bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Artificial intelligence in the preservation of native languages and bridging the information access gap for indigenous peoples
Authors: Horna-Saldaña Cesar Jhonnatan , Perez Perez Juan Ernesto , Toro Galeano Manuel Leonardo
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to demonstrate how artificial intelligence contributes to the preservation of the cultural identity of native peoples as well as to reduce the gap in access to verified information in native languages of Peru.

Design/methodology/approach

An analysis of the context of artificial intelligence in the field of preservation of native languages was developed. Subsequently, the case of the digital tool Quispe Chequea was highlighted, which uses artificial intelligence to produce journalistic content of verification in three native languages of Peru (Quechua, Aimara and Awajún). Finally, a reflection was made on the contributions of artificial intelligence in reducing the gap in access to information, vindication and preservation of native Peruvian languages.

Findings

The findings evidenced the importance of the principles of indigenous data sovereignty to respect cultural rights. Also, it was determined that artificial intelligence contributes to the preservation of cultural values of ethnic groups. It also provides verified information in the native language in order to promote inclusion. Finally, this enabling technology proved to be an important resource in reducing social and cultural gaps.

Practical implications

The use of artificial intelligence will enable the preservation of the native languages of marginalized and ethnic groups. It also favors the dissemination and communication of truthful information in native languages.

Originality/value

This opinion article highlights a little-explored context in the field of native Peruvian languages. It highlights the contribution that artificial intelligence can bring to ethnic groups, especially in the preservation of their languages and the reduction of the information access gap.
From stigma to trend: the destigmatization of children’s thrift stores in the light of social practice theory
Authors: Freitas Thalita , Brescia Davi , Christino Juliana Maria Magalhães
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study examines the destigmatization of second-hand consumption in a developing country through the lens of social practice theory. It explores media and institutional discourses surrounding children’s thrift stores, identifying key argumentative emphases that reshape perceptions of the second-hand market.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology involves leveraging journalistic and institutional materials to gain insights into the practices molding the second-hand market. Content analysis is used to identify these sources’ pivotal themes and recurring categories, which were then divided into objects, doing and meanings, forming the basis for creating a “gear of practice.”

Findings

The findings reveal a complex network of practices that underpin the destigmatization of second-hand consumption. Specifically, they identify three circuits of practices forming a “gear of practice,” where suppliers, thrift store owners and customers play interchangeable roles, with their actions shaping the meanings and perceptions associated with second-hand goods.

Originality/value

This study introduces the innovative “gear of practice,” which represents a theoretical contribution to understand how practices intersect, considering the perspectives of various stakeholders. Furthermore, this framework advances theoretical discussion by providing insights into how businesses can navigate sustainable consumption trends, considering the role of consumer participation and organizational practices (doings), infrastructure investment and product attributes (objects) and diverse meanings (e.g. sustainability, economic advantage and participation in a new trend) in destigmatizing second-hand markets.
Non-restrictive investments under Islamic bank governance: a comparative study of Gulf Cooperative Council and Southeast Asian banks
Authors: Haddou Samira , Mkhinini Sawssen
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the role of Islamic banks’ (IBs) governance in the management of investment funds. This is achieved by comparing the returns to shareholders with those to the Unrestricted Profit-Sharing Iinvestment Account Holders (UPSIAHs), referred to as the spread.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on a dynamic panel data analysis using the generalized method of moments for a panel of IBs based in Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) and Southeast Asian (SEA) countries observed over the 2006–2019 period.

Findings

The authors find that governance quality reduces the spread of SEA-IBs compared to GCC-IBs, suggesting that Asian banks have access to a wider choice of investment and growth options. The authors also find a positive association between GCC-based IBs governance quality and the widening spread between returns to shareholders and UPSIAHs, which suggests that while IBs are enhancing profitability through better governance, this may not lead to fair profit-sharing with UPSIAHs.

Research limitations/implications

It would be beneficial to expand the sample to include more representative IBs from various countries.

Practical implications

The widening spread between returns to shareholders and UPSIAHs makes the latter feel displaced, which could eventually exacerbate the displaced commercial risk. This highlights the need for targeted governance reforms and investment strategies to better align the interests of stakeholders, thereby improving bank performance and mitigating financial disparities.

Originality/value

This paper is, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the first to empirically examine the effect of various governance mechanisms on the spread between returns to shareholders and Unrestricted Profit-Sharing Investors’ Account Holders (UPSIAHs) in IBs.
Locus in focus: locus inflection episodes unfolding through the dynamics of competition
Authors: Edlund Peter
Published: February 2025

Purpose

My aim is to advance competitive dynamics scholarship by presenting and developing the notion of locus inflection episodes. Such episodes refer to situations featuring changes that specifically generate shifts in the levels at which various actors aggregate as competitors.

Design/methodology/approach

I ground my theorizing in reanalyzes of two published studies, selected from management literature located beyond competitive dynamics scholarship. These two studies were originally not centered on locus inflection episodes, but the studies feature illustrative instances of such episodes.

Findings

My reanalyzes highlight two salient situations when the strategic repertoires of actions and responses deployed by competing firms create or dissolve various organizational forms that produce shifts in aggregation levels, thus generating locus inflection episodes. These situations include the creation as well as the dissolution of meta-organizations. Throughout the two situations, organizers of competition play an important role as actors that do not compete, but that nonetheless affect how competition unfolds by sparking inflection episodes.

Originality/value

Competitive dynamics scholars have primarily examined what firms do throughout the process of competition (i.e. its “how”). But they have largely disregarded that what firms do when deploying strategic repertoires may include the creation or dissolution of various organizational forms, and that this creation or dissolution can shift the aggregation levels at which competition unfolds. Such shifts are captured by the notion of locus inflection episodes, and competitive dynamics scholars could utilize it to approach the locus of competition (i.e. its “who” and “where”) as a changeable aspect throughout the process of competition.
Football fan engagement: sponsorship brand value and consumer purchase intentions
Authors: Varea Calero Alfredo David , Ramírez-Hurtado José M. , Rejón-Guardia Francisco , Berbel-Pineda Juan M.
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aims to analyse the influence of football fans' involvement on sponsor brand equity and their purchase intention toward the sponsoring brand. To achieve this, we specified a structural model examining the relationships between engagement, brand equity and fans’ purchase intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this study were collected using a structured questionnaire. Three football teams from the city of Quito (Ecuador) that compete in the first division of Ecuadorian professional football were considered. For data collection, both personal interviews and a web link were used. The personal interviews were carried out directly with the fans of the three teams in the vicinity of the stadiums, prior to matches of the Ecuadorian League.

Findings

The study concluded that a greater involvement of fans with a football club positively influences both the valuation of the sponsoring brand and the intention to purchase the product and/or service of the sponsoring brand.

Practical implications

This work contributes to the literature on brand equity. On the one hand, from the companies’ perspective, it is important for brand managers to realise that football fans constitute an especially significant section of the public to strengthen the brand and even to buy the products of the sponsoring brand. On the other hand, from the point of view of the clubs, it should be borne in mind that the involvement of the fans with the clubs constitutes a major factor in strengthening the sponsoring brands.

Originality/value

Most of the research in the literature has studied purchase intention towards the club brand but not towards the sponsoring brand. The research, which is applied to the football industry, conceptually extends the customer-based brand equity (CBBE) model by including the perspective of football fans’ involvement with their clubs.
The impact of an effective academic audit on accreditation performance
Authors: Kumar Atul , Gawande Amol , Kale Shailendra Kumar , Agarwal Akash , Brar Vinaydeep , Raibagkar Shirish
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aims to assess the impact of academic audit, a quality assurance tool in higher educational institutions. It explores the relationship between the effective use of academic audits and the institutions’ quality performance, as indicated by their accreditation score.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a questionnaire, the authors checked whether colleges across India effectively used academic audits and the key challenges in conducting the audit. A sample of 428 was drawn from a population of 6,201 colleges. The challenges in conducting academic audits, mostly operational, were grounded in literature and measured using a five-point Likert scale. Regression analysis and a t-test were used to test the two hypotheses.

Findings

The effective use of academic audits significantly influences the quality of the colleges measured by the accreditation score. Findings show that ineffective implementation of academic audits leads to mediocre accreditation performance. Simultaneously, the colleges face several challenges in implementing academic audits.

Originality/value

This novel attempt examines the relationship between academic audit and accreditation performance. Through this unique study, the authors make a case for using academic audits by higher educational institutions adopting accreditation as a quality strategy. The research unfolds the significant value that academic audit holds for facilitating accreditation.
Optimized printing orientation determination for improving the stiffness of as-printed handles
Authors: Pan Wanbin , Chen Xinyue , Liu Wei , Qiao Lixian , Kuang Haiying , Lu Wen Feng
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aims to improve the stiffness of as-printed handles by finding appropriate printing orientations.

Design/methodology/approach

First, a series of benchmark handles is designed using Taguchi method. Then, for each uniformly sampled printing orientation, every benchmark handle is sliced and undergoes stiffness evaluation (i.e. displacement and mean stress) by using finite element analysis (FEA). This generates a substantial batch of handle-orientation-stiffness samples. With the data, an effective stiffness-prediction network is developed based on the artificial neural network. Finally, using the developed network, the particle swarm optimization is adapted to determine the optimized printing orientation for each input handle, aiming to improve its stiffness.

Findings

Compared with the common slicing software, the printing orientations proposed in this study, based on FEA, result in varying degrees of improvement in stiffness for four handles. Specifically, the displacement and mean stress are reduced by 16.86% and 18.14% on average. The experiments show that the approach has the potential to effectively improve the stiffness of a handle.

Originality/value

Although the anisotropic property in mechanics is unavoidable and difficult to formally describe in 3D printing, the proposed approach can effectively characterize the relationship between the stiffness and the printing orientation for each handle. And, it also can determine an optimized printing orientation for each handle to enhance its stiffness after printing.
Unlocking team performance: the interplay of team empowerment, shared leadership, and relationship conflict in healthcare sector
Authors: Mansoor Talha , Umer Muhammad , Duenas Alejandra
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The healthcare sector faces leadership challenges, emphasizing the importance of a mechanism to support and empower team members. The present study aims to investigate the impact of team empowerment (TE) on team performance (TP), with the mediating role of shared leadership (SL) and the moderating role of relationship conflict between shared leadership and team performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study's conceptual model was proposed using the social exchange theory and conservation of resource theory. Data was collected using a self-administrated questionnaire to 492 respondents, of which 42 were team leaders, and 450 were team members from 42 teams in the Pakistani healthcare sector. The Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was used to examine the proposed hypotheses of the study.

Findings

The results revealed a significant positive relationship between team empowerment and shared leadership. SL is positively associated with team performance. The present study also found that SL positively mediated the relationship between shared leadership and team performance. Moreover, relationship conflict moderated the relationship between SL and TP.

Practical implications

The finding delineates that healthcare organizations can adopt shared leadership and empower team members by involving them in decision-making, enhancing collaboration, resource utilization, and patient care outcomes. Managers should implement structured strategies like cross-functional training and inclusive decision-making processes to cultivate empowered teams and mitigate relationship conflicts for optimal performance.

Originality/value

The study advocates developing shared leadership practices for better team outcomes. This study is an early attempt to examine the mediating role of shared leadership between team empowerment and team performance.
Intralesional candida antigen versus intralesional varicella zoster vaccine in treatment of molluscum contagiosum: A new promising alternative
Authors: Elradi Mona , Hoseiny Heba Allah Mohamed , Marei Ayman , Boghdadi Ghada , Hosny Doaa
Published: February 2025

Molluscum contagiosum (MC) is a self‐limited but notoriously highly infectious viral infection. It is often encountered by children. Most traditional therapies are invasive and have a high rate of recurrence. Intralesional immunotherapy is a recent noninvasive modality with promising results. To evaluate and compare the efficacy of candida antigen and varicella zoster vaccine (VZV) in the treatment of MC, 48 patients with MC were allocated randomly into two groups: group A, treated with biweekly intralesional candida antigen injected at a dose of 0.3 mL/session and group B treated with biweekly intralesional VZV injection at a dose of 0.1 mL/session both for a maximum of five sessions. In group B, response was complete in 50% of patients, partial in 37.5% of them, and absent in 12.5%, while in the candida group, complete clearance was observed in 37.5% of patients, partial response in 50% of them, and no response in 12.5%, with no statistically significant difference in the response between the two groups. Intralesional immunotherapy is safe and effective in treating MC. Candida antigen efficacy was established in several studies and VZV represents a new promising therapeutic agent with comparable results.
Unified model for microscopic and mesoscopic wave‐induced fluid flow in a fluid‐saturated porous periodically layered medium
Authors: Liao Jianping , Guo Junxin , Liu Hexiu , He Yanbin , Li Anyu , Cheng Liang , Zhou Lin
Published: February 2025

The interlayer mesoscopic wave‐induced fluid flow and the squirt flow are two important mechanisms for seismic attenuation and dispersion in the fluid‐saturated porous layered rock. Although numerous studies have been conducted on these two mechanisms, their combined effects (especially the resulting frequency‐dependent anisotropy features) have not been sufficiently investigated. Hence, we propose a concise and rigorous theoretical model to quantify the combined effects of these two mechanisms. We first quantify the squirt flow effects through a wet rock frame for each layer that has frequency‐dependent and complex‐valued elastic properties. Then, we apply Biot's quasi‐static poroelasticity theory to derive the analytical solutions for the effective stiffness coefficients of the periodically layered rock. Using the derived rock stiffness coefficients, we calculate the seismic attenuation and dispersion, as well as the frequency‐dependent anisotropy. Two cases are studied, one with alternating water‐ and gas‐saturated layers (constant rock frame properties) and the other with periodically distributed fracture layers (constant saturating fluid properties). The P‐waves in these two cases are both influenced by the mesoscopic interlayer wave‐induced fluid flow and the squirt flow. However, the SV‐wave is solely affected by the squirt flow in the first case and primarily influenced by the mesoscopic interlayer wave‐induced fluid flow in the second case, respectively. The wave velocity and attenuation in the first case are isotropic, whereas those in the second case exhibit frequency‐dependent anisotropy (induced by the mesoscopic interlayer wave‐induced fluid flow). To validate our model, we compare our model to the measured extensional attenuation in a partially saturated sandstone sample under different effective pressures. The joint effects of the mesoscopic interlayer wave‐induced fluid flow and the squirt flow observed in the experiments are well predicted by our model. Our model has potential applications in the seismic characterization of reservoirs composed of layered rocks, such as shale reservoirs.
Fish and chips: Conservation of freshwater fish populations through an integrative multi‐stakeholder approach
Authors: Nagel Christoffer , Pander Joachim , Droll Jan , Loy Georg , Grüner Barbara , Wesemann Johannes , Geist Juergen
Published: February 2025

Rivers and their fish populations are under threat, prompting diverse conservation efforts. Effective freshwater conservation requires collaborative projects involving multiple stakeholders, including scientists, practitioners, and government agencies. Knowledge produced in these projects can be used to guide the application of evidence‐based conservation actions.

We present a unique large‐scale and long‐term river and fish monitoring project at the alpine River Inn (Bavaria, Germany), where stakeholders from the private sector closely collaborate with science and governmental institutions.

After a first phase of implementing and assessing habitat restoration, we recently employed passive integrated transponder (PIT) technology to tag and track several 10,000 fish from diverse species. A comprehensive monitoring infrastructure comprising 34 permanent and several temporary monitoring sites across 150 river kilometres now enables the detection of fish movement patterns across main parts of the River Inn catchment. This infrastructure also includes a citizen science initiative where anglers report captured fish in scanning stations.

Stakeholder communication is institutionalized through the establishment of a project advisory board and an annual conference in which the major findings of the previous year are discussed and the future science and management agenda is set. Knowledge transfer also occurs through the translation of scientific findings into easy‐to‐follow guidelines, as well as through lectures and workshops.

Synthesis and applications. This practitioner perspective offers a template case study for integrative river restoration and fish conservation campaigns. The successful application of information into conservation actions is based on active engagement of practitioners and easy‐to‐follow guidelines. The approach presented herein relies on the principles of knowledge co‐production and adaptive management, and is illustrated with examples that are transferable to other aquatic ecosystems.
Wood trait–decay relationships vary with topography and rainfall seasonality in a subtropical forest in China
Authors: Wu Donghao , Chen Yong , Ellwood M. D. Farnon , Shao Zhenzhen , Wang Yongjia , Cornelissen Johannes H. C. , Chu Chengjin
Published: February 2025

Plant traits affect wood decomposition. Far less acknowledged, wood trait–decay relationships may vary with environmental conditions that alter the spatiotemporal distribution of decomposer activities. Unfavourable environments can suppress decomposer activities and weaken the wood trait–decay relationships. We hypothesize that waterlogged soils in the valley during rainy season may decrease termite activities and decomposition rates, especially of palatable deadwood. By comparison, wood trait–decay relationships could be less affected at the ridge and hilltop during rainy season.

We conducted wood decay experiments of 137 tree species in three sites (valley/ridge/hilltop) differing in microclimate in a 50‐ha plot in a subtropical forest. Eight physical and chemical traits were measured to determine the most influential wood properties for termite feeding activities and wood decomposition rates. Samples were harvested after the rainy or after a whole year (rainy‐plus‐dry season). Mass loss and volume loss (i.e. termite feeding activities) of the first harvest were attributed to the rainy season, while the difference between two harvests were attributed to the dry season.

We found that termite feeding activities and wood mass loss during the rainy season were decreased by soil waterlogging in the valley but not on the ridge or hilltop. Wood density predominantly controlled termite feeding and wood mass loss, but its negative effects appeared at the ridge and hilltop only during rainy season, and in the valley only during the dry season. Notably, warmer soil temperatures in the valley accelerated termite activities during the dry season, causing similar final wood mass loss as higher elevation sites.

Synthesis. Our study reveals that environmental effects on wood decomposition are not only mediated by trait changes directly, but also via the spatiotemporal variations of wood trait–decay relationships indirectly. Moreover, wood decomposition does not strictly follow the elevational temperature gradients due to the negative effects of rainfall at lower elevation. Notably, future droughts may reduce soil waterlogging and accelerate termite activities and the decomposition of lower density wood, particularly in valleys. We are concerned that deadwood carbon stocks once waterlogged by rainfall could become C source under future droughts, especially in regions where termites are dominant decomposers.
Persistent Desert Microbiota in the Southern European Sky
Authors: Cáliz Joan , Menéndez‐Serra Mateu , Triadó‐Margarit Xavier , Avila Anna , Casamayor Emilio O.
Published: February 2025

Long‐range atmospheric processes facilitate global microbial dispersal, with a pivotal role in Earth's ecosystem functioning and global health. Aerobiological studies have traditionally focused on low troposphere aerosols, leading to the assumption that airborne communities are primarily controlled by neighbouring ecosystems. We show a temporal sampling of aerosols from the free troposphere extending a period of almost three decades, coupled with the study of both high troposphere air masses provenances and genetic data of topsoils from North Africa and from a global public bacterial database. The results unveil a long‐lasting influence of airborne North African desert microorganisms in Southern Europe. Although sea spray dominates global aerosol emissions, the predominance of desert microorganisms was widespread even in rain traced back to the Atlantic Ocean. The frequency of dust outbreaks, altitude reached, and long residence times are postulated as critical factors that significantly shape the long‐range and persistence of aerial assemblages, with air mass provenance playing a secondary role. This study advances the current understanding of atmospheric microorganisms, underscoring their close and long‐lasting relationship with terrestrial ecosystems. Further research is needed to fully understand intercontinental aerial connections with deserts and drylands elsewhere, and the influence of desert immigrants on worldwide ecosystems.
The Rules of the Coronation: Differentiating Convention from Practice and Custom
Authors: Harris Carolyn S. , Lagassé Philippe
Published: February 2025

The coronation of a new monarch is a constitutional event governed by unwritten rules. To understand which aspects of the coronation are constitutionally significant—and which are better understood as the product of tradition or novel approaches—this article examines how three types of unwritten rules structure the ceremony: conventions, customs and practices. The article argues that the central elements of the coronation service—notably the oath, investiture, anointment and public recognition of the new monarch and consort—rise to the level of constitutional convention. Who attends the coronation and where it is held, in contrast, are framed by customs that are no longer constitutionally binding. The most recent coronation of King Charles III on 6 May 2023 also highlights how new practices are incorporated into the ceremony to reflect political and cultural changes surrounding the Crown, such as the adaptions of the oath and the inclusion of multiple faith leaders.
Forced to Live: Controlled Forced Feeding of Political Prisoners and the Challenge to Nation‐States’ Civilising Processes
Authors: Vertigans Stephen , Connolly John , Dolan Paddy
Published: February 2025

Since the nineteenth century, struggles between state power and political prisoners' right to die have aroused considerable interest. State enforcement to ‘make live’ through force‐feeding also raises important questions concerning processes that inform government approaches, often through methods considered to be brutal, and how these actions fit within perceptions of civilised behaviour. The social scientific focus of hunger strikes tends to be informed by Foucauldian bio‐power and governmentality which we draw upon when applying insights from figurational sociology. These insights allow us to better capture shifting social processes and changing public attitudes and behaviours that weaken state control over life and death. Different empirical examples are drawn upon, namely prison based forced feeding programmes that are directed at international ‘Islamicists’, Irish republicans and British suffragettes. Comparing groups' levels of integration within controlling states' societies, highlight distinctions in power balances, layers of mutual identification and entwined public perceptions and state reactions that help explain the implementation, cessation or continuation of force‐feeding.
Unveiling the dynamic interactions of gluten–starch–water in frozen dough: An in‐depth review
Authors: Rasheed Mohsin , Fan Xiangqi , Guo Boli , Jiang Jikai , Li Ming , Zhang Yingquan , Zhang Bo , Cui Yutong
Published: February 2025

In recent decades, frozen dough has become an attractive means of preserving and offering the convenience of fresh‐tasting foods while retaining their nutritional benefits. However, the frozen dough industry still faces significant challenges related to processing, freezing, and storage that affect the dough's quality and stability during thawing. Understanding the complex interactions between proteins (gluten, glutenin, gliadin, and glutenin macropolymers), starch dynamics (gelatinization and retrogradation), and water distribution—particularly how ice crystals interact with the gluten–starch matrix—is essential for improving frozen dough quality. This review also delves into the rheological properties resulting from the interplay of these components, emphasizing their collective impact on dough texture and stability. Additionally, it explores various freezing mechanisms and innovative strategies to reduce freeze damage, as well as practical challenges in translating theoretical insights into industrial applications. Finally, it proposes future strategies for improving the shelf life and quality of frozen dough by optimizing freezing methods and water distribution. Through a comprehensive synthesis of current literature, this review underscores the critical importance of gluten–starch–water interactions in frozen dough and highlights promising strategies for enhancing product performance and quality.
Unraveling the cryptic Bemisia tabaci species complex: Global phylogenomic analysis reveals evolutionary relationships and biogeographic patterns
Authors: Wang Hualing , Geng Shilong , Liu Shusheng , Li Zhongtao , Cameron Stephen , Lei Teng , Xu Wei , Liu Qing , Zuo Shuang , Omongo Christopher A. , Maruthi M. N. , Mugerwa Habibu , Wang Xiaowei , Liu Yinquan , Navas‐Castillo Jesús , Fiallo‐Olivé Elvira , Lee Kyeong‐Yeoll , Krause‐Sakate Renate , Delatte Hélène , Ng James , Seal Susan , Colvin John
Published: February 2025

Bemisia tabaci is a complex of cryptic agro‐economically important pest species characterized by diverse clades, substantial genetic diversity along with strong phylogeographic associations. However, a comprehensive phylogenomic analysis across the entire complex has been lacking, we thus conducted phylogenomic analyses and explored biogeographic patterns using 680 single‐copy nuclear genes (SCNs) obtained from whole‐genome sequencing data of 58 globally sourced B. tabaci specimens. We constructed both concatenation and coalescent trees using 680 SCNs, which produced highly supported bootstrap values and nearly identical topologies for all major clades. When comparing these concatenation trees with those constructed using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) and mitochondrial genome, we found conflicting phylogenetic relationships, with the later trees recovering fewer major clades. In a separate comparison between concatenation and coalescent trees, particularly those generated using IQ‐TREE, they were found to delineate population relationships more effectively than RaxML. In contrast, coalescent phylogenies were proficient in elucidating geographical dispersal patterns and the reorganization of biological species. Furthermore, we provided a strict consensus tree that clearly defines relationships within most clades, laying a solid foundation for future research on the evolution and taxonomy of B. tabaci. Ancestral range estimates suggested that the ancestral region of the complex is likely situated in equatorial Africa, the Middle East, and Mediterranean regions. Subsequently, the expansion occurred into part of the Palearctic and further into the Nearctic, Neotropical, Indomalayan, and Australasian regions. These findings challenge both previous classifications and origin hypotheses, offering a notably more comprehensive understanding of the global distribution, evolutionary history, diversification, and biogeography of B. tabaci.
Can place‐based crime prevention impacts be sustained over long durations? 11‐Year follow‐up of a quasi‐experimental evaluation of a CCTV project
Authors: Piza Eric L. , Welsh Brandon C. , Reid Savannah A. , Hatten David N.
Published: February 2025

Research summary

A long‐standing critique of place‐based crime prevention interventions has been that any reductions in crime are often short‐lived. If researchers do not carry out longer‐duration follow‐ups, we cannot know for sure if the effects of these interventions will persist, decay, or even strengthen. Using a rigorous microsynthetic control design, we evaluated the long‐term impacts of a large‐scale, public‐area closed‐circuit television (CCTV) surveillance project in Newark, New Jersey. Results show that the CCTV project was associated with a statistically significant reduction of auto theft in the intermediate term (3–4 years). The reduction of auto theft approached statistical significance (p = 0.08) during the short term (1–2 years). The analysis also observed potential displacement effects, with displacement of robbery (p = 0.09) in the short term (1–2 years) and theft from auto (p = 0.06) in the long term (9–11 years) approaching statistical significance.

Policy implications

The results of this study may suggest the potential for a slightly modified view of deterrence decay. The CCTV project's effect on auto theft grew from approaching significant to statistically significant between the short‐term and intermediate‐term periods. Such “sleeper effects” suggest that an extended period was necessary for CCTV to generate deterrence. The deterrence decay during the long‐term period did not occur until after these sleeper effects emerged, which may be understood as deterrence attenuation. Although only approaching statistical significance—and not as pronounced as the reduction of auto theft—the potential displacement of robbery and theft from auto indicates that static CCTV target areas may facilitate offenders taking advantage of nearby crime opportunities while appearing inconspicuous within CCTV viewsheds. In sum, policymakers should be mindful that research evidence limited to short‐term impacts may fail to detect nuanced effects relevant for policy and public guidance.
Migration, Human Supply Chains, and the Multinational Enterprise: Confronting an Overlooked Global Mobility Challenge
Authors: Žilinskaitė Milda , Hajro Aida , Baldassari Paul , Miska Christof
Published: February 2025

Over the past 2 decades, multinational enterprises (MNEs) have significantly increased their reliance on migrant workers in lower‐skilled jobs within global supply chains (GSCs)—a phenomenon largely overlooked in global mobility scholarship. In this provocation paper, we aim to broaden the scope of traditional debates in this field by introducing the concept of human supply chains, originally coined by labor‐law scholar Jennifer Gordon (2017). We adapt and extend this concept to focus on MNEs as research targets, defining it through the policies and/or practices aimed at transnational labor recruitment, management, and retention applied to migrant workforces in their GSCs. We advocate for the need to engage with this critical topic in global mobility research and outline key pathways for future inquiry.
Cgsim: An R Package for Simulation of Population Genetics for Conservation and Management Applications
Authors: Zimmerman Shawna J. , Oyler‐McCance Sara J.
Published: February 2025

Wildlife conservation and management increasingly considers genetic information to plan, understand and evaluate implemented population interventions. These actions commonly include conservation translocation and population reductions through removals. Change in genetic variation in response to management actions can be unintuitive due to the influence of multiple interacting drivers (e.g. genetic drift, life history traits, environmental stochasticity). Simulation is an excellent tool to understand the predicted consequences of different proposed or implemented actions. However, the genetic simulators that are robust to a wide variety of life history traits also have a steep learning curve to appropriately parameterize common management actions. To fill this gap, we have developed cgsim, an R package for simulating the genetic consequences of common management interventions for populations of wildlife species. We developed a set of functions to specifically understand the effects of four main aspects of managing small, declining or isolated populations: loss of genetic diversity to drift, augmenting existing populations (e.g. translocation), population reduction through targeted removals and population catastrophes driven by stochastic extrinsic forces. Our single population simulation model is individual‐based, and flexible to a range of life history traits. Here we validate cgsim through comparison of simulations to theoretical expectations of genetic diversity loss and illustrate its applied utility by focusing on a recently published empirical example for the Greater Sage‐Grouse. Cgsim is available as an R package at: https://doi.org/10.5066/P1BXBEXJ.
Fracture Risk Linked to Proton Pump Inhibitors Versus H2 Receptor Antagonists in Autoimmune Rheumatic and Gastrointestinal Disease Patients
Authors: Zeng Miaoyu , Lee Yung‐Heng , Wang Shiow‐Ing , Palmowski Andriko , Chu Wei‐Min , Buttgereit Frank
Published: February 2025

Objective

To understand if proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) usage associated with an increased risk of fractures among adult patients diagnosed with autoimmune rheumatic and gastrointestinal diseases, compared with H2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs) usage.

Methods

We used the TriNetX US collaborative database for the study, which includes detailed demographic information, diagnostic and procedural data, medication details, laboratory results, genomic information, and healthcare utilization metrics. We analyzed 61 healthcare organizations to compare fracture risks associated with PPIs and H2RAs in adults, particularly those diagnosed with autoimmune rheumatic and gastrointestinal diseases. Propensity score matching acted as a control for demographic and clinical variables.

Results

The study involved 1 717 598 patients, focusing on 16 299 who were new users of PPIs and 16 299 H2RAs users after propensity score matching. Over a 24‐month follow‐up period, no significant differences in fracture risks were observed between the PPI and H2RA groups in the overall cohort (hazard ratio, HR = 1.369, 95% confidence interval, CI = 0.933–2.009). However, subgroup analysis indicated that senior patients (≥ 65 years) who had been administered PPIs experienced a significantly higher risk of fractures (HR = 1.927 [1.153–3.221]), particularly non‐vertebral fractures (HR = 2.379 [1.214–4.661]), when compared to their counterparts who had been prescribed H2RAs. Notably, the simultaneous use of PPIs and glucocorticoids further increased the fracture risk (HR = 4.273 [2.219–8.227]).

Conclusions

The study demonstrates that patients diagnosed with autoimmune rheumatic and gastrointestinal diseases who were aged 65+ face increased fracture risks when using PPIs, particularly when there is a simultaneous intake of glucocorticoids.
Longevity Humans Have Youthful Erythrocyte Function and Metabolic Signatures
Authors: Yu Fang , Chen Changhan , Liu Wuping , Zhao Zhixiang , Fan Yuhua , Li Zhenjiang , Huang Weilun , Xie Tingting , Luo Cheng , Yao Zhouzhou , Guo Qi , Yang Zhiyu , Liu Juan , Zhang Yujin , Kellems Rodney E. , Xia Jian , Li Ji , Xia Yang
Published: February 2025

Longevity individuals have lower susceptibility to chronic hypoxia, inflammation, oxidative stress, and aging‐related diseases. It has long been speculated that “rejuvenation molecules” exist in their blood to promote extended lifespan. We unexpectedly discovered that longevity individuals exhibit erythrocyte oxygen release function similar to young individuals, whereas most elderly show reduced oxygen release capacity. Untargeted erythrocyte metabolomics profiling revealed that longevity individuals are characterized by youth‐like metabolic reprogramming and these metabolites effectively differentiate the longevity from the elderly. Quantification analyses led us to identify multiple novel longevity‐related metabolites within erythrocytes including adenosine, sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P), and glutathione (GSH) related amino acids. Mechanistically, we revealed that increased bisphosphoglycerate mutase (BPGM) and reduced MFSD2B protein levels in the erythrocytes of longevity individuals collaboratively work together to induce elevation of intracellular S1P, promote the release of glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) from membrane to the cytosol, and thereby orchestrate glucose metabolic reprogramming toward Rapoport–Luebering Shunt to induce the 2,3‐BPG production and trigger oxygen delivery. Furthermore, increased glutamine and glutamate transporter expression coupled with the enhanced intracellular metabolism underlie the elevated GSH production and the higher anti‐oxidative stress capacity in the erythrocytes of longevity individuals. As such, longevity individuals displayed less systemic hypoxia‐related metabolites and more antioxidative and anti‐inflammatory metabolites in the plasma, thereby healthier clinical outcomes including lower inflammation parameters as well as better glucose–lipid metabolism, and liver and kidney function. Overall, we identified that youthful erythrocyte function and metabolism enable longevity individuals to better counteract peripheral tissue hypoxia, inflammation, and oxidative stress, thus maintaining healthspan.
Development of a Short Telomere Zebrafish Model for Accelerated Aging Research and Antiaging Drug Screening
Authors: Hernández‐Silva David , López‐Abellán María D. , Martínez‐Navarro Francisco J. , García‐Castillo Jesús , Cayuela María L. , Alcaraz‐Pérez Francisca
Published: February 2025

Increased life expectancy is associated with a higher risk of age‐related diseases, which represent a major public health challenge. Animal models play a crucial role in aging research, enabling the study of diseases at the organism level and facilitating drug development and repurposing. Among these models, zebrafish stands out as an excellent in vivo system due to its unique characteristics. However, the longevity of zebrafish is a limitation for research, as it often takes too long to obtain results within a reasonable timeframe. To address this, we have developed a short telomere zebrafish line (ST2) with a premature aging phenotype during the larval stage. Although less extreme than the tert‐deficient G2 larvae, ST2 larvae exhibit reduced telomerase expression and activity, along with shortened telomeres. they also exhibit increased cellular senescence, apoptosis, and premature death. As a proof of concept, we evaluated the antiaging effects of two compounds: resveratrol (a polyphenol) and navitoclax (a senolytic). Our results confirm the antiaging properties of resveratrol, which improves telomere maintenance. However, navitoclax does not attenuate the ST2 phenotype. Taking advantage of the zebrafish larval model, this premature aging system provides a valuable platform for in vivo testing of rejuvenating molecules through drug screening, using telomere length or survival as a readout.
Gut bacteria symbiosis affects cuticular hydrocarbon profile and mating success in wild Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) males
Authors: Moyano Andrea , Palladini Alfonsina , Díaz Viviana , Abraham Solana , Castillo Gisela , Giudice Antonella , Araóz Victoria Coll , Fernandez Patricia , Van Nieuwenhove Guido , Rull Juan
Published: February 2025

Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a highly polyphagous species and a seriously pest with a significant economic importance, having a great number of studies focused in its management. Recently, there has been a surge of interest in the symbiotic relationship between gut bacteria and their insect hosts. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the role of gut microbiota on symbiotic and aposymbiotic wild medfly adult sexual behaviour, especially on mate choice and mating success. We also evaluate latency and mating time, sperm transference, testes and ovarian sizes and female fecundity. Finally, we compared cuticular hydrocarbon profiles to explore other possible mechanisms that mediate medfly mating success. For this purpose, teneral wild medfly adults were separated into two groups, symbiotic and aposymbiotic. Aposymbiotic adults were treated with an antibiotic mixture (tetracycline plus ciprofloxacin) until sexual maturity. Results of sexual behaviour assays showed that symbiotic males were more successful in mating in comparison with aposymbiotic males, and female preference could be related with a greater sexual organ development of symbiotic females and differences in male hydrocarbon cuticular profiles. Results support the hypothesis that the presence of gut bacteria can play a beneficial role on the sexual behaviour. Knowledge about the importance of cuticular hydrocarbons acting in mating recognition was obtained. This work is the first to report the influence of gut microbiota on this component of the exoskeleton for wild medfly and might be useful for the improvement of sustainable strategies for pest management such as the sterile insect technique.
A fair shake: Grief, murder, and the contradictions of juvenile crime
Authors: Ralph Laurence
Published: February 2025

This article is an intimate encounter with grief that aims to transform my own field of scholarly study into painful lived experience. The central question of my essay is:  When a life is extinguished by street violence, how does a victim's family heal from homicide? The major argument of this article centers around accountability. Drawing from the literature in child psychology as well as the sociology and anthropology of urban violence, I argue that, as a society, our idea of accountability is incomplete. In humanizing both victims and perpetrators of violence, I seek to expand the conception of gang lives by urging my readers to fight against the tendency to reject complexity and gravitate toward purity. As I would come to learn when a teenage family member of mine was murdered, transforming the criminal justice system necessitates that we grapple with contradictory emotions—such as compassion and rage. This is perhaps the greatest and most overlooked aspect of the transformative justice debate today.