bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Culture and international innovation: a theoretical approach
Authors: Zhang-Zhang Yingying , Rohlfer Sylvia
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The rapidly changing international business landscape, driven by dynamic factors such as technology, emerging markets, and unpredictable crises, demands that organizations innovate to survive while gaining and sustaining competitive advantages. Culture, an intricate multilevel construct, presents challenges for transnational enterprises and international business as a key “soft” element of organizational strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs a triangulated method combining a systematic literature search, machine learning, and qualitative thematic content analysis to explore the relationship between culture and innovation within the context of international business. The analysis involved scrutinizing 697 journal articles indexed in the Web of Science database.

Findings

Using k-means, which is an unsupervised machine-learning tool in Python, and hypertext preprocessor language scripting, we identified seven topic clusters and 94 keywords. Qualitative thematic content analysis facilitated the recognition of prevailing patterns in researchers' conceptualizations of the interplay between innovation and culture. We identified influential relationships between cultural configurations and innovation.

Research limitations/implications

Our analysis contributes to developing a comprehensive research field map encompassing international business, innovation, and culture.

Originality/value

This study significantly enhances our knowledge of culture and international innovation. Future research that recognizes culture as a dynamic configuration at multiple levels (e.g. national, organizational, professional, and individual) and employs more comprehensive measures of innovation and culture could substantially advance our understanding of the intersection of culture and innovation in international business.
Virtual reality and social avoidance: an exploratory study of acceptance, and feasibility in an inpatient secure environment
Authors: Girardi Alessandra , Higham Lorraine , Fatima Sarrah , Webb Elanor , Snyman Pieter , Wallang Paul , Breen Kieran C.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Social avoidance disorders can be disruptive to the individual as they begin to over-manage their lives, at times avoiding social and work commitments. A potential therapeutic approach is exposure therapy and a virtual reality (VR) treatment approach, gameChange VR, has been developed. This provides an opportunity to test their fears in virtual environments. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of using this VR approach to treat people with social avoidance problems within a secure mental health setting.

Design/methodology/approach

Nine participants completed the gameChange VR sessions. Participants received 30-minute VR sessions for up to six weeks using selected scenarios at five levels of difficulty. Patients’ comments and behaviours were noted and clinical staff also provided feedback on their observations of patients’ use and experience with VR.

Findings

Overall, patients felt that the gameChange VR helped them to build their confidence and reduce their overall anxiety as they became more comfortable with the equipment. Both patients and staff generally found the intervention easy to use and the staff reported an overall high level of engagement among the participants. The key issues raised largely related to technical and safety issues.

Originality/value

While a previous study was carried out using gameChange VR with an outpatient cohort, this was the first using an inpatient group in a secure mental health setting. It has demonstrated that the intervention is viable in this setting, although further studies are required to identify the specific patient population that would benefit optimally from the therapy.
Connected digitally and dedicated loyally: the features and impact of internal online events on employee outcomes
Authors: Sinitsyna Elena
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the role and features of internal online events (IOE) in organizations and measure their impact on employee outcomes (communication satisfaction and loyalty in active and passive forms).

Design/methodology/approach

The study conducted a mixed-method process – first, which involved three semistructured interviews in India, Russia and France, and the data were analyzed through a qualitative coding procedure. Subsequently, a survey was conducted among employees regarding their perceptions of IOE. One hundred eighty-four fully completed questionnaires were collected, and the results were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The analysis of qualitative data revealed common patterns in IOEs in the organizations across India, Russia and France. The quantitative analysis showed the significant impact of IOEs on perceived communication satisfaction. Which in turn primarily stimulates the development of active employee loyalty rather than passive loyalty.

Research limitations/implications

This study acknowledges that the samples were limited to only a few geographical regions of India, Russia and France. Also, the research is subject to sampling limitations due to snowball approach.

Practical implications

Internal communication (IC) managers can use this research findings to develop more effective IOEs to address organizational goals and create synergy-based positive outcomes (such as loyalty) within the employees of the organization.

Originality/value

Research contributes to exploring the role and characteristics of IOEs by applying engagement theory, emphasizing their capacity as a strategic IC channel to enhance employee involvement. Moreover, the study investigated the impact of IOEs on communication satisfaction and employee loyalty by applying affective events theory to communication.
Board diversity, female executives and stock liquidity: evidence from opposing cycles in the USA
Authors: Shahrour Mohamad H. , Lemand Ryan , Wojewodzki Michal
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to address gaps and limitations in the literature on corporate governance and stock liquidity. It explores the potential benefits of increasing female representation in corporate leadership, which has been a subject of debate and policy intervention in recent years.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on prior empirical studies and by integrating the insights of different theories, this study links gender diversity to stock liquidity and uses a multivariate panel regression approach.

Findings

The results show that gender diversity, both on the board and in executive positions, positively and consistently affects stock liquidity across different business cycles. The findings reinforce the notion that diverse executive leadership is crucial and influential irrespective of the prevailing economic conditions.

Practical implications

This study has practical implications for investors, managers and policymakers who are interested in the benefits of gender diversity in corporate leadership. It suggests that increasing the percentage of female executives and board members can improve stock market liquidity, which is a key indicator of market efficiency and firm value.

Social implications

This study advocates for gender equality and diversity in corporate leadership, which can benefit society. It demonstrates that the presence of women directors can enhance financial stability and thus benefit the stakeholders and the community.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the academic literature by examining the impact of gender diversity on board and executive levels on stock liquidity in the US market. Previous research on this topic has mainly relied on French or Australian data. Moreover, this study extends previous work through examining the case of executives’ gender diversity. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to analyze the relationship between gender diversity and stock liquidity across different business cycles, providing a nuanced understanding of how economic contexts affect this relationship.
A novel design model of flow channel paths for additive manufacturing
Authors: Li Dongfei , Wang Hongtao , Dai Ning
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a method for automatic design of additive manufacturing (AM) flow channel paths driven by path length and pressure loss. The research focuses on the automatic design of channel paths, intending to achieve the shortest flow channel length or minimum pressure loss and improve the design efficiency of AM parts.

Design/methodology/approach

The initial layout of the flow channels is redesigned to consider the channels print supports. Boundary conditions and constraints are defined according to the redesigned channels layout, and the equation consisting of channel length and pressure loss is used as the objective function. Then the path planning simulation is performed based on particle swarm algorithm. The proposed method describes the path of flow channels using spline cures. The spline curve is controlled by particle (one particle represents a path), and the particle is randomly generated within the design space. After the path planning simulation is completed, the generated paths are used to create 3D parts.

Findings

Case study 1 demonstrates the automatic design of hydraulic spool valve. Compared to conventional spool valve, the pressure loss was reduced by 86% and the mass was reduced by 83%. The design results of case study 2 indicate that this approach is able to find the shortest channel path with lower computational cost.

Originality/value

The automatic design method of flow channel paths driven by path length and pressure loss presented in this paper provides a novel solution for the creation of AM flow components.
A novel design method based onmulti–objective optimization for graded lattice structure by additive manufacturing
Authors: Li Xiangyun , Zhu Liuxian , Fan Shuaitao , Wei Yingying , Wu Daijian , Gong Shan
Published: May 2024

Purpose

While performance demands in the natural world are varied, graded lattice structures reveal distinctive mechanical properties with tremendous engineering application potential. For biomechanical functions where mechanical qualities are required from supporting under external loading and permeability is crucial which affects bone tissue engineering, the geometric design in lattice structure for bone scaffolds in loading-bearing applications is necessary. However, when tweaking structural traits, these two factors frequently clash. For graded lattice structures, this study aims to develop a design-optimization strategy to attain improved attributes across different domains.

Design/methodology/approach

To handle diverse stress states, parametric modeling is used to produce strut-based lattice structures with spatially varied densities. The tailored initial gradients in lattice structure are subject to automatic property evaluation procedure that hinges on finite element method and computational fluid dynamics simulations. The geometric parameters of lattice structures with numerous objectives are then optimized using an iterative optimization process based on a non-dominated genetic algorithm.

Findings

The initial stress-based design of graded lattice structure with spatially variable densities is generated based on the stress conditions. The results from subsequent dual-objective optimization show a series of topologies with gradually improved trade-offs between mechanical properties and permeability.

Originality/value

In this study, a novel structural design-optimization methodology is proposed for mathematically optimizing strut-based graded lattice structures to achieve enhanced performance in multiple domains.
Q3D: a complete solution for quality control and inspection in additive manufacturing processes
Authors: Kladovasilakis Nikolaos , Charalampous Paschalis , Kostavelis Ioannis , Tzovaras Dimitrios
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to present an integrated system designed for quality control and inspection in additive manufacturing (AM) technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

The study undertakes a comprehensive examination of the process in three distinct stages. First, the quality of the feedstock material is inspected during the preprocessing step. Subsequently, the main research topic of the study is directed toward the 3D printing process itself with real-time monitoring procedures using computer vision methods. Finally, an evaluation of the 3D printed parts is conducted, using measuring methods and mechanical experiments.

Findings

The main results of this technical paper are the development and presentation of an integrated solution for quality control and inspection in AM processes.

Originality/value

The proposed solution entails the development of a promising tool for the optimization of the quality in 3D prints based on machine learning algorithms.
A systematic literature review with bibliometric analysis of Quality 4.0
Authors: Alsadi Juman , Alkhatib Fathy , Antony Jiju , Garza-Reyes Jose Arturo , Tortorella Guilherme , Cudney Elizabeth A.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate and provide comprehensive insights into the state of research on Quality 4.0 across various sectors. The investigation focusses on studies conducted in different countries and is motivated by the perceived benefits of adopting Quality 4.0 and the existing research gap in this domain. The literature review examines two main aspects of Quality 4.0: implementation ingredients and its applications.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a comprehensive systematic literature review (SLR) and bibliometric analysis of Quality 4.0 publications to identify the benefits, challenges and trends of adopting Quality 4.0.

Findings

The applications of Quality 4.0 are centred on six key areas, including agile product development, predictive quality algorithms, cloud databases, automation, reduced cost of quality, streamlined quality processes, accurate demand forecasting and monitoring suppliers and quality metrics using digital dashboards. Geographical disparities in research were identified, with India and the United States of America emerging as the top publishing countries. The dominance of the subjects of business, management and accounting underscored the importance of quality management across diverse sectors.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of this study include the novelty of the Quality 4.0 topic, which posed a challenge in finding academic material, and the analysis period of six years, which could potentially limit the coverage of recent developments.

Practical implications

The insights and observations from this research offer valuable guidance to academics, practitioners and professionals seeking to implement Quality 4.0 in diverse sectors.

Originality/value

This study contributes a novel perspective to the field by examining the application, utilisation and evaluation of Quality 4.0, providing valuable insights for effectively managing its implementation.
Strengthening tourism ethnocentrism in emerging tourism destinations
Authors: Amani David
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Despite the importance of tourism ethnocentrism in emerging tourism destinations, there is limited, but growing, research interest in this area. This study aims to respond to current calls for investigating mechanisms that can promote tourism ethnocentrism in both emerging and developed tourism destinations.
Sensitivity of root production to long‐term aridity under environmental perturbations in Chihuahuan Desert ecosystems
Authors: Vojdani Azad , Baur Lauren E. , Rudgers Jennifer A. , Collins Scott L.
Published: May 2024

Root production influences carbon and nutrient cycles and subsidizes soil biodiversity. However, the long‐term dynamics and drivers of belowground production are poorly understood for most ecosystems. In drylands, fire, eutrophication, and precipitation regimes could affect not only root production but also how roots track interannual variability in climate.

We manipulated the intra‐annual precipitation regime, soil nitrogen, and fire in four common Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem types (three grasslands and one shrubland) in New Mexico, USA, where the 100‐year record indicates both long‐term drying and increasing interannual variability in aridity. First, we evaluated how root production tracked aridity over 10–17 years using climate sensitivity functions, which quantify long‐term, nonlinear relationships between biological processes and climate. Next, we determined the degree to which perturbations by fire, nitrogen addition or intra‐annual rainfall altered the sensitivity of root production to both mean and interannual variability in aridity.

All ecosystems had nonlinear climate sensitivities that predicted declines in production with increases in the interannual variance of aridity. However, root production was the most sensitive to aridity in Chihuahuan Desert shrubland, with reduced production under drier and more variable aridity.

Among the perturbations, only fire altered the sensitivity of root production to aridity. Root production was more than twice as sensitive to declines with aridity following prescribed fire than in unburned conditions. Neither the intra‐annual seasonal rainfall regime nor chronic nitrogen fertilization altered the sensitivity of roots to aridity.

Synthesis. Our results yield new insight into how dryland plant roots respond to climate change. Our comparison of dryland ecosystems of the northern Chihuahuan Desert predicted that root production in shrublands would be more sensitive to future climates that are drier and more variable than root production in dry grasslands. Field manipulations revealed that fire could amplify the climate sensitivity of dry grassland root production, but in contrast, the climate sensitivity of root production was largely resistant to changes in the seasonal rainfall regime or increased soil fertilization.
Public (Trust) Rights in Open Space: Day v Shropshire Council
Authors: Layard Antonia
Published: May 2024

In Day v Shropshire Council (Day), the Supreme Court considered the effect of a statutory trust under section 10 of the Open Spaces Act 1906 on a subsequent purchaser. Finding for the claimant, a local resident resisting development, the Supreme Court unanimously held that the local authority's failure to give notice and consider objections under the Local Government Act 1972 meant that the site's transfer into private ownership did not extinguish public trust rights to open space, binding the disponee. This note suggests that the decision in Day is to be welcomed, providing clarity on long‐established legislative provisions that protect open spaces, even when sites are not identified as such in planning processes. The note applauds the clarity of the Supreme Court's resistance to drawing on the law of trusts when interpreting statutory provisions and commends the ease with which the Supreme Court confirmed the co‐existence of public and private rights in land. The note also considers how Day illustrates the nature of local authority land ownership, a live issue at the boundary between land and administrative law, of particular interest at a time when local authorities are disposing of surplus open spaces for development.
Gut health benefits and associated systemic effects provided by functional components from the fermentation of natural matrices
Authors: Colucci Cante Rosa , Nigro Federica , Passannanti Francesca , Lentini Giulia , Gallo Marianna , Nigro Roberto , Budelli Andrea Luigi
Published: May 2024

Recently, the role of the gut microbiota in metabolic health, immunity, behavioral balance, longevity, and intestine comfort has been the object of several studies from scientific communities. They were encouraged by a growing interest from food industries and consumers toward novel fermented ingredients and formulations with powerful biological effects, such as pre, pro, and postbiotic products. Depending on the selected strains, the operating conditions, the addition of suitable reagents or enzymes, the equipment, and the reactor configurations, functional compounds with high bioactivity, such as short‐chain fatty acids, gamma‐aminobutyric acid, bioactive peptides, and serotonin, can be enhanced and/or produced through fermentation of several vegetable matrices. Otherwise, their formation can also be promoted directly in the gut after the dietary intake of fermented foods: In this case, fermentation will aim to increase the content of precursor substances, such as indigestible fibers, polyphenols, some amino acids, and resistant starch, which can be potentially metabolized by endogenous gut microorganisms and converted in healthy molecules. This review provides an overview of the main functional components currently investigated in literature and the associated gut health benefits. The current state of the art about fermentation technology as a promising functionalization tool to promote the direct or indirect formation of gut‐health‐enhancing components was deepened, highlighting the importance of optimizing microorganism selection, system setups, and process conditions according to the target compound of interest. The collected data suggested the possibility of gaining novel functional food ingredients or products rich in functional molecules through fermentation without performing additional extraction and purification stages, which are needed when conventional culture broths are used.
Mycoproteins and their health‐promoting properties: Fusarium species and beyond
Authors: Lee Daseul , Pan Jeong Hoon , Kim Dahye , Heo Wan , Shin Eui Cheol , Kim Young Jun , Shim Youn Young , Reaney Martin J. T. , Ko Seong‐Gyu , Hong Seung‐Beom , Cho Hyung Taek , Kim Tae Gyun , Lee Kangwook , Kim Jae Kyeom
Published: May 2024

Filamentous fungal mycoproteins have gained increasing attention as sustainable alternatives to animal and plant‐based proteins. This comprehensive review summarizes the nutritional characteristics, toxicological aspects, and health‐promoting effects of mycoproteins, focusing on those derived from filamentous fungi, notably Fusarium venenatum. Mycoproteins are characterized by their high protein content, and they have a superior essential amino acid profile compared to soybeans indicating excellent protein quality and benefits for human nutrition. Additionally, mycoproteins offer enhanced digestibility, further highlighting their suitability as a protein source. Furthermore, mycoproteins are rich in dietary fibers, which have been associated with health benefits, including protection against metabolic diseases. Moreover, their fatty acids profile, with significant proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids and absence of cholesterol, distinguishes them from animal‐derived proteins. In conclusion, the future of mycoproteins as a health‐promoting protein alternative and the development of functional foods relies on several key aspects. These include improving the acceptance of mycoproteins, conducting further research into their mechanisms of action, addressing consumer preferences and perceptions, and ensuring safety and regulatory compliance. To fully unlock the potential of mycoproteins and meet the evolving needs of a health‐conscious society, continuous interdisciplinary research, collaboration among stakeholders, and proactive engagement with consumers will be vital.
Upconversion nanoparticles‐modified aptasensors for highly sensitive mycotoxin detection for food quality and safety
Authors: Bahari Hamid‐Reza , Mousavi Khaneghah Amin , Eş Ismail
Published: May 2024

Mycotoxins, highly toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites produced by certain fungi, pose significant health risks as they contaminate food and feed products globally. Current mycotoxin detection methods have limitations in real‐time detection capabilities. Aptasensors, incorporating aptamers as specific recognition elements, are crucial for mycotoxin detection due to their remarkable sensitivity and selectivity in identifying target mycotoxins. The sensitivity of aptasensors can be improved by using upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs). UCNPs consist of lanthanide ions in ceramic host, and their ladder‐like energy levels at f‐orbitals have unique photophysical properties, including converting low‐energy photons to high‐energy emissions by a series of complex processes and offering sharp, low‐noise, and sensitive near‐infrared to visible detection strategy to enhance the efficacy of aptasensors for novel mycotoxin detection. This article aims to review recent reports on the scope of the potential of UCNPs in mycotoxin detection, focusing on their integration with aptasensors to give readers clear insight. We briefly describe the upconversion photoluminescence (UCPL) mechanism and relevant energy transfer processes influencing UCNP design and optimization. Furthermore, recent studies and advancements in UCNP‐based aptasensors will be reviewed. We then discuss the potential impact of UCNP‐modified aptasensors on food safety and present an outlook on future directions and challenges in this field. This review article comprehensively explains the current state‐of‐the‐art UCNP‐based aptasensors for mycotoxin detection. It provides insights into potential applications by addressing technical and practical challenges for practical implementation.
Quality characteristics and cooking‐induced changes on phenolic compounds of dried green tea noodles
Authors: Yu Kun , He Wei , Huang Xiaoxiu , Wu Di , Du Chuanlai
Published: May 2024

Incorporating green tea powder (GTP) into wheat flour–based noodles can significantly improve nutritional value. So, this study investigated the effects of GTP (0%, 0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2.0%) on the quality properties of dried green tea noodles (DGTN) and cooking‐induced changes to phenolic compounds. Mixolab analysis of wheat flour with GTP showed more water absorption of dough, and the developed dough had a firmer structure. GTP markedly increased the toughness of the noodle sheet. DGTN fortified with GTP showed more stable textural properties during cooking and storage, representing higher hardness and tensile strength. The viscosity and thermal properties of DGTN showed that GTP affected the gelatinization and retrogradation behavior of starch, which were closely related to the textural properties. Overall, DGTN prepared with 1.5% GTP showed better quality properties. However, ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐time (UPLC/Q‐TOF‐mass spectrometry [MS]/MS) analysis showed that cooking by boiling significantly decreased phenolic content in 1.5% DGTN; further analysis revealed that the thermal degradation is a key factor in the loss of polyphenols. Therefore, further studies are necessary to focus on the mechanism of cooking‐induced polyphenol loss, which is of great significance for improving the nutritional value of cooked DGTN.
Biotransformation of Cynomorium flavan‐3‐ols in dairy sheep and their effects on inflammation and liver growth retardation
Authors: Duan Shen , Byambaakhuu Narantsetseg , Han Na , Zhang Wenguang , Guo Wenrui , Ma Chao‐Mei
Published: May 2024

The stems of Cynomorium songaricum are used in traditional Chinese medicine as a tonic and also used locally as a food material and livestock feed. It is known that some of the falvan‐3‐ol monomers and dimers that entered the milk of dairy sheep fed with C. songaricum stems are biotransformation products of the original flavan‐3‐ol polymers in C. songaricum stems. This study was performed to investigate the biotransformation process of the flavan‐3‐ols in dairy sheep and to evaluate the bioactivities. The results showed that procyanidin A2 and epicatechin could be released from the polymeric flavan‐3‐ols of C. songaricum through rumen microbial metabolism. On traumatic and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced inflammation models of Tg (mpx: EGFP) zebrafish larvae and LPS‐induced liver injury models of Tg (fabp10a: DsRed) zebrafish larvae, the milk from sheep fed with C. songaricum stems showed stronger anti‐inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities compared to blank milk. The absorbed chemical constituents of C. songaricum stems and the metabolites also exhibited anti‐inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities, with the dimeric flavan‐3‐ols being more effective than the monomers. The milk, the absorbed chemical constituents of C. songaricum stems, and the metabolites alleviated the increased level of reactive oxygen species induced by LPS in zebrafish larvae.

Practical Application

This study found that C. songaricum stems as livestock feed could produce milk that has a beneficial impact on consumer and livestock health in terms of anti‐inflammation and hepatoprotection.
Against Reason: Juan Pablo Forner and the Enlightenment of Sentiment and Sensibility
Authors: Costa Elsa
Published: May 2024

This article explores Spain's positioning in the shifting currents of the later Enlightenment through the polemic works of lawyer and satirist Juan Pablo Forner. Forner's attempts to prove the existence of an autochthonous tradition of Spanish pragmatism and empiricism form an index of the penetration of intra‐Enlightenment debates into Spanish thought in the late eighteenth century. Forner, profoundly aware of tensions between Cartesian rationalism and Lockean sentimental empiricism across Europe, intervenes on the side of empiricism, insisting that Cartesianism is nothing but a guise of Scholastic hyperrationalism. The article disputes scholarly perceptions of Forner as a Christian reactionary.
Markov models for clinical decision‐making in radiation oncology: A systematic review
Authors: McCullum Lucas B , Karagoz Aysenur , Dede Cem , Garcia Raul , Nosrat Fatemeh , Hemmati Mehdi , Hosseinian Seyedmohammadhossein , Schaefer Andrew J , Fuller Clifton D ,   the Rice/MD Anderson Center for Operations Research in Cancer (CORC),   MD Anderson Head and Neck Cancer Symptom Working Group
Published: May 2024

The intrinsic stochasticity of patients' response to treatment is a major consideration for clinical decision‐making in radiation therapy. Markov models are powerful tools to capture this stochasticity and render effective treatment decisions. This paper provides an overview of the Markov models for clinical decision analysis in radiation oncology. A comprehensive literature search was conducted within MEDLINE using PubMed, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Only studies published from 2000 to 2023 were considered. Selected publications were summarized in two categories: (i) studies that compare two (or more) fixed treatment policies using Monte Carlo simulation and (ii) studies that seek an optimal treatment policy through Markov Decision Processes (MDPs). Relevant to the scope of this study, 61 publications were selected for detailed review. The majority of these publications (n = 56) focused on comparative analysis of two or more fixed treatment policies using Monte Carlo simulation. Classifications based on cancer site, utility measures and the type of sensitivity analysis are presented. Five publications considered MDPs with the aim of computing an optimal treatment policy; a detailed statement of the analysis and results is provided for each work. As an extension of Markov model‐based simulation analysis, MDP offers a flexible framework to identify an optimal treatment policy among a possibly large set of treatment policies. However, the applications of MDPs to oncological decision‐making have been understudied, and the full capacity of this framework to render complex optimal treatment decisions warrants further consideration.
Content validation of the defining characteristics of the nursing diagnosis “impaired swallowing” using the Delphi technique: A study with dysphagia nursing experts in Japan
Authors: Nishizawa Kazuyoshi , Honda Ikumi , Doi Tomoko
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Nurses’ clinical reasoning skills regarding impaired swallowing can help prevent patient complications and maintain quality of life. Clinical reasoning skills need content‐validated defining characteristics (DCs). We aimed to validate the content of these DCs for nursing diagnosis “impaired swallowing.”

Methods

Content validation of the DCs was performed by 275 dysphagia nursing experts in Japan, using 3 rounds of the Delphi technique and Fehring's Diagnostic Content Validation (DCV) model. Three rounds of questionnaires on 84 DCs were completed via printed mail.

Findings

The valid response rates for each round were as follows: round 1, 90.2%; round 2, 77.8%; and round 3, 71.3%. Of the 84 DCs, 77 that met the consensus criteria were categorized as major (n = 18), minor (n = 45), and excluded (n = 14). There were four minor DCs other than the oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal phases. DCs listed from outside NANDA‐I included 12 major, 16 minor, and 3 excluded characteristics. Of the NANDA‐I DCs, 5 were no consensus and 11 were excluded. The total DCV score for the 63 major and minor DCs was 0.8.

Conclusions

Our results recommend the addition of 28 DCs and the exclusion of 11 for the NANDA‐I nursing diagnosis “impaired swallowing” (00103). Major DCs were prominent indicators of impaired swallowing and signs of aspiration or pharyngeal residuals. Minor DCs included not only the three phases but also other signs necessary for a comprehensive understanding of impaired swallowing.

Implications for nursing practice

This validation study strengthens the clinical usefulness of the DCs for impaired swallowing, which can improve nurses’ clinical reasoning skills. Major and minor DCs can increase the awareness of impaired swallowing and enable accurate intervention, thereby preventing patient complications and maintaining quality of life.
Double Disillusion: Legal and Political Aspects of the 1974 Double Dissolution
Authors: Harvey Matt
Published: May 2024

One of the great unanswered questions of the Commonwealth Constitution is whether the House of Representatives and Senate are equal or whether one ultimately has more power than the other. The Whitlam Labor government elected in 1972 faced a Senate elected in 1967 and 1970. Despite Senate obstruction, Whitlam proceeded with an ambitious legislative programme through 1973 and into 1974. By April 1974, six bills appeared to provide a “trigger” for the use of the Section 57 deadlock resolution procedure in the Constitution. Section 57 provides that if a bill has been twice passed by the House of Representatives and twice rejected by the Senate, the Governor‐General can dissolve both houses and an election is held. If the government is returned and wishes to proceed with the trigger bills, it can again pass them through the House and if they are again rejected by the Senate, the Governor‐General can convene a joint sitting of the two houses at which, if the bill is approved by an absolute majority, it is deemed to be passed. Major obstruction in the Senate, including a threat by the Opposition to block supply, led Whitlam to seek a double dissolution, hoping to gain a majority in both houses or, failing that, the opportunity to pass the trigger bills at a joint sitting. The ensuing election saw the return of the Whitlam government in the House but continuing to lack a majority in the Senate. This led to the only joint sitting in federal history, in which all six trigger bills were passed. But there was a constitutional sting in the tail when the Petroleum and Minerals Authority Act was subsequently found by the High Court not to have been validly passed. This case is argued to have made s57 potentially unworkable. The 1974 double dissolution stands in stark contrast to the 1975 double dissolution, which is argued here to be its “Evil Twin.” There have been three further double dissolutions since 1975: 1983, 1987, and 2016, but no more joint sittings. In 1987, there was set to be a joint sitting on the proposal for an identity card, but this was thwarted on a technicality. So the 1974 double dissolution achieved the objective of breaking a deadlock but at the cost of revealing a way for a determined Senate to make s57 unworkable.
Aboriginal Self‐determination, Land Rights, and Recognition in the Whitlam Era: Laying Groundwork for Power Sharing and Representation
Authors: Perche Diana
Published: May 2024

The Whitlam Labor government (1972–75) is remembered for ushering in a new era in Indigenous affairs, with the move to “self‐determination”, abandoning the longstanding insistence on “assimilation”. The new government intended to deploy the Commonwealth's new legislative power established in the 1967 constitutional referendum to bring in a range of reforms, responding to consistent demands from Indigenous leaders, activists, and supporters through the previous decade. Whitlam's campaign speech promised anti‐discrimination legislation, provisions to allow Aboriginal communities to incorporate, and legislation of a system of land tenure. The government faced considerable political obstacles, ultimately curbing the ambitious reform agenda. Nevertheless, these initial efforts to conceptualise representation, recognition, and compensation laid important foundations for the current public debate about “Voice, Treaty, Truth”, following the Uluru Statement from the Heart. This paper explores self‐determination through the path‐breaking work of the Woodward Aboriginal Land Rights Commission and the establishment of well‐resourced land councils as authoritative and legitimate representatives of Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory. The Whitlam government's willingness to experiment with power‐sharing in the sensitive area of land ownership provided a valuable prototype for genuine engagement with First Nations people today, as Australia contemplates the failure of the constitutional referendum around a Voice to parliament.
Rural and remote pharmacists’ perspectives of grey nomads with diabetes travelling in Australia
Authors: De Bellis Anita , McCloud Christine , Giles Jane , Apollloni Marc , Abigail Wendy , Hill Pauline
Published: May 2024

Objective

The objective of the research was to explore rural and remote pharmacists’ experiences of encountering grey nomads with diabetes.

Design

A qualitative Interpretive Description design was used to explore and capture the experiences of rural and remote pharmacists interacting with grey nomads who had diabetes. Data from the interviews were analysed thematically.

Setting

The Pharmacy Guild of Australia was approached and through their membership rural and remote pharmacists were invited to participate in the research.

Participants

Nine rural and remote pharmacists who had encounters and provided services to grey nomads with diabetes responded to be interviewed.

Results

The analysed findings established four major themes including: the influence of rural and remote locations on services; common problems encountered by the pharmacists; preparation for travel by grey nomads with diabetes; and pharmacists’ preparedness to support grey nomads with diabetes.

Conclusion

The findings of this study identified that pharmacists needed remuneration for services provided to grey nomads with diabetes. Also, further development of the My Health record and telehealth to include pharmacists would be advantageous for grey nomads who have diabetes. Pharmacists stated there was a need for further education and a continuing professional development module specifically designed for pharmacists on diabetes self‐management that moved beyond medications. A pre‐travel checklist for grey nomads with diabetes travelling in rural and remote Australia would benefit all stakeholders through better preparation of travellers with diabetes to self‐manage, thereby reducing the demand for health services including pharmacies.
Examining the intersection of carceral space and well‐being: Correctional officers' perspectives on old and new prison design
Authors: Mario Brittany , Ricciardelli Rosemary , Johnston Matthew S. , Sibley Marcus A.
Published: May 2024

In the current study, we explored the prison design and infrastructural changes that Canadian correctional officers consider to be essential in the construction of a new provincial correctional institution intended to replace Her Majesty's Penitentiary (HMP) in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Analyzing 28 semi‐structured interviews conducted with correctional officers employed at HMP, we found the poor working conditions within HMP are, at least in part, related to the physical design of the prison, including inadequate lighting, poor air quality and temperature, high sound levels, and other spatial limitations. Building on the prison design literature, findings suggest that while prison design requires attention to physical security at the forefront, there are ways to improve the space, recognizing how an uncomfortable workplace and living conditions also pose a potential threat to the well‐being and safety of correctional officers and people who are incarcerated.
Interspecies conflict, precarious reasoning, and the gull problem in the Gulf of Maine
Authors: Taylor Liam U. , Hodge Wriley , Shlepr Katherine R. , Anderson John
Published: May 2024

Contemporary conservation science requires mediating conflicts among nonhuman species, but the grounds for favoring one species over another can be unclear. We examined the premises through which wildlife managers picked sides in an interspecies conflict: seabird conservation in the Gulf of Maine (GOM). Managers in the GOM follow a simple narrative dubbed the gull problem. This narrative assumes Larus gulls are overpopulated and unnatural in the region. In turn, these assumptions make gulls an easy target for culling and lethal control when the birds come into conflict with other seabirds, particularly Sterna terns. Surveying historical, natural historical, and ecological evidence, we found no scientific support for the claim that Larus gulls are overpopulated in the GOM. Claims of overpopulation originated from a historical context in which rising gull populations became a nuisance to humans. Further, we found only limited evidence that anthropogenic subsidies make gulls unnatural in the region, especially when compared with anthropogenic subsidies provided for other seabirds. The risks and consequences of leveraging precarious assumptions include cascading plans to cull additional gull populations, obfuscation of more fundamental environmental threats to seabirds, and the looming paradox of gull conservation—even if one is still inclined to protect terns in the GOM. Our close look at the regional history of a conservation practice thus revealed the importance of not only conservation decisions, but also conservation decision‐making.
Cross‐sectional association of continuous glucose monitoring‐derived metrics with cerebral small vessel disease in older adults with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Sugimoto Taiki , Saji Naoki , Omura Takuya , Tokuda Haruhiko , Miura Hisayuki , Kawashima Shuji , Ando Takafumi , Nakamura Akinori , Uchida Kazuaki , Matsumoto Nanae , Fujita Kosuke , Kuroda Yujiro , Crane Paul K. , Sakurai Takashi
Published: May 2024

Aim

To examine cross‐sectional associations between continuous glucose monitoring (CGM)‐derived metrics and cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) in older adults with type 2 diabetes.

Materials and Methods

In total, 80 patients with type 2 diabetes aged ≥70 years were analysed. Participants underwent CGM for 14 days. From the CGM data, we derived mean sensor glucose, percentage glucose coefficient of variation, mean amplitude of glucose excursion, time in range (TIR, 70‐180 mg/dl), time above range (TAR) and time below range metrics, glycaemia risk index and high/low blood glucose index. The presence of cerebral SVD, including lacunes, microbleeds, enlarged perivascular spaces and white matter hyperintensities, was assessed, and the total number of these findings comprised the total cerebral SVD score (0‐4). Ordinal logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association of CGM‐derived metrics with the total SVD score.

Results

The median SVD score was 1 (interquartile range 0‐2). Higher hyperglycaemic metrics, including mean sensor glucose, TAR >180 mg/dl, TAR >250 mg/dl, and high blood glucose index and glycaemia risk index, were associated with a higher total SVD score. In contrast, a higher TIR (per 10% increase) was associated with a lower total SVD score (odds ratio 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.56‐0.95). Glycated haemoglobin, percentage glucose coefficient of variation, mean amplitude of glucose excursions, time below range and low blood glucose index were not associated with total cerebral SVD scores.

Conclusions

The hyperglycaemia metrics and TIR, derived from CGM, were associated with cerebral SVD in older adults with type 2 diabetes.
Blending Strategic Expertise and Technology: A Case Study for Practice Analysis
Authors: Belwalkar Bharati B. , Schultz Matthew , Curnow Christina , Setzer J. Carl
Published: May 2024

There is a growing integration of technology in the workplace (World Economic Forum), and with it, organizations are increasingly relying on advanced technological approaches for improving their human capital processes to stay relevant and competitive in complex environments. All professions must keep up with this transition and begin integrating technology into their tools and processes. This paper centers on how advanced technological approaches (such as natural language processing (NLP) and data mining) have complemented a traditional practice analysis of the accounting profession. We also discuss strategic selection and use of subject‐matter experts (SMEs) for more efficient practice analysis. The authors have adopted a triangulation process—gathering information from traditional practice analysis, using selected SMEs, and confirming findings with a novel NLP‐based approach. These methods collectively contributed to the revision of the Uniform CPA Exam blueprint and in understanding accounting trends.
Risk price decomposition and the output gap
Authors: Sakemoto Ryuta
Published: May 2024

We employ a time‐varying price of risk model that allows us to track the change in prices of risk. We find that the output gap generates the time‐varying prices of market and momentum risks, but the exposures to the output gap have the opposite signs. In contrast, we do not observe that the output gap is linked to time variations in the prices of value and investment risks. We uncover that the output gaps impact the prices of market risk for European and Japanese portfolios, while there are weak relationships between the prices of momentum risk and output gaps.