bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recommended information adoption by university students in their study/research
Authors: Zha Xianjin , Lu Zeyu , Yan Yalan
Published: May 2024

Purpose

For undergraduate and graduate students in universities, social media are playing an important role in their study/research because a large amount of academic information has been accumulated on social media. Indeed, social media are complementing university libraries. Given that intelligent recommender systems have been widely implemented on social media, this paper aims to examine the adoption mechanism of intelligently recommended information by university students in their study/research.

Design/methodology/approach

Building upon the updated information system success model and herding theory, this study developed a research model to examine the determinants of recommended information adoption in mobile applications for social media. Data were collected through an online questionnaire and analyzed with partial least squares structural equation modelling.

Findings

The results suggest that herding belief is a valid second-order construct, comprising two first-order dimensions of imitating others and discounting their own information. Information quality, system quality and service quality directly impact satisfaction with the intelligent recommender system. Furthermore, satisfaction with the intelligent recommender system and herding belief directly impact recommended information adoption by university students in their study/research.

Originality/value

This study draws on the updated information system success model and incorporates herding belief as an extended component to investigate recommended information adoption, providing a new lens for understanding recommended information adoption by university students in their study/research.
Glass ceiling in Nigeria’s banking sector: perspectives of senior male employees
Authors: Pepple Dennis Gabriel , Oseghale Raphael , Nmecha Eleanor
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine senior male employees’ perspectives on the glass ceiling in the Nigerian banking sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected qualitatively using interviews with 43 senior male employees in four Nigerian banks.

Findings

This study finds that senior male employees acknowledge the challenges their female counterparts face concerning promotion. Senior male employees’ views on the value of gender-diverse leadership underscore the illusion of a “level playing field” because of a gender-neutral performance policy and a family–friendly policy for women. Nonetheless, the study notes a divergence in senior male employees’ perspectives about the professional progression of female employees (based majorly on age and ethnicity). The study concludes that the organisational culture and leadership that underpin poor female career progression are embedded in and driven by the culture in the empirical context.

Originality/value

The examination of senior male employees’ perspectives on the glass ceiling in the Nigerian banking sector offers significant theoretical and practical contributions to the extant literature on gendered occupational segregation by providing unique insights into how patriarchal societal and occupational culture, as well as (limited) family–friendly policies for women, influence the configuration of men’s views of gendered occupational segregation in the Nigerian banking sector.
Gender equity in evaluating higher education faculty competency in Dubai: views from first-year undergraduate students
Authors: Alansaari Hamda , Essary Jessica
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the perceptions of male and female Emirati students regarding the competency of male and female faculty members in general introductory courses at a higher education institution in Dubai, which follows a policy of segregating undergraduates by sex.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a purposive research design, the study employs focus-group data to investigate the viewpoints of two groups of first-year undergraduates in Dubai (n = 2,43) on the role of gender in shaping their perceptions of faculty competency. Additionally, the researchers utilized open and axial coding schemes to analyze gender perceptions, revealing distinct patterns and thematic outcomes.

Findings

The findings highlight the presence of hidden gender stereotypes that can potentially impact the development of pedagogical relationships in higher education. Based on these findings, the study recommends ways in which students, educators, and administrators may mitigate gender-related bias in faculty evaluations.

Originality/value

Furthermore, these insights were designed to contribute to fostering a more equitable educational environment in higher education institutions.
Panarchy theory: myth or reality? Empirical evidence of the socio-ecological nature of supply chains
Authors: Madonna Alice , Boffelli Albachiara , Kalchschmidt Matteo
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study builds on the panarchy theory by viewing the supply chain as a socio-ecological system and further expands it by considering the within-level linkages internal to the supply chain level. Three types of linkages are considered: the two cross-level linkages with the planetary and the political-economic levels and the supply chain within-level linkages. The research questions are addressed using the data gathered by the Carbon Disclosure Project within its Supply Chain Programme.

Design/methodology/approach

This work aims to study, applying the lens of panarchy theory, how the planetary and the political-economic levels affect the supply chain within-level linkages for sustainability. Furthermore, the difference in how these cross-level linkages influence focal firms and first-tier suppliers is explored.

Findings

The results show that considering the planetary-supply chain linkage, climate change risk exposure is likelier to foster within-level linkages with buyers than with suppliers. Further, climate change mitigation investments have different roles in the different tiers: focal firms are pushed to strengthen the linkages with their suppliers when they lose efficacy in improving their carbon performance, whereas first-tier suppliers exploit investments to gain legitimacy. Discussing the political-economic level effect, perceptions from first-tier suppliers could be two-fold: they could perceive a mandating power mechanism or exploit policymakers’ knowledge to advance their capabilities.

Originality/value

The results contribute to the sustainable supply chain management literature by providing empirical evidence of the cross-level linkages theorised by the panarchy theory. Moreover, the concept of within-level linkages is proposed to apply the theory in this field.
Environmental concern, perceived marketplace influence and green purchase behavior: the moderation role of perceived environmental responsibility
Authors: Hoang Dinh Van , Tung Le Thanh
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Consumer green behavior is a spotlight topic in both theoretical and practical business environments. This study aims to investigate the primary drivers of green intention behaviors among Generation Z customers by integrating the Social Cognitive Theory and the Theory of Planned Behavior. Additionally, perceived environmental responsibility serves as a moderating factor.

Design/methodology/approach

The study polled 283 Generation Z people who have purchased green products in Vietnam. Using the PLS_SEM model, we employ mediation and moderation analysis to investigate and evaluate the hypotheses.

Findings

Our findings reveal that both environmental concern and perceived marketplace influence have direct effects on attitudes toward green products as well as indirect effect on green purchase intention. Unlike previous studies, perceived environmental responsibility behaves as a moderated factor, driving the relationship between consumers' attitudes and green purchase intentions.

Practical implications

The outcomes of this study provide helpful implications for managers in improving green products based on the green purchase behavior of young customers.

Originality/value

By merging the Social Cognitive Theory and the Theory of Planned Behavior to analyze the antecedent variables of attitude and intention, this study contributes to the pro-environmental literature. It explains the underlying mediation processes of organisms and behavioral reactions, emphasizing the role of perceived environmental responsibility in regulating these frameworks. The results are critical in promoting green production and consumption in communities.
Digitalizing in crisis: the role of organizational resilience in SMEs’ digitalization
Authors: Őri Dóra , Szabó Ildikó , Kő Andrea , Kovács Tibor
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Several studies have shown that economic shock and crisis trigger companies to move forward innovatively. This paper aims to compliment this research topic by investigating how SMEs activate their organization resilience to adapt to changes generated by a crisis, with specific focus on how digitalization is used as an opportunity on this road. COVID-19 pandemic provided the context to investigate this situation.

Design/methodology/approach

The research approach combines literature review, quantitative data survey and data analysis and modeling using PLS-SEM. The quantitative data survey provided the database for building the structural equation model, exploring the structural relationships between the constructs and testing the hypotheses. Expert discussions contributed to the validation and interpretation of the results.

Findings

The model reveals that while organizational resilience has no direct effect on digitalization, combined with available resources, it realizes its indirect impact. Resilient companies require less external financial support to achieve their digitalization goals. The results also confirm that an uncertain environment encourages SMEs to go digital.

Originality/value

Several research studies highlighted the importance of SMEs in recovery from crises. Knowing more about how they can be supported and what capabilities they should develop is essential. This research explores the relationship between organizational resilience, resource availability and digitalization for SMEs in crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing the self-reinforcing effect of organizational resilience and the level of digitalization that was not previously studied.
IS innovativeness and supply chain resilience: the role of analytics capability and supply chain integration
Authors: Cao Qing Ray , Elking Isaac , Gu Vicky Ching , Hoffman James J.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the extent to which a firm is able to leverage its information system (IS) innovativeness to improve supply chain resilience through developing and employing its analytics capability. It further considers how this mediating effect of analytics capability can be enhanced by internal and external integration.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on the logic of organizational information processing theory, a mediated moderation model is developed and tested using structural equation modeling and partial least squares regression based on survey responses from 247 working professionals.

Findings

The results indicate that IS innovativeness improves a firm’s supply chain resilience through enhanced analytics capability, with higher levels of internal and external integration further strengthening the effects of this mediating relationship.

Originality/value

This study is among the first to empirically test the effects of IS innovativeness and analytics capability on supply chain resilience and to examine the impacts of internal and external integration as key factors affecting the strength of these relationships. The findings complement existing literature through providing new insights into the linkage between IS strategy and supply chain resilience and highlighting the importance of relationships throughout the supply chain to enhance the efficacy of a firm’s analytics capability within this domain.
Family firms and the collaborative advantage: unveiling innovation efficiency across partnership types
Authors: Pemartín María , Monreal-Pérez Joaquín , Sánchez Marín Gregorio
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Based on the resource orchestration perspective, this paper aims to examine whether family firms are more efficient in their collaboration for innovation process than non-family firms, considering different types of collaboration for innovation depending on the kind of partner.

Design/methodology/approach

This study empirically develops and tests the hypotheses based on a panel data sample of 14,937 firm-year observations from 1,867 Spanish manufacturing firms over the period 2007–2014, performing a Propensity Score Matching (Propensity score matching)-based analysis.

Findings

Results reveal that family firms outperform non-family firms, despite less collaboration and innovation inputs, thereby extending the ongoing debate surrounding the innovation efficiency of family firms. Family firms obtained better results through vertical collaborations for innovation, both in terms of product and process innovations. For horizontal collaborations, family firms only outperform their non-family counterparts in process innovation. When collaborating with universities and other research centers, there are no significant differences in the innovation outcomes between the two groups.

Originality/value

Recent literature points out that more research is needed to know when, how and under what circumstances family firms show superior innovative efficiency. This work empirically proves that family firms outperform non-family firms in collaboration for innovation. However, not all collaboration partners help family firms to reach this superior innovative efficiency. Family firms obtained better results just through vertical and horizontal collaborations.
Effects of digital orientation alternatives on firm value
Authors: Yang Zhi , Xie Sai , Gu Yuanhan
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the technology-focused and technology-supported dilemmas that firms have encountered and their digital orientation from a nuanced perspective to answer the following research questions: What digital orientations do companies take in launching digital initiatives? How does the choice between a proactive digital orientation (Pro-DO) and a reactive digital orientation (Rea-DO) influence firm value?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopted machine learning and a quantitative research approach using observations from China’s listed companies from 2010 to 2020 and applied statistical techniques and regression analysis to examine the effect of digital orientation alternatives on firm value.

Findings

The findings of this study indicate that firms with a Pro-DO exhibit a positive effect on firm value. In contrast, firms with a Rea-DO do not demonstrate the same positive relationship with firm value. Additionally, this study reveals that firms with better corporate governance practices and lower financing constraints are more responsive to the positive effects of Pro-DO on firm value.

Originality/value

We elucidate two primary perspectives of digital orientation: Pro-DO and Rea-DO. Additionally, we empirically showcase their nuanced influences on firm value, thereby enriching knowledge in the fields of strategic orientation and digital transformation. Moreover, our findings underscore the importance of corporate governance and financing constraints as moderators.
AI-powered growth hacking: benefits, challenges and pathways
Authors: Santoro Gabriele , Jabeen Fauzia , Kliestik Tomas , Bresciani Stefano
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to (1) unveil how artificial intelligence (AI) can be implemented in growth-hacking strategies; and (2) identify the challenges and enabling factors associated with AI’s implementation in these strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical study is based on two distinct groups of analysis units. Firstly, it involves 11 companies (identified as F1 to F11 in Table 1) that employ growth-hacking principles and use AI to support their decision-making and operations. Secondly, interviews were conducted with four businesses and entrepreneurs providing consultancy services in growth and digital strategies. This approach allowed us to gain a broader view of the phenomenon. Data analysis was performed using the Gioia methodology.

Findings

The study firstly uncovers the principal benefits and applications of AI in growth hacking, such as enhanced data analysis and user behaviour insights, sales augmentation, traffic and revenue forecasting, campaign development and optimization, and customer service enhancement through chatbots. Secondly, it reveals the challenges and catalysts in AI-driven growth hacking, highlighting the crucial roles of experimentation, creativity and data collection.

Originality/value

This research represents the inaugural scientific investigation into AI’s role in growth-hacking strategies. It uncovers both the challenges and facilitators of AI implementation in this domain. Practically, it offers detailed insights into the operationalization of AI across various phases and aspects of growth hacking, including product-market fit, user acquisition, virality and retention.
CEO compensation: US college student and adult perceptions
Authors: Steele Clarissa R. , Holtzen Sarah
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to understand differences in perceptions of CEO compensation between working adults and business students in the USA before and after reading CEO pay information.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants completed a survey about their perceptions of chief executive officer (CEO) compensation before and after reading CEO compensation information that included the median CEO-to-employee ratio and salary in 2021.

Findings

Working adults and business students had similar levels of concern about CEO compensation. Participants were more concerned with CEO compensation after reading information about CEO pay but also believed CEO pay was more justified, contrary to equity theory (Adams, 1965). Among the student and adult samples, women and noninvestors were more likely to have concerns about CEO compensation than other participants.

Practical implications

Individuals may not understand the components of CEO compensation, and the size of CEO salaries may be difficult to comprehend. Educators and the media should consider presenting CEO compensation information in a different way, for example, how long it takes a CEO to earn as much as an average employee does annually, for the public to understand how much more CEOs are paid than their employees.

Originality/value

Little research exists on CEO compensation understanding and concerns. This research opens the opportunity for future studies on CEO compensation, for example, that consider variables other than CEO pay (e.g. equity and other forms of compensation) and what individuals believe CEOs do that justifies their high compensation.
The construction of the normative persuasion of social and environmental reporting regulation
Authors: Luque-Vílchez Mercedes , Husillos Javier , Larrinaga Carlos
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to understand why some social and environmental reporting (SER) regulations are more successful than others in modifying collective corporate reporting behaviour and expectations. More specifically, it presents a qualitative and historically informed exploration of the construction of the enabling conditions for corporate adoption of SER regulation in a national context.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on insights from structuration theory and the sociological approach to legal studies, the authors examined the normative persuasion of the first regulation in Spain requiring firms to disclose social and environmental information in a stand-alone report: Article 39 of the Spanish Sustainable Economy Law. The case study is based primarily on 38 semi-structured interviews with relevant actors involved in this SER regulation from 2008 to 2014. Other sources such as legal and policy documents, historical documents, books, press reports and field notes from attendance at technical meetings related to the phenomenon under study help inform and complement the analysis of the interviews.

Findings

The analysis reveals that the agency of regulators, regulatees and other relevant actors involved in the SER regulation led to the law becoming a dead letter. However, only by examining the structural circumstances, shaped by history and socio-economic context, can the authors understand how the normative persuasion of law is constructed or undermined.

Research limitations/implications

The study underscores the importance of the national context in developing corporate social responsibility (CSR) regulation and the crucial role of history. The results of this research also suggest that significant progress towards a more transformative CSR regulation cannot be achieved without the support of enabling structures/

Practical implications

Recent SER regulations (European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and IFRS sustainability standards, to mention those that are gaining most traction) may not achieve sufficient compliance if those responsible for drafting them do not ensure that the conditions for the emergence of regulatory persuasion are met. Regulators must therefore have a profound understanding of how these conditions are constructed as part of a historical process inextricably linked to the social structures of the environment in which the law is to be applied.

Social implications

The study reveals the changing landscape of corporate social responsibility, where scientists, academics, NGO activists and civil society organisations struggle to gain some agency in a field populated by actors, such as trade unions or employers, who were constitutive of Western industrial liberal democracies.

Originality/value

This study presents an in-depth and historically grounded analysis of the dynamics involved in creating the conditions that lead to successful SER legislation in a national context.
Metaverse? It is virtual hell! Understanding the dark side of the metaverse (darkverse) for hospitality and tourism customers
Authors: Singh Ranjit , Iqbal Juman , Kukreja Priyam , Yadav Manshi , Ramkissoon Haywantee
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This research paper aims to conceptually explain the dark side of the metaverse from customers’ perspective in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive analysis of the existing academic and practice-based literature on the metaverse, including its related concepts such as social media and e-commerce, was undertaken to conceptualise the metaverse dark side.

Findings

This research posits a theoretical framework highlighting five pivotal dark sides of the metaverse that is physiological, psychological, legal, security and privacy and societal issues. Each identified concern is examined to unveil various potential consequences, providing a comprehensive understanding of the challenges posed by the metaverse for customers in tourism and hospitality.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study stands out as the first of its kind to illuminate the adverse aspects of the metaverse from the viewpoint of tourism and hospitality customers. The arguments offered herein not only serve to raise awareness but also facilitate understanding of the darkverse among policymakers, government and metaverse business organisations. This awareness is crucial for the efficient and effective implementation of this novel innovative technology to enhance the customer experience in tourism and hospitality.
Residents’ perceptions of tourism and Chinese central policies: the case of Anhui’s UNESCO sites
Authors: Jing Sai (Jane) , Li Ping , Ryan Chris , Wong Cora Un In , Tumanan Mary Anne Ramos
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to identify the attitudes of Chinese residents towards tourists and tourism development. Based on periods of observation, temporary residency and several visits for more than a decade, and supplemented by data collected from 478 residents, the study examines to what extent the rural villagers identify the tourism induced changes as being an outcome of official Chinese policies. The villages, Xidi, Hongcun and Nanping, are three heritage villages in Anhui Province and represent appropriate case studies for such an examination due to their differing histories of tourism administrative procedures. Findings contribute to scholarly knowledge by putting pro-poor tourism and community participation under scrutiny in Chinese context. A change of residents’ perceptions towards tourism could potentially be consequential for tourists’ experience and the sustainability of tourism development, particularly in emerging rural destinations.
From a local descriptive to a generic predictive model of cereal aphid regulation by predators
Authors: Stell Eric , Bommarco Riccardo , Laubmeier Amanda N. , Meiss Helmut , Therond Olivier
Published: May 2024

The temporal dynamics of insect populations in agroecosystems are influenced by numerous biotic and abiotic interactions, including trophic interactions in complex food webs. Predicting the regulation of herbivorous insect pests by arthropod predators and parasitoids would allow for rendering crop production less dependent on chemical pesticides.

Curtsdotter et al. (2019) developed a food‐web model simulating the influences of naturally occurring arthropod predators on aphid population dynamics in cereal crop fields. The use of an allometric hypothesis based on the relative body masses of the prey and various predator guilds reduced the number of estimated parameters to just five, albeit field‐specific.

Here, we extend this model and test its applicability and predictive capacity. We first parameterized the original model with a dataset with the dynamic arthropod community compositions in 54 fields in six regions in France. We then integrated three additional biological functions to the model: parasitism, aphid carrying capacity and suboptimal high temperatures that reduce aphid growth rates. We developed a multi‐field calibration approach to estimate a single set of generic allometric parameters for a given group of fields, which would increase model generality needed for predictions.

The original and revised models, when using field‐specific parameterization, achieved quantitatively good fits to observed aphid population dynamics for 59% and 53% of the fields, respectively, with pseudo‐R2 up to 0.99. But the multi‐field calibration showed that increased model generality came at the cost of reduced model reliability (goodness‐of‐fit).

Our study highlights the need to further improve our understanding of how body size and other traits affect trophic interactions in food webs. It also points up the need to acquire high‐resolution data to use this type of modelling approach. We propose that a hypothesis‐driven strategy of model improvement based on the integration of additional biological functions and additional functional traits beyond body size (e.g., predator space search or prey defences) into the food‐web matrix can improve model reliability.
Genomic signatures of past megafrugivore‐mediated dispersal in Malagasy palms
Authors: Méndez Laura , Barratt Christopher D. , Durka Walter , Kissling W. Daniel , Eiserhardt Wolf L. , Baker William J. , Randrianasolo Vonona , Onstein Renske E.
Published: May 2024

Seed dispersal affects gene flow and hence genetic differentiation of plant populations. During the Late Quaternary, most fruit‐eating and seed‐dispersing megafauna went extinct, but whether these animals have left signatures in the population genetics of their food plants, particularly those with large, ‘megafaunal’ fruits (i.e. >4 cm—megafruits), remains unclear.

Here, we assessed the population history, genetic differentiation and recent migration among populations of four animal‐dispersed palm (Arecaceae) species with large (Borassus madagascariensis), medium‐sized (Hyphaene coriacea, Bismarckia nobilis) and small (Chrysalidocarpus madagascariensis) fruits on Madagascar. We integrated double‐digest restriction‐site‐associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD) of 167 individuals from 25 populations with (past) distribution ranges for extinct (e.g., giant lemurs and elephant birds) and extant seed‐dispersing animals, landscape and human impact data, and applied linear mixed‐effects models to explore the drivers of genetic variation in Malagasy palms.

Palm populations that shared more megafrugivore species in the past had lower genetic differentiation than populations that shared fewer megafrugivore species. This suggests that megafrugivore‐mediated seed dispersal in the past may have led to frequent gene flow among populations. In comparison, extant frugivore diversity only decreased genetic differentiation in the small‐fruited palm. Furthermore, genetic differentiation of all palm species decreased with landscape connectivity (i.e. environmental suitability, forest cover and river density) and human impact (i.e. road density), while migration rates of the small‐fruit palm increased with road density.

Synthesis. Our results suggest that the legacy of megafrugivores regularly achieving long dispersal distances is still reflected in the population genetics of palms that were formerly dispersed by such animals. Furthermore, low genetic differentiation was possibly maintained after the megafauna extinctions through alternative dispersal (e.g. human‐ or river‐mediated), long generation times and long lifespans of these megafruit palms. Our study illustrates how species interactions that happened >1000 years ago can leave imprints in their population genetics.
Feasibility and acceptability of a parent‐toddler programme to support the development of executive functions in children at elevated likelihood of autism or ADHD: Pilot findings
Authors: Hulks Victoria , Scerif Gaia , Rhodes Sinead , Smith Sally , Charman Tony , Mathers Sandra , Hendry Alexandra
Published: May 2024

This study reports feasibility, fidelity and acceptability of a pilot of START; a 12‐week parent‐toddler, group‐based, neurodiversity‐affirming programme aiming to support executive function development in toddlers at elevated likelihood of autism or ADHD. After 4 days' training, community early years practitioner pairs delivered START to 13 UK families with a toddler showing elevated autistic traits, or with a parent or sibling with autism or ADHD, in groups of 6 and 7. Sessions were audio‐recorded and rated by practitioners and researchers regarding the extent to which programme and session aims were met. Practitioners' reflections on strengths and challenges in session delivery, adaptations to the session plan and researchers' observations from the audio recordings were probed in weekly debrief calls, and one‐to‐one interviews at programme end‐point. Recruitment and retention were monitored. Parent participants were asked to complete a feedback questionnaire after each session. Results show recruitment to the programme is feasible, but a large minority of parents experience barriers to regular attendance, which is a challenge for achieving exposure targets. Practitioners delivered the programme to a high quality and at least partially met programme and session‐specific aims in every session. The most significant barrier to fully meeting session aims was families' late arrival. Parents reported regularly engaging with the suggested activities at home and found the sessions useful, although not all parents responded each week. Overall, the results of this small‐scale pilot indicate START is feasible and acceptable as a parent‐mediated programme to support toddlers at elevated likelihood of autism or ADHD to thrive.
“We weren't listened to”: Practitioners views of navigating challenges and opportunities in special education settings through COVID‐19
Authors: Gaona Carolina , Mahmud Arif , Castro‐Kemp Susana
Published: May 2024

With the increase of special schools in UK and around the world, this study seeked to explore in‐depth the reality of practitioners working with children with SEND in specialist settings throughout the COVID‐19 pandemic. Utilising semi‐structured interviews with 11 special school teachers and leaders, this study found that professionals working in specialist settings experienced parental conflict, challenges related to personal life and working arrangements during this time, and highlighted concerns and opportunities for the future and sustainability of the SEND system. The professionals highlighted some essential components needed to support the development of meaningful careers and the reduction of attrition in the sector such as an increase in pay and greater appreciation of the role. This study has implications for policy and practice in a time of uncertainty pre‐election and during national crises such as high teacher turnover coupled with low teacher recruitment.
Mutualistic interactions of lactate‐producing lactobacilli and lactate‐utilizing Veillonella dispar: Lactate and glutamate cross‐feeding for the enhanced growth and short‐chain fatty acid production
Authors: Zhang Shi‐Min , Hung Jia‐He , Yen Tran Ngoc , Huang Shir‐Ly
Published: May 2024

The human gut hosts numerous ecological niches for microbe–microbe and host–microbe interactions. Gut lactate homeostasis in humans is crucial and relies on various bacteria. Veillonella spp., gut lactate‐utilizing bacteria, and lactate‐producing bacteria were frequently co‐isolated. A recent clinical trial has revealed that lactate‐producing bacteria in humans cross‐feed lactate to Veillonella spp.; however, their interspecies interaction mechanisms remain unclear. Veillonella dispar, an obligate anaerobe commonly found in the human gut and oral cavity, ferments lactate into acetate and propionate. In our study, we investigated the interaction between V. dispar ATCC 17748T and three representative phylogenetically distant strains of lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356T, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei ATCC 27216T, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATCC 10241. Bacterial growth, viability, metabolism and gene level adaptations during bacterial interaction were examined. V. dispar exhibited the highest degree of mutualism with L. acidophilus. During co‐culture of V. dispar with L. acidophilus, both bacteria exhibited enhanced growth and increased viability. V. dispar demonstrated an upregulation of amino acid biosynthesis pathways and the aspartate catabolic pathway. L. acidophilus also showed a considerable number of upregulated genes related to growth and lactate fermentation. Our results support that V. dispar is able to enhance the fermentative capability of L. acidophilus by presumably consuming the produced lactate, and that L. acidophilus cross‐feed not only lactate, but also glutamate, to V. dispar during co‐culture. The cross‐fed glutamate enters the central carbon metabolism in V. dispar. These findings highlight an intricate metabolic relationship characterized by cross‐feeding of lactate and glutamate in parallel with considerable gene regulation within both L. acidophilus (lactate‐producing) and V. dispar (lactate‐utilizing). The mechanisms of mutualistic interactions between a traditional probiotic bacterium and a potential next‐generation probiotic bacterium were elucidated in the production of short‐chain fatty acids.
Klumpy: A tool to evaluate the integrity of long‐read genome assemblies and illusive sequence motifs
Authors: Madrigal Giovanni , Minhas Bushra Fazal , Catchen Julian
Published: May 2024

The improvement and decreasing costs of third‐generation sequencing technologies has widened the scope of biological questions researchers can address with de novo genome assemblies. With the increasing number of reference genomes, validating their integrity with minimal overhead is vital for establishing confident results in their applications. Here, we present Klumpy, a tool for detecting and visualizing both misassembled regions in a genome assembly and genetic elements (e.g. genes) of interest in a set of sequences. By leveraging the initial raw reads in combination with their respective genome assembly, we illustrate Klumpy's utility by investigating antifreeze glycoprotein (afgp) loci across two icefishes, by searching for a reported absent gene in the northern snakehead fish, and by scanning the reference genomes of a mudskipper and bumblebee for misassembled regions. In the two former cases, we were able to provide support for the noncanonical placement of an afgp locus in the icefishes and locate the missing snakehead gene. Furthermore, our genome scans were able identify an unmappable locus in the mudskipper reference genome and identify a putative repetitive element shared among several species of bees.
Long‐term competition for product awareness with learning from friends
Authors: Gong Qiang , Xu Yujing , Yang Huanxing
Published: May 2024

We study a dynamic model of price competition with differentiated products in which new generations of consumers acquire information about available products from their friends of previous generations. The social network, which links consumers across generations, affects the evolution of consumers' awareness of products and firms' long‐term (steady‐state) market shares. Focusing on steady‐state equilibria, we examine how the structure of the social network—including connectivity and homophily—influences market shares, pricing, and welfare.
Early life interventions metformin and trodusquemine metabolically reprogram the developing mouse liver through transcriptomic alterations
Authors: Ashiqueali Sarah A. , Schneider Augusto , Zhu Xiang , Juszczyk Ewelina , Mansoor Mishfak A. M. , Zhu Yun , Fang Yimin , Zanini Bianka M. , Garcia Driele N. , Hayslip Natalie , Medina David , McFadden Samuel , Stockwell Robert , Yuan Rong , Bartke Andrzej , Zasloff Michael , Siddiqi Shadab , Masternak Michal M.
Published: May 2024

Recent studies have demonstrated the remarkable potential of early life intervention strategies at influencing the course of postnatal development, thereby offering exciting possibilities for enhancing longevity and improving overall health. Metformin (MF), an FDA‐approved medication for type II diabetes mellitus, has recently gained attention for its promising anti‐aging properties, acting as a calorie restriction mimetic, and delaying precocious puberty. Additionally, trodusquemine (MSI‐1436), an investigational drug, has been shown to combat obesity and metabolic disorders by inhibiting the enzyme protein tyrosine phosphatase 1b (Ptp1b), consequently reducing hepatic lipogenesis and counteracting insulin and leptin resistance. In this study, we aimed to further explore the effects of these compounds on young, developing mice to uncover biomolecular signatures that are central to liver metabolic processes. We found that MSI‐1436 more potently alters mRNA and miRNA expression in the liver compared with MF, with bioinformatic analysis suggesting that cohorts of differentially expressed miRNAs inhibit the action of phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (Pi3k), protein kinase B (Akt), and mammalian target of rapamycin (Mtor) to regulate the downstream processes of de novo lipogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, very‐low‐density lipoprotein transport, and cholesterol biosynthesis and efflux. In summary, our study demonstrates that administering these compounds during the postnatal window metabolically reprograms the liver through induction of potent epigenetic changes in the transcriptome, potentially forestalling the onset of age‐related diseases and enhancing longevity. Future studies are necessary to determine the impacts on lifespan and overall quality of life.
Longitudinal alcohol‐related brain changes in older adults: The Sydney Memory and Ageing Study
Authors: Mewton Louise , Visontay Rachel , Hughes Gerard , Browning Catherine , Wen Wei , Topiwala Anya , Draper Brian , Crawford John D. , Brodaty Henry , Sachdev Perminder S.
Published: May 2024

Increases in harmful drinking among older adults indicate the need for a more thorough understanding of the relationship between later‐life alcohol use and brain health. The current study investigated the relationships between alcohol use and progressive grey and white matter changes in older adults using longitudinal data. A total of 530 participants (aged 70 to 90 years; 46.0% male) were included. Brain outcomes assessed over 6 years included total grey and white matter volume, as well as volume of the hippocampus, thalamus, amygdala, corpus callosum, orbitofrontal cortex and insula. White matter integrity was also investigated. Average alcohol use across the study period was the main exposure of interest. Past‐year binge drinking and reduction in drinking from pre‐baseline were additional exposures of interest. Within the context of low‐level average drinking (averaging 11.7 g per day), higher average amount of alcohol consumed was associated with less atrophy in the left (B = 7.50, pFDR = 0.010) and right (B = 5.98, pFDR = 0.004) thalamus. Past‐year binge‐drinking was associated with poorer white matter integrity (B = −0.013, pFDR = 0.024). Consuming alcohol more heavily in the past was associated with greater atrophy in anterior (B = −12.73, pFDR = 0.048) and posterior (B = −17.88, pFDR = 0.004) callosal volumes over time. Across alcohol exposures and neuroimaging markers, no other relationships were statistically significant. Within the context of low‐level drinking, very few relationships between alcohol use and brain macrostructure were identified. Meanwhile, heavier drinking was negatively associated with white matter integrity.
Is liquidity provision informative? Evidence from agricultural futures markets
Authors: Ma Richie R. , Serra Teresa
Published: May 2024

Electronic commodity trading witnesses a massive volume of order messages every trading day, but little is known about their informativeness. We examine limit order dynamics and their role in price discovery in the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) corn, soybean, and wheat futures markets from January 2019 to June 2020, using order‐level data. Between 75% and 79% of the large number of limit orders submitted are then deleted, which contrasts with the much smaller proportion getting executed or revised. Aggressive trades and limit orders substantially contribute to price discovery, whereas nonaggressive trades and limit orders, representing most market events, play a minor role. Following public information releases, there is a shift in trading strategies, with trades contributing more to price discovery and aggressive limit orders contributing less, compared to nonrelease days. Our findings suggest that most limit orders in agricultural futures markets continue to play the traditional role of uninformed liquidity provision.
Hospital and out‐of‐hospital services provided by public geriatric medicine departments in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Azarias Eleni , Thillainadesan Janani , Hanger Carl , Scott John , Boudville Amanda , Moran Chris , O'Sullivan Robert , Maddison John , Eagar Kathy , Harvey Gillian , King Alison , Kearney Leanne , Naganathan Vasi
Published: May 2024

Objective

To describe the types of hospital and out‐of‐hospital services provided by public geriatric medicine departments in Australia and New Zealand, and to explore head of department (HOD) views on issues in current and future service provision.

Methods

An electronic survey was sent to HODs of public geriatric medicine departments.

Results

Seventy‐six (89%) of 85 identified HODs completed the survey. Seventy‐one (93%) departments admit inpatients and 51 (67%) admit acute inpatients, with variable admission criteria. Sixty‐four (84%) have hospitals with an inpatient general medicine service, and 58 (91%) of these admit older patients with acute geriatric issues. Sixty (79%) departments provide inpatient rehabilitation. Forty (53%) have beds for behavioural symptoms of dementia and/or delirium. Seventy (92%) provide a proactive orthogeriatric service. In terms of out‐of‐hospital services, 74 (97%) departments have outpatient clinics, 59 (78%) have telehealth and 68 (89%) perform home visits. Forty‐five (59%) provide an inreach/outreach service to nursing homes. The most frequent gaps in service provision identified by HODs were acute geriatrics, surgical liaison, a designated dementia/delirium behavioural management unit, geriatricians in Emergency, outreach/inreach to residential care and shared care with some medical specialities. Increasing staff numbers and government policy change were the most frequently identified ways to address these gaps.

Conclusions

Geriatric medicine service provision is variable across Australia and New Zealand, with key gaps identified. These findings will inform future directions in implementation of geriatric medicine models of care and discussions with various levels of government about the ongoing development of geriatric medicine services.
No COVID‐19 pandemic impact on incidence and clinical presentation of celiac disease in Italian children
Authors: Guacci Pietro , Ballabio Claudia , Folegatti Alice , Giancotti Laura , Scordo Alessia , Pensabene Licia , Parma Barbara , Selicorni Angelo , Luini Chiara , Agosti Massimo , Salvatore Silvia
Published: May 2024

Aim

We aimed to evaluate the impact of Coronavirus Disease‐19 (COVID‐19) pandemic on the incidence and clinical presentation of celiac disease (CD) in children.

Methods

The diagnoses of CD were compared between the COVID‐19 pandemic (from April 2020 to March 2022) and the pre‐pandemic period (from April 2018 to March 2020) in three Italian Paediatric Gastroenterology centres (Varese, Como, Catanzaro). Electronic patient records were reviewed and additional information were collected through parental interview. The diagnosis of CD was made according to ESPGHAN criteria. SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was diagnosed based on pre‐vaccination positive serum antibodies or nasopharyngeal swabs. Z test and chi‐square were used for statistical analysis.

Results

The overall number of paediatric diagnosis of CD did not differ between the two years pre‐pandemic and pandemic periods (177 and 172 cases) in the three Italian participating centres. Clinical presentation of CD was also similar throughout the study periods. SARS‐CoV‐2 infection has been documented in 10.6% of children but only in 5.8% of these occurred before CD diagnosis.

Conclusion

Different to what reported for other autoimmune diseases, the incidence and presenting symptoms of CD in our paediatric population did not change during the COVID‐19 pandemic compared to the previous 2 years.
The Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia score: A predictive model for bronchopulmonary dysplasia or death in high‐risk preterm infants
Authors: Chioma Roberto , Healy David B. , Finn Daragh , Walsh Brian H. , Reynolds Cole , O'Sullivan Deirdre , Livingstone Vicki , Bussmann Neidin , Dempsey Eugene M.
Published: May 2024

Aim

Progressive respiratory deterioration in infants at high risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is associated with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) exposure. This study aimed to design an early predictive model for BPD or death in preterm infants using early echocardiographic markers and clinical data.

Methods

Infants born with gestational age (GA) ≤ 29 weeks and/or birth weight (BW) < 1500 g at Cork University Maternity Hospital, Ireland were retrospectively evaluated. Those with echocardiography performed between 36 h and 7 days of life were eligible for inclusion. Exclusion criteria were pulmonary hypertension and major congenital anomalies. The primary outcome was a composite of BPD and death before discharge.

Results

The study included 99 infants. A predictive model for the primary outcome was developed, which included three variables (BW, Respiratory Severity Score and flow pattern across the PDA), and yielding an area under the curve of 0.98 (95% CI 0.96–1.00, p < 0.001). Higher scores were predictive of the primary outcome. A cut‐off of −1.0 had positive and negative predictive values of 89% and 98%, and sensitivity and specificity of 98% and 88%, respectively.

Conclusion

Our prediction model is an accessible bedside tool that predicts BPD or death in premature infants.