent-seeking of agents/intermediators and consumers of financial instruments. Political accountability problems are enhanced by the materiality of the technologies used, i.e. algo trading.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper theoretically conceptualizes and empirically illustrates the argument.

Findings

The paper finds that regulators of digitalized financial markets are faced with considerable problems and depend on private agents when regulating financial transactions. However, the new technological instruments also offer new possibilities for securing compliance.

Research limitations/implications

Further research should focus more in-depth on the cooperation between public and private actors in the specification and implementation of regulatory details. It should further investigate the conditions which allow regulators to use RegTech in the surveillance of financial firms.

Practical implications

Since financial market transactions are opaque for most users, the creation of more transparency is crucial to hold regulators accountable in their activity of surveillance of financial firms. New algorithm-based technologies may lend important support in doing so.

Originality/value

By linking the different analytical perspectives, i.e. the governor's dilemma vis-à-vis the intermediator or agent and the possible rent-seeking of intermediators, under the condition of a highly developed technology of financial transactions as well as the market structure, the paper offers new insights into the limits as well as new opportunities of regulating financial markets allowing for political accountability of regulators and financial firms.
Unveiling the triumph: the drivers behind entrepreneurial resilience among family wedding organizers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Anggadwita Grisna , Alamanda Dini Turipanam , Ratten Vanessa
Published: August 2023

Purpose

The existence of a wedding organizer plays an essential role in realizing the dream wedding of the bride and groom and the progression of a family-centred structure. The wedding organizer industry is one of the business sectors that experienced a significant impact during the COVID-19 pandemic due to various policies restricting mobility and interaction. This study aims to answer research questions: What challenges are experienced by wedding organizers in the context of COVID-19? What factors drive entrepreneurial resilience for family business continuity in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic?

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a qualitative research design through semi-structured in-depth interviews with eight wedding organizers in Indonesia with questions centred around the context of the family in the event.

Findings

This study found several challenges faced by wedding organizers, including personal barriers and environmental challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The four drivers of entrepreneurial resilience of wedding organizers in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis include entrepreneurial motivations, entrepreneurial characteristics, firm strategies, and environmental support. These factors create a positive interaction effect for the continuity of the wedding event organizers.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by providing valuable insights into the broader entrepreneurial resilience issue and offering practical recommendations for wedding organizers and other entrepreneurs facing similar challenges. This study has both academic and practical implications in providing event management guidance and future avenues of research in this field.
Blockchain in accounting and auditing: unveiling challenges and unleashing opportunities for digital transformation in Egypt
Authors: Anis Ahmed
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the role of Blockchain in the accounting and auditing literature and profession. Specifically, the paper investigates auditors' perceptions about the role of blockchain in accounting and auditing and the perceived potential benefits and challenges of blockchain-based accounting systems in Egypt. Moreover, what are the capabilities required for successfully implementing blockchain-based accounting systems?

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed-method approach was adopted to achieve the research objectives. The qualitative study included 11 in-depth interviews with external auditors, and the results of the interviews and the literature review helped develop a survey collected from 58 auditors.

Findings

The findings revealed low-to-moderate awareness of Blockchain-based accounting systems. Also, there were significant differences between auditors from large audit firms and small-and-medium audit firms regarding the benefits and challenges associated with Blockchain-based accounting systems.

Practical implications

The results provide valuable insights for practitioners, researchers and policymakers.

Originality/value

Understanding blockchain-based accounting systems and the benefits and challenges associated with their application is crucial for developing effective strategies and frameworks to overcome barriers and realize the transformative potential of blockchain in the accounting and audit market.
Dynamic capabilities and environmental performance: all in the family
Authors: Forés Beatriz , Puig-Denia Alba , Fernández-Yáñez José María , Boronat-Navarro Montserrat
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study adopts the dynamic capabilities perspective to analyze environmental performance in family firms and explores the moderating effects that both family involvement in the Top Management Team (TMT) and long-term orientation (LTO) exert on the relationship between dynamic capabilities and environmental performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test the hypotheses on a database of 748 family tourism firms, using hierarchical regression analysis.

Findings

The authors' results show that both variables have a beneficial effect on building the dynamic capabilities to be applied to improving environmental performance. However, the moderating effect of family involvement is revealed to be more complex than that of LTO. Having a high degree of family managerial involvement positively moderates the effect of dynamic capabilities on environmental performance but only in family firms with highly-developed dynamic capabilities; conversely, in family firms with lower levels of dynamic capabilities not having this family involvement in the TMT is better.

Originality/value

This study helps advance the research on Spanish family tourism firms by adopting an approach that unveils the heterogeneity in dynamic capabilities among said firms, driven by the firms' idiosyncratic features in terms of family involvement in the TMT and their LTO. The article also provides practical insights for family business owners, managers and advisors and outlines important directions for future research.
Effect of discount frame on consumer responses: moderation of psychological distance and product nature
Authors: Wang Bo , Xie Tingting
Published: August 2023

Purpose

According to construal level theory, close (versus far) psychological distance is associated with low (versus high) construal level. Despite the evidence for discount frame effect, it is unclear whether psychological distance and product nature play moderating roles. In addition, little has been known whether the effect of discount frame can extend to other dependent variables such as willingness to pay (WTP). Driven by construal level theory, five experiments were conducted to explore whether the effect of discount frame is dependent on psychological distance and product nature (i.e. utilitarian versus hedonic product).

Design/methodology/approach

The experimental method was used, with discount frame, psychological distance and product type as the independent variables and purchase intention, attitude towards the advertisement, perceived value and WTP as the dependent variables. Participants were presented with promotion scenarios in which psychological distance and discount format were manipulated. In order to test the generalizability of results, promotional scenarios for both utilitarian (i.e. backpack bag and shampoo) and hedonic products (i.e. scenery ticket and perfume) were presented. Data were collected via the online experiment platform (i.e. www.Credamo.com).

Findings

The authors found an interaction between discount frame and spatial distance in that consumers had more positive attitude toward percent off than amount off under near-spatial distance. However, no interaction was observed between discount frame and temporal, social or hypothetical distance.

Originality/value

Taken together, the current study for the first time reveals that the effect of discount frame is contingent on a specific dimension of psychological distance (i.e. spatial distance), regardless of whether the product is utilitarian or hedonic. Findings from this study for the first time pose a challenge to the notion that construal-level match necessarily leads to more favorable consumer responses, suggesting that there may be a unique mechanism underlying the joint effects of spatial distance and discount frame. The current findings can provide important implications for marketers and retailers in an effort to design effective promotional messages.
The effect of social media environments on online emotional disclosure: tie strength, network size and self-reference
Authors: Xu Xi , Liu Jing , Liu Jia Hao
Published: August 2023

Purpose

Motivating users to self-disclose online is significant to the long-term development of social media. Therefore, research on emotional disclosure, a significant form of self-disclosure, is required. By developing a stimulus-organism-response model, this study aims to investigate the mechanisms by which the social media environment affects users' online emotional disclosure.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper proposes two dimensions of social media environments, the online interpersonal environment (tie strength and network size) and the online information environment (self-reference). They are hypothesized to stimulate users' internal psychological needs (image management and emotional expression) which in turn will influence their emotional disclosure intentions. Using data from 489 users of WeChat Moments, the authors conduct partial least squares analysis to validate the research model.

Findings

The findings show that users' intrinsic psychological needs are stimulated by social media environments, but network size is not correlated with the need for emotional expression. The user's need for emotional expression promotes both positive and negative emotional disclosure intentions. The need for image management has a positive impact on positive emotion disclosure intentions but has a negative impact on negative emotion disclosure intentions.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the understanding of online emotional disclosure. It can also help social media managers create efficient plans to encourage users to create content.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/OIR-04-2022-0245.
Going the distance: project management issues in a cycle hire project
Authors: Jackson Stephen
Published: August 2023

Research methodology

The case was devised using both primary and secondary data sources. Primary sources of data consisted of in-depth interviews with individuals using the cycle hire project. The researcher also had first-hand experiences of using the cycles. The case study has been tested with undergraduate and graduate students taking management information systems courses.

Case overview/synopsis

This teaching case study charts the London cycle hire project, mostly from its first inception in July 2010, right through to the planned expansion of electric cycles from Summer 2022. The main aim of the case is to introduce students to project management challenges which are part of the London cycle hire project. While the project was filled with enthusiasm from its early beginnings, various challenges were encountered including issues associated with the project procurement/sourcing process, software and technical problems, as well as other project management issues. Problems became so severe in 2011 that the service provider was hit with a penalty and had to make critical project improvements. Would these accountability measures prompt the service provider to resolve these issues? How would the service provider go about undertaking a fact-finding exercise to verify the existence of the challenges and address them to ensure renewed project success?

Complexity academic level

The case was written for classes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. The focus of the case is particularly well suited for exploring topics and issues relating to types of information systems, project management and accountability, multiple global supplier procurement, as well as challenges associated with hardware integration and software design. While the case was targeted at MIS students, the case study would also be effective for an introductory level project management course or a general management course. The subject of the case, the bicycle rental program, is likely to appeal to students, and the basic underlying business issues, processes and objectives of the project are easily understood.
William the Conqueror's Lost Writ for London Rediscovered
Authors: KARN NICHOLAS
Published: August 2023

William the Conqueror's writ for London has long been recognised as one of the key sources for the Norman Conquest of England, and has been discussed at length and printed many times. Yet the archives of the Corporation of the City of London contain another, hitherto unpublished, text of a writ of that king in favour of the citizens of London. In the later middle ages, it was set alongside its better‐known companion as one of the fundamental texts of the City and its jurisdictions, but the original had disappeared by the seventeenth century. This essay sets out an edition of this text, and argues that it is a Latin translation of a lost Old English writ. It further argues that the underlying text was of 1067 or 1068, and that it shows the City of London's involvement in the process whereby English landowners were required to redeem or buy back their lands after the Norman Conquest. The document has a double significance. The process of redemption has hitherto been understood through Domesday Book and narrative sources, but this text shows how the process of redemption was carried out to an extent that has not been possible before, thus exposing one of the key phases of the Conquest. The text also shows the developing relationship between London and the Conqueror, and undermines some of the exceptionalist views on how London survived the Conquest itself.
A short report regarding an economic and anatomy‐based simulated skin model
Authors: Cheung Billy Ho Hung , Ho Valerie Wai Yee , Chu Kent‐Man
Published: August 2023

Background

Conventionally, the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) requires the recruitment of patients with appropriate physical signs, which became impossible during the fifth wave of the local COVID‐19 pandemic. To host the final OSCE without any actual patients, our department developed a skin model from readily available materials.

Setting

One of the final‐year surgical OSCE stations focused on the identification and management of benign subcutaneous lesions, including sebaceous cysts (also called epidermal inclusion cysts) and lipomas.

The design

The model starts with a low‐cost skin model from Limbs & Things (cost: US $6.9–10/piece). The sebaceous cyst model involved dissection of the superficial ‘skin’ flap. The lesion was re‐created using gel held by a plastic wall created by a glove fingertip sealed off by silk sutures. Additional modifications were made to the lipoma model to differentiate these two types of lesions. The pass rate in this station was similar to that of actual patients. Assessment of the models by experienced surgeons showed that they were easy to differentiate and suitable for teaching and assessment.

Conclusion

This anatomy‐based, low‐cost skin model is easily reproducible and might serve as a good adjunct for clinical year teaching and assessment.
Survival effects of antibiotic exposure during the larval and adult stages in the West Nile virus vector Culex pipiens
Authors: Garrigós Marta , Garrido Mario , Morales‐Yuste Manuel , Martínez‐de la Puente Josué , Veiga Jesús
Published: August 2023

The ability of mosquitoes to transmit a pathogen is affected, among other factors, by their survival rate, which is partly modulated by their microbiota. Mosquito microbiota is acquired during the larval phase and modified during their development and adult feeding behavior, being highly dependent on environmental factors. Pharmaceutical residues including antibiotics are widespread pollutants potentially being present in mosquito breeding waters likely affecting their microbiota. Here, we used Culex pipiens mosquitoes to assess the impact of antibiotic exposure during the larval and adult stages on the survival rate of adult mosquitoes. Wild‐collected larvae were randomly assigned to two treatments: larvae maintained in water supplemented with antibiotics and control larvae. Emerged adults were subsequently assigned to each of two treatments, fed with sugar solution with antibiotics and fed only with sugar solution (controls). Larval exposure to antibiotics significantly increased the survival rate of adult females that received a control diet. In addition, the effect of adult exposure to antibiotics on the survival rate of both male and female mosquitoes depended on the number of days that larvae fed ad libitum in the laboratory before emergence. In particular, shorter larval ad libitum feeding periods reduced the survival rate of antibiotic‐treated adult mosquitoes compared with those that emerged after a longer larval feeding period. These differences were not found in control adult mosquitoes. Our results extend the current understanding of the impact of antibiotic exposure of mosquitoes on a key component of vectorial capacity, that is the vector survival rate.
Genesis of Neogene Formation Waters in the Central Qaidam Basin: Clues from Hydrochemistry and Stable D‐O‐S‐Sr Isotopes
Authors: HAN Guang , PAN Tong , LI Qingkuan , FAN Qishun , HU Yan , LIU Jiubo , ZHANG Xiying
Published: August 2023

Geological explorations have revealed plentiful Neogene formation waters in anticlines in the central Qaidam Basin (QB). However, the hydrochemistry and origin of these waters are obscure. In this study, the hydrochemistry and D‐O‐S‐Sr isotopes of these formation waters were determined to study their origin and evolution. The formation waters are enriched in Na‐Ca‐Cl, and depleted in Mg‐K‐SO4‐HCO3 ions with elevated Li‐B‐Br‐Sr elements. The D‐O isotopes prove that the formation waters originated from weak‐evaporated meteoric waters, and experienced water‐rock interactions. Ion comparisons and Caexcess–Nadeficit diagrams suggest that solute sources of these waters include evaporite dissolution, water‐rock interaction, and minor residual lake brines. Bacterial sulfate reduction and water‐rock interactions are supported by the high S‐Sr isotopes. The enriched Li‐B‐Br‐Sr concentrations of these waters are in accord with the high geochemical background values of the QB. Regarding the genesis of the formation waters, it can be concluded that meteoric waters from the southern Kunlun Mountains were discharged into the basin, weakly evaporated, and then infiltrated into the Neogene strata through faults leaching the soluble ions and mixing with residual lake brines, and all experienced water–rock interactions and a sulphate reduction process.
Influence of social rank on the development of long‐term ethanol drinking trajectories in cynomolgus monkeys
Authors: Galbo‐Thomma Lindsey K. , Davenport April T. , Epperly Phillip M. , Czoty Paul W.
Published: August 2023

Background

Chronic stress contribute to the development of alcohol use disorder (AUD). However, characterizing the role of chronic social stressors in the development of problematic drinking trajectories in humans is complicated by practical and ethical constraints. Group‐housed nonhuman primates develop social dominance hierarchies that represent a continuum of social experiences from enrichment in higher‐ranked (dominant) monkeys to chronic social stress in lower‐ranked (subordinate) individuals. This framework provides a translationally relevant model of chronic social stress that can be used to characterize its effects on vulnerability to AUD.

Methods

Twelve male cynomolgus monkeys living in three social groups with established social dominance hierarchies were provided access to ethanol and water for 22 h/day, 4–5 days/week, for 1 year. Ethanol‐free periods (2‐ or 3‐day “weekends” or longer periods up to 10 days) were spent in social groups to maintain the stability of the social hierarchies. Observational studies conducted 6 months into the year of drinking assessed signs of ethanol withdrawal. After 1 year, monkeys were individually housed 24 h/day, 7 days/week for four consecutive weeks to examine the effect of eliminating the “weekends” spent socially housed.

Results

Subordinate monkeys had significantly higher mean daily ethanol intakes than dominant monkeys across 1 year of open access. Subordinates also had higher intakes on the first day back drinking following ethanol‐free periods of 9–10 days. Moreover, during the last 4 weeks of open access, intakes on the first drinking day after an ethanol‐free weekend increased significantly in subordinate monkeys. This effect diminished when all monkeys were individually housed for 4 weeks, indicating that the increased intake in subordinates was driven by the social environment.

Conclusions

These data demonstrate that social subordination, which is associated with chronic social stress, results in increased vulnerability to the development and maintenance of heavy drinking trajectories.
Association between bryophytes and seedlings in Nothofagussub‐Antarctic forests
Authors: Toro‐Manríquez Mónica , Huertas Herrera Alejandro , Soler Rosina , Lencinas María Vanessa , Ardiles Víctor , Martínez Pastur Guillermo
Published: August 2023

Bryophytes, which include mosses, liverworts and hornworts, indeed play a significant role in the natural dynamics of native forests. They contribute to fundamental ecological processes such as tree regeneration. In this context, the objective was to analyse the association of bryophytes with Nothofagus seedlings, as well as whether the substrates where bryophytes grew influenced bryophyte‐tree seedling association, in sub‐Antarctic forests at two contrasting landscapes (coastal and mountain) of Tierra del Fuego (Argentina), to better understand their impacts on the natural regeneration processes. We hypothesized that bryophytes act as a substrate for seed germination and initial regeneration growth in pure and mixed forests of N. pumilio and N. betuloides, resulting in widespread tree seedlings–bryophyte associations in all landscapes. In each forest and landscape location, 60 transects were established (10 m in length) to evaluate bryophyte cover (by point intercept method) and substrate type (bare soil, decaying wood and litter cover) where they were growing. An adaptation of the relative interaction index (RII) based on tree seedling cover associated with bryophyte species (%) and tree seedling cover in the absence of bryophytes (%) was calculated and analysed to assess competition or facilitation between bryophytes and tree seedlings. Nothofagus pumilio seedlings were less abundant in bryophytes compared to other substrates, suggesting an inhibitory effect on the germination and/or survival of N. pumilio. In contrast, the seedlings of N. betuloides, in both pure and mixed forests, exhibited higher abundance on bryophyte substrates, particularly in mosses at mountain landscape (RII = 0.83 ± 0.08 in litter and 0.62 ± 0.11 in decaying wood). These findings suggest that bryophytes play a facilitating role for N. betuloides seedlings during germination and initial phases of growth, mainly in the mountain. Therefore, their conservation promotes N. betuloides forest continuity, both in pure and mixed structures.
Examining spatial market efficiency under different marketing regulations: The case of Turkish lemon markets
Authors: Taştan Hüseyin , Köprücü Yılmaz
Published: August 2023

This study evaluates spatial market and storage efficiency in Turkish lemon markets using switching regime (SR) and threshold autoregression models. Our sample period includes a crucial regulatory reform aimed at improving the performance of fresh fruit and vegetable markets, shortening the production‐consumption chain, and reducing retail prices. Using an extended SR model that allows for a gradual transition from the old to the new marketing regime, we test the hypothesis of no structural change in market efficiency and transaction costs in regional markets, including major consumption regions Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. Results indicate that the probability of efficient arbitrage regime is relatively higher in the post‐reform period, albeit there is still room for improvement. Extended SR models show no significant change in average transaction costs, while threshold autoregression models suggest a slight increase. Furthermore, spatial prices adjust more quickly in the post‐reform period, supporting relatively more efficient market functioning. While the regional markets seem to function more efficiently following the marketing reform, it has not led to permanent reductions in retail prices. Finally, our results from storage threshold autoregression models suggest that markets function reasonably efficiently, with no remarkable difference in storage behavior between the pre‐reform and post‐reform periods.
Editorial: Is vedolizumab the preferred biologic therapy for biologic‐naïve patients with ulcerative colitis?
Authors: Yamamoto Takayuki
Published: August 2023

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Bokemeyer et al paper. To view this article, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17616
Editorial: One step closer to personalised nutrition therapy for irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Melton Sarah L. , Halmos Emma P.
Published: August 2023

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Wilson et al paper. To view this article, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17609
Medication clusters at hospital discharge and risk of adverse drug events at 30 days postdischarge: A population‐based cohort study of older adults
Authors: Weir Daniala L. , Ma Xiaomeng , McCarthy Lisa , Tang Terence , Lapointe‐Shaw Lauren , Wodchis Walter P. , Fernandes Olavo , McDonald Emily G.
Published: August 2023

Aims

Certain combinations of medications can be harmful and may lead to serious adverse drug events (ADEs). Identifying potentially problematic medication clusters could help guide prescribing and/or deprescribing decisions in hospital. The aim of this study is to characterize medication prescribing patterns at hospital discharge and determine which medication clusters were associated with an increased risk of ADEs in the 30‐day posthospital discharge.

Methods

All residents of the province of Ontario in Canada aged 66 years or older admitted to hospital between March 2016 and February 2017 were included. Identification of medication clusters prescribed at hospital discharge was conducted using latent class analysis. Cluster identification and categorization were based on medications dispensed up to 30‐day posthospitalization. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess the potential association between membership to a particular medication cluster and ADEs postdischarge, while also evaluating other patient characteristics.

Results

In total, 188 354 patients were included in the study cohort. Median age (interquartile range) was 77 (71–84) years, and patients had a median (IQR) (interquartile range [IQR]) of 9 (6–13) medications dispensed prior to admission. Within the study population, 6 separate clusters of dispensing patterns were identified: cardiovascular (14%), respiratory (26%), complex care needs (12%), cardiovascular and metabolic (15%), infection (10%), and surgical (24%). Overall, 12 680 (7%) patients had an ADE in the 30 days following discharge. After considering other patient characteristics, those belonging to the respiratory cluster had the highest risk of ADEs (adjusted odds ratio: 1.12, 95% confidence interval: 1.08–1.17) compared with all the other clusters, while those in the complex care needs cluster had the lowest risk (adjusted odds ratio: 0.82, 95% confidence interval: 0.77–0.87).

Conclusion

This study suggests that ADEs post hospital discharge can be linked with identifiable medication clusters. This information may help clinicians and researchers better understand patient populations that are more or less likely to benefit from peri‐hospital discharge interventions aimed at reducing ADEs.
Short Research Article: RESEED – the perceived impact of an enhanced usual care model of a novel, teacher‐led, task‐shifting initiative for child mental health
Authors: Ekhteraei Setareh , Vanderburg Juliana L. , Dukpa Choden , Giri Priscilla , Bhattarai Surekha , Thapa Arpana , Shrestha Catherine , Gaynes Bradley N. , Lamb Molly M. , Matergia Michael , Cruz Christina M.
Published: August 2023

Background

Task‐shifted, teacher‐led care may begin to bridge the child mental health care gap in low‐ and middle‐income countries by improving mental health literacy. We explore the perceived impact of RESEED (Responding to Students' Emotions through Education), an abbreviated version of Tealeaf (Teachers Leading the Frontlines).

Methods

After classroom implementation of tools from a 3‐day training on child mental health and cognitive behavioral techniques in Darjeeling, India, 29 teachers participated in focus group discussions (FGDs).

Results

Inductive content analyses of FGDs demonstrated RESEED's acceptability, positive overall impact, and barriers.

Conclusions

Stepped levels of teacher‐led care may support child mental health in resource‐limited settings through mental reframing.