bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emerging trends around strategic flexibility: a systematic review supported by bibliometric techniques
Authors: Agostini Lara , Nosella Anna , Sarala Riikka , Nkeng Corinne
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Strategic flexibility (SF) has become increasingly important for firms because of the fast changes in the external environment. In line with the practical importance of SF, an emerging research field has developed around it that has attempted to understand the nature of SF and the key relationships. The aim of this study is to unveil the semantic structure of the recent literature on SF and to suggest new promising areas for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct a systematic literature review with a bibliographic analysis technique, which allows authors to identify the main recent streams in the literature, as well as offer reflections and suggestions for future research.

Findings

The authors uncover three main emerging areas in the research on SF, namely SF as a dynamic capability, the role of knowledge management for SF and the relationship between a firm SF and the external environment. The authors put forward three avenues for future research on SF: Avenue 1. SF, business model innovation (BMI) and other dynamic capabilities (DC), Avenue 2. Digital technologies and SF/organizational agility and Avenue 3. SF and sustainability. Articles included in the special issue entitled “A strategic perspective on flexibility, agility and adaptability in the digital era” contribute to Avenue 2, thus paving the way for filling some of the identified gaps regarding the relationship between SF and digitalization.

Originality/value

To the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first literature review on SF that uses a bibliometric approach to draw conclusions on the findings in the literature. The review contributes to the theoretical understanding of SF by illustrating and explicating core topics that have persisted over time, as well as by presenting three main avenues for further developing authors’ knowledge around SF.
Near the breaking point: CEO job demands, innovation, and the role of CEO emotions
Authors: Cortes Andres Felipe , Herrmann Pol
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Building on the premise that the CEO position is complex and challenging, and drawing on research on upper echelons, executive job demands and emotions, this study explores how chief executive officers' (CEOs’) perceptions of job-associated difficulty can influence negative emotional displays and subsequently hamper firm innovation. Additionally, the authors explore how CEOs with higher levels of emotional intelligence might mitigate the influence of job demands on negative emotional displays.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a two-stage survey with a sample of CEOs and top management team members from 120 small- and medium-sized firms operating in multiple industries in Colombia.

Findings

The authors found that CEOs' perceptions of job demands are positively associated with CEOs' displays of negative emotions, which in turn are negatively associated with firm innovation. The authors also find that two dimensions of emotional intelligence (self-appraisal and regulation) weaken the influence of CEO perceptions of job demands on CEO negative emotional displays.

Originality/value

The authors advance a novel perspective on the challenges of leading organizations by explaining the emotional implications of the CEO position, underscoring their repercussions for important organizational outcomes such as innovation and suggesting potential ways CEOs can handle the emotional consequences of their position.
Teaching about racial violence in a place of historical trauma
Authors: Washington Elizabeth Yeager , Seay Travis Logan
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The authors describe an original unit plan that draws from local and national concerns for truthful history education about the history of racial violence in the United States. The unit plan contextualizes one impetus for truth and reconciliation in a community with a history of anti-Black violence.

Design/methodology/approach

The participants partnered with the Equal Justice Initiative to pilot the unit in their district’s new African American History course. The unit drew on historical research and cultural memory to situate local history within a broader context of racism and violence.

Findings

The teachers identified eight goals for the unit so that students could understand racialized violence, acknowledge racism as the lived experience of many of their students, and participate in a collaborative learning environment with productive discussions. Speaking from their own experiences with racism, and creating opportunities for students to do the same, the teachers aided the community in voicing long-silenced memories.

Research limitations/implications

Besides bridging some of the gaps between local, regional, and national histories, more research is needed to further examine historical trauma and its implications for both the past and present, in order to amplify and humanize experiences of racism. Additional research is a critical step in developing more thoughtful, empathic and holistic discussions of history and racism at the local level.

Practical implications

In the wake of the recent past, the authors have learned that teaching about the history of racial violence can be enhanced and empowered by reference to relevant current events. The resurgence of racially charged language and violence over the past few years makes this goal more urgent than ever. This unit gives practical guidance to teachers who face this challenge.

Social implications

The sociopolitical reality of historical trauma and racism must be confronted, and proximity to key events is important in conveying the urgency of racial violence and the need for history education that addresses it. Teachers are making difficult decisions about their options for teaching about race, and they are understandably concerned about any perceived missteps. Nonetheless, inclusive, truthful history education is an appropriate and essential response to narratives of exclusion and silence as the authors help students to develop deliberative skills concerning difficult topics such as racial violence. Teachers and students, together, can do the crucial work of remembering.

Originality/value

The stripping away of narrative agency, identity and history can cover up stories about the stripping away of life and dignity. In the unit plan, the authors recognize truth and reconciliation—especially in the education of people who have relatively little exposure to topics of race and racism—as elemental to a restorative stance against racism.
Biological nitrogen fixation, diversity and community structure of diazotrophs in two mosses in 25 temperate forests
Authors: Groß Christina , Hossen Shakhawat , Dittrich Sebastian , Knorr Klaus‐Holger , Borken Werner , Noll Matthias
Published: December 2023

Many moss species are associated with nitrogen (N)‐fixing bacteria (diazotrophs) that support the N supply of mosses. Our knowledge relates primarily to pristine ecosystems with low atmospheric N input, but knowledge of biological N fixation (BNF) and diazotrophic communities in mosses in temperate forests with high N deposition is limited. We measured BNF rates using the direct stable isotope method and studied the total and potentially active diazotrophic communities in two abundant mosses, Brachythecium rutabulum and Hypnum cupressiforme, both growing on lying deadwood trunks in 25 temperate forest sites. BNF rates in both mosses were similar to those observed in moss species of pristine ecosystems. H. cupressiforme fixed three times more N2 and exhibited lower diazotrophic richness than B. rutabulum. Frankia was the most prominent diazotroph followed by cyanobacteria Nostoc. Manganese, iron, and molybdenum contents in mosses were positively correlated with BNF and diazotrophic communities. Frankia maintained high BNF rates in H. cupressiforme and B. rutabulum even under high chronic N deposition in Central European forests. Moss N concentration and 15N abundance indicate a rather minor contribution of BNF to the N nutrition of these mosses.
Mock microbial community meta‐analysis using different trimming of amplicon read lengths
Authors: Haider Diana , Hall Michael W. , LaRoche Julie , Beiko Robert G.
Published: December 2023

Trimming of sequencing reads is a pre‐processing step that aims to discard sequence segments such as primers, adapters and low quality nucleotides that will interfere with clustering and classification steps. We evaluated the impact of trimming length of paired‐end 16S and 18S rRNA amplicon reads on the ability to reconstruct the taxonomic composition and relative abundances of communities with a known composition in both even and uneven proportions. We found that maximizing read retention maximizes recall but reduces precision by increasing false positives. The presence of expected taxa was accurately predicted across broad trim length ranges but recovering original relative proportions remains a difficult challenge. We show that parameters that maximize taxonomic recovery do not simultaneously maximize relative abundance accuracy. Trim length represents one of several experimental parameters that have non‐uniform impact across microbial clades, making it a difficult parameter to optimize. This study offers insights, guidelines, and helps researchers assess the significance of their decisions when trimming raw reads in a microbiome analysis based on overlapping or non‐overlapping paired‐end amplicons.
Crisis and risk preparation: Lessons from the field
Authors: Michaelson David , Clark Jennifer , Merkens Stephan , Cleary Kevin
Published: December 2023

This article is an example of “Lessons from the Field.” A commonly held “best practice” for crises requiring a public relations response is the need for advance preparation in anticipation of a crisis based on the level of likely risk. The challenge facing many communication professionals is identifying which risk preparedness measures are essential and prioritizing crisis preparations that are most likely to result in successful outcomes in the event a crisis communication plan needs to be implemented. To shed light on this challenge, a study was conducted that evaluated 69 sites of a global industrial manufacturer to determine which of the company's sites needed to be prioritized for crisis communication training, resources, and support. The study consisted of an online questionnaire that assessed each location for the presence of specific operational risks (risk score) and if identifiable procedures were in place in the event an operational risk occurred at a specific location (preparedness score). An analysis of the findings was conducted providing key lessons from the field that determined which procedures are most likely to provide the greatest contribution to effective crisis preparation. These lessons from the field include recommendations and procedures that are key for effective risk preparation.
An empirical analysis of Pakistan's economic growth from the perspective of strong sustainability
Authors: Humayun Tabreez , Li Shuangyan , Niazi Gul Rukh , Humayun Shahzad , Younas Waqar
Published: December 2023

Previous studies have frequently emphasized the accumulation based on the primary drivers of Pakistan's economy, such as physical and human capital; few of them focused on the environmental aspects of energy. This study pays attention to the addition of fundamental natural capital (environmental pollution) and the intake of energy into the economic analysis by using the function of Cobb–Douglas production. Additionally, the effective role of government has been analyzed in this article in terms of direct and indirect market participations. In order to ascertain the long‐term and short‐term correlations, this research used auto‐regressive distributive lag (ARDL) using the co‐integration equation and ARDL bound testing. Then, we break down Pakistan's economic growth using its long‐term growth accounting equation and assess the dynamic results of decomposition. Moreover, using a vector auto regression model, this article examines the temporary alterations in Pakistan's economic development. But on the other side, Pakistan's treasures have the power to be unleashed as resource‐deciding engines of Pakistan's economic growth, including physical investment, consumption of energy, ecological degradation, menpower, and total factor productivity (TFP). The proportion of environmental loss to economic growth shift is lower for input components, while the allocation of physical investment into financial development transition is the biggest. Entire factor efficiency's contribution to financial development has changed, indicating that TFP has a substantial influence on financial development. Promoting continuous improvements in Pakistan's total factor production is essential for the country's long‐term viability. The high sustainability of Pakistan is similarly endangered through mounting energy use and an unmaintainable energy framework that chiefly depends on coal.
Proton beam therapy in paediatric cancer: Anticipating the opening of the Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research
Authors: Khong Jeremy , Tee Hui , Gorayski Peter , Le Hien , Penniment Michael , Jessop Sophie , Hansford Jordan , Penfold Melanie , Green Julia , Skelton Kelly , Saran Frank
Published: December 2023

Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) has the potential to improve paediatric cancer care by reducing radiation exposure and thus long‐term toxicities. Ethical concerns and debates surrounding the treatment, such as eligibility and accessibility, are ongoing in Australia. The Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy and Research (ABCPTR) (named after Sir William Henry Bragg who described the Bragg peak in his laboratory at the University of Adelaide in 1903) aims to increase access to PBT in Australasia and offer a patient‐centred care approach. Research is underway to assess PBT's safety and cost‐effectiveness, using tools including Normal Tissue Complication Probability (NTCP) models. Collaborative efforts are focused on developing tailored survivorship clinics to enhance patient follow‐up and quality of life. With the anticipated opening of the ABCPTR, Australia is preparing to take a significant step in radiation oncology, offering new research opportunities and creating a publicly funded treatment centre. The initiative aims to balance treatment efficacy with patient care, setting the stage for a future in which radiation therapy will reduce long‐term side effects compared to the current standard of care. The implementation of PBT in Australia represents a complex and promising approach to paediatric oncology. This article provides an overview of the current landscape, highlighting the potential benefits and challenges of a treatment that could redefine the quality of survivorship and contribute to global research and best clinical practice.
Halomonas alkaliantarctica as a platform for poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) production from biodiesel‐derived glycerol
Authors: Możejko‐Ciesielska Justyna , Moraczewski Krzysztof , Czaplicki Sylwester
Published: December 2023

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biodegradable polyesters produced by a wide range of microorganisms, including extremophiles. These unique microorganisms have gained interest in PHA production due to their ability to utilise low‐cost carbon sources under extreme conditions. In this study, Halomonas alkaliantarctica was examined with regards to its potential to produce PHAs using crude glycerol from biodiesel industry as the only carbon source. We found that cell dry mass concentration was not dependent on the applying substrate concentration. Furthermore, our data confirmed that the analysed halophile was capable of metabolising crude glycerol into poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyvalerate) copolymer within 24 h of the cultivation without addition of any precursors. Moreover, crude glycerol concentration affects the repeat units content in the purified PHAs copolymers and their thermal properties. Nevertheless, a differential scanning calorimetric and thermogravimetric analysis showed that the analysed biopolyesters have properties suitable for various applications. Overall, this study described a promising approach for the valorisation of crude glycerol as a future strategy of industrial waste management to produce high value microbial biopolymers.
Effect of obturation technique on dentinal tubule penetration of two tricalcium silicate–based sealers: Ex vivo study
Authors: Ferreira Emílio Henrique Rocha Gonçalves , Rosas César Augusto Perini , Limoeiro Ana Grasiela da Silva , Lima Samuel Nogueira , Silva Rafael Amado , Seckler Iris Nogueira Bincelli , De Martin Alexandre Sigrist , Nascimento Wayne Martins , Bueno Carlos Eduardo da Silveira
Published: December 2023

The aim of this study was to assess by confocal laser microscope the depth of dentinal tubule penetration of two tricalcium silicate‐based sealers promoted by two obturation techniques in curved canals compared with AHPlus. One hundred and twenty canals were divided into six groups (n = 20): BCSC‐Bio‐C Sealer (BC) and single‐cone technique (SC); BCCW‐BC and continuous condensation wave (CW); TFSC‐Total Fill (TF) and SC; TFCW‐TF and CW; AHSC‐AH Plus (AH) and SC; AHCW‐AH and CW. Data were analysed using the three‐way ANOVA and Tukey's test (α = 5%). Penetration depth was significantly greater for TFCW than TFSC and greater for AHCW than AHSC (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between BCCW and BCSC (p > 0.05). The penetration of TF was significantly greater (p < 0.05). The CW technique promoted greater intratubular penetration, except for the BC sealer.
Impact of RYGB surgery on plasma immunoglobulins: association between blood pressure and glucose levels six months after surgery
Authors: Happonen Natalie , Härma Mari‐Anne , Akhi Ramin , Nissinen Antti E. , Savolainen Markku J. , Ruuth Maija , Öörni Katariina , Adeshara Krishna , Lehto Markku , Groop Per‐Henrik , Koivukangas Vesa , Hukkanen Janne , Hörkkö Sohvi
Published: December 2023

We aimed to study levels of natural antibodies in plasma, and their associations to clinical and fecal biomarkers, before and 6 months after Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. Thirty individuals with obesity [16 type 2 diabetic, 14 non‐diabetic (ND)] had RYGB surgery. Total plasma IgA, IgG and IgM antibody levels and specific antibodies to oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (oxLDL), malondialdehyde‐acetaldehyde adducts, Porphyromonas gingivalis gingipain A hemagglutinin domain (Rgp44), and phosphocholine were measured using chemiluminescence immunoassay. Associations between plasma and fecal antibodies as well as clinical markers were analyzed. RYGB surgery reduced blood pressure, and the glycemic state was improved. A higher level of diastolic blood pressure was associated with lower plasma antibodies to oxLDL after surgery. Also, lower level of glucose markers associated with lower level of plasma antibodies to bacterial virulence factors. Antibodies to oxLDL decreased after surgery, and positive association between active serum lipopolysaccharide and specific oxLDL antibodies was detected. Total IgG levels decreased after surgery, but only in ND individuals. Reduced level of total plasma IgG, improved state of hypertension and hyperglycemia and their associations with decreased levels of specific antibodies in plasma, suggest an improved state of systemic inflammation after RYGB surgery.
Health consequences of a death threat: How terrorist attacks impact drinking
Authors: Pradel Franziska , Sattler Sebastian
Published: December 2023

Terrorist attacks, war, violent acts, and their media coverage remind us of our own mortality, which may provoke stress and coping mechanisms. The terror management health model (TMHM) proposes that even subliminal thoughts about existential threats trigger worldview defense and self‐esteem‐related behaviors. Based on the TMHM, our field experiment (N = 228) examines the impact of a terrorist attack on death‐thought accessibility, the choice between alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, and if the impact on this choice is moderated by the importance of alcohol to one's self‐esteem (i.e., alcohol‐based self‐esteem), and the consciousness of the terrorist attack. Results show that thoughts about the terrorist attack increased death‐thought accessibility. The salience of the terrorist attack had no main effect on beverage choice, but alcohol‐based self‐esteem predicted choosing an alcoholic beverage. However, in the unconscious thought condition, participants who had low alcohol‐based self‐esteem and were provoked with death‐related thoughts about terrorism were more likely to choose an alcoholic beverage. In the conscious thought condition, participants who had high alcohol‐based self‐esteem were less likely to choose alcohol. This study suggests that thoughts about terrorism and, therefore, the threat of death, can be provoked in everyday situations and affect substance use behaviors with potentially adverse health consequences.
Bioavailability of flumequine and diclofenac in mice exposed to a metal‐drug chemical cocktail. Evaluation of the protective role of selenium.
Authors: Aranda‐Merino Noemí , Marín‐Garrido Antonio , Román‐Hidalgo Cristina , Ramos‐Payán María , Abril Nieves , Fernández‐Torres Rut , Bello‐López Miguel Ángel
Published: December 2023

Background and Purpose

Organisms, including humans, are subjected to the simultaneous action of a wide variety of pollutants, the effects of which should not be considered in isolation, as many synergies and antagonisms have been found between many of them. Therefore, this work proposes an in vivo study to evaluate the effect of certain metal contaminants on the bioavailability and metabolism of pharmacologically active compounds. Because the most frequent entry vector is through ingestion, the influence of the gut microbiota and the possible protective effects of selenium has been additionally evaluated.

Experimental Approach

A controlled exposure experiment in mammals (Mus musculus) to a “chemical cocktail” consisting of metals and pharmaceuticals (diclofenac and flumequine). The presence of selenium has also been evaluated as an antagonist. Mouse plasma samples were measured by UPLC‐QTOF. A targeted search of 48 metabolites was also performed.

Key Results

Metals significantly affected the FMQ plasma levels when the gut microbiota was depleted. Hydroxy FMQ decreased if metals were present. Selenium minimized this decrease. The 3‐hydroxy DCF metabolite was not found in any case. Changes in some metabolic pathways are discussed.

Conclusions and Implications

The presence of metals in the mouse diet as well as the prior treatment of mice with an antibiotic mixture (Abxs), which deplete the gut microbiota, has a decisive effect on the bioavailability and metabolism of the tested pharmaceuticals and dietary selenium minimize some of their effects.
Perceptions and attitudes of stakeholders on the return of brown bears (Ursus arctos): Contributions from a workshop held in northern Portugal
Authors: Azevedo João C. , López‐Bao José Vicente , Dias Rui , Santos João P. V. , Pinto Sara , Pereira José , de Castro‐Pardo Mónica
Published: December 2023

Brown bears (Ursus arctos) were extinct in Portugal by 1843. In the spring of 2019, a male bear was officially confirmed in northern Portugal, and more bears will likely reach the country shortly. We surveyed participants in a workshop held in Bragança in October 2021 to understand the perceptions and attitudes of different stakeholder groups (Administration, Research, Nongovernmental Organizations, and Local Stakeholders) regarding the return of brown bears to Portugal. Results indicate that, generally, participants would feel safe in areas where bears are present, are positive toward the return of brown bears, and see it as an opportunity for local development rather than a threat. Results also indicate a high level of consensus among groups of stakeholders concerning the issues analyzed. These preliminary results provide a baseline for perceptions and attitudes to consider when planning the conservation of brown bears returning to Portugal.
Factors influencing participation in an online national diabetes prevention programme: A qualitative study with attenders and educators
Authors: Haseldine Clair , O'Donoghue Grainne , Kearney Patricia M. , Riordan Fiona , Kerins Claire , Kirby Liz , Humphreys Margaret , McHugh Sheena
Published: December 2023

Aim

To explore factors affecting participation in the pilot of the synchronous online national diabetes prevention programme (NDPP) in Ireland from the perspectives of those who attended and the educators who recruited for and delivered the programme.

Methods

A qualitative study involving semi‐structured interviews and focus groups with NDPP attenders (attended the assessment and at least one session) and educators (dietitians) on the programme. The Framework Method using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) guided the analysis.

Results

Thirteen attenders took part in two online focus groups and five online or phone interviews. Eight educators took part. Four themes which cut across the TDF domains were identified as factors influencing participation; (i) lack of awareness of prediabetes and fear of diabetes, relating to attenders' fear of diabetes and lack of knowledge of prediabetes and diabetes prevention; (ii) perceived need for programme support to change health behaviour, concerning attenders' and educators' recognition of the need for the NDPP; (iii) trust in healthcare professionals (HCPs), relating to trust in HCPs to convey the seriousness of prediabetes and the value of diabetes prevention programmes (DPPs) and (iv) practical and personal ease of joining online, relating to the flexibility and accessibility of the synchronous online group format, the IT skills of attenders and educators and apprehension about group education.

Conclusions

Raising awareness of prediabetes and the need for prevention programmes should be a priority for health services and HCPs. The synchronous online group format was seen as less daunting to join than a face‐to‐face programme and may be a useful option to encourage participation.
The Ethics of World‐Building in Normative Case Studies
Authors: Geron Tatiana , Levinson Meira
Published: December 2023

Normative case studies are designed to offer richly detailed “worlds of possibility” that invite complex reflection and discussion about authentic ethical dilemmas in education. In this essay, Tatiana Geron and Meira Levinson argue that authors' choices of what details to include in a case are themselves ethical decisions that require significant ethical responsibility. Case details can shape which avenues of ethical inquiry are open to readers, whether and how institutional and structural conditions get considered, whose perspectives are included and legitimized, and what political issues are understood as “open” or “closed.” At its best, case “world‐building” can help readers understand the full complexity of ethical decision‐making in education. However, for this to occur, case authors must seek out expert and dissenting perspectives, field test the case with diverse audiences, and remain reflexive about their own perspectives and how these shape their world‐building decisions.
Increasing optimal coagulation factor dosing in the paediatric emergency department: Update to a quality improvement study
Authors: Kendel Nicole E. , Abdelghani Eman , Stanek Joseph R. , Mitchell Brockton , Dunn Michael W. , Rodriguez Vilmarie , Dunn Amy L.
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Prompt, appropriate coagulation factor replacement according to injury and bleeding severity in persons with haemophilia is required to prevent acute and long‐term complications.

Aims

Increase proportion of persons with haemophilia A (HA) and B (HB) treated appropriately for an acute injury and bleeding episode at a tertiary children's emergency department (ED) from 65% to 85% and sustain for one year. Secondary aim: increase time interval between patient ED encounters with out‐of‐range factor dosing.

Methods

Utilizing quality improvement methodology and plan‐do‐study‐analyze cycles, ED encounters for individuals with HA/HB receiving coagulation factor replacement for injuries were audited for in‐range coagulation factor dosing. Goal factor dose defined as 50% correction for minor bleeds and 100% correction for major bleeds. Optimal dosing range defined as 90%–120% of the calculated goal dose to account for vial size variability. Interventions targeted communication via the EMR problem list and optimization of physician education.

Results

Our previous publication demonstrated 33.3% of ED encounters with out‐of‐range factor replacement. Following several interventions, the cumulative rate of encounters with out‐of‐range dosing decreased to 18%. Overall, there was an increase in the mean percent of encounters receiving optimal factor dosing for both HA/HB compared to baseline (82.2% vs. 71.1%), though this was not a statistically significant difference.

Conclusion

Despite implementation of multiple interventions, out‐of‐range factor dosing continues to occur. Our team plans to reinstate simulation center education for ED staff and continue education efforts of pharmacists and hematology trainees with the goal of further reducing out‐of‐range dosing in our ED.
Twelve‐month effectiveness and safety of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide in people with HIV: Real‐world insights from BICSTaR cohorts
Authors: Esser Stefan , Brunetta Jason , Inciarte Alexy , Levy Itzchak , D'Arminio Monforte Antonella , Lambert John S. , van Welzen Berend , Teruya Katsuji , Boffito Marta , Liu Chun‐Eng , Altuntas Aydın Ozlem , Thorpe David , Heinzkill Marion , Marongiu Andrea , Cassidy Tali , Haubrich Richard , D'Amato Lisa , Robineau Olivier
Published: December 2023

Background

Real‐world evidence is an essential component of evidence‐based medicine. The aim of the BICSTaR (BICtegravir Single Tablet Regimen) study is to assess effectiveness and safety of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) in antiretroviral treatment‐naïve (TN) and treatment‐experienced (TE) people with HIV.

Methods

BICSTaR is a prospective, observational cohort study. Participants (≥18 years) are being followed for 24 months. A pooled analysis is presented at 12 months, with the primary endpoint of effectiveness (HIV‐1 RNA <50 copies/mL) and secondary endpoints of safety and tolerability (as per protocol). An exploration of patient‐reported outcome measures using standardized questionnaires is included.

Results

Between June 2018 and May 2021, 1552 people with HIV were enrolled across 12 countries. The analysed population comprised 1509 individuals (279 TN, 1230 TE); most were white (76%), male (84%) and had one or more comorbid conditions (68%). Median age was 47 years. After 12 months of B/F/TAF treatment, HIV‐1 RNA was <50 copies/mL in 94% (221/236) of TN participants and 97% (977/1008) of TE participants. Median CD4 cell count increased by 214 cells/μL (p < 0.001) in TN participants and 13 cells/μL (p = 0.014) in TE participants; median CD4/CD8 ratios increased by 0.30 and 0.03, respectively (both p < 0.001). Persistence was high at 12 months (TN, 97%; TE, 95%). No resistance to B/F/TAF emerged. Study drug‐related adverse events occurred in 13% of participants through 12 months, leading to B/F/TAF discontinuation in 6%.

Conclusions

The findings of this study provide robust real‐world evidence to support the broad use of B/F/TAF in both TN and TE people with HIV.
Avian influenza A(H5) virus circulation in live bird markets in Vietnam, 2017–2022
Authors: Nguyen Diep T. , Sumner Kelsey M. , Nguyen Thoa T. M. , Phan Minh Q. , Hoang Tien M. , Vo Chuong D. , Nguyen Tho D. , Nguyen Phuong T. , Yang Genyan , Jang Yunho , Jones Joyce , Olsen Sonja J. , Gould Philip L. , Nguyen Long V. , Davis Charles Todd
Published: December 2023

Background

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5) human infections are a global concern, with many A(H5) human cases detected in Vietnam, including a case in October 2022. Using avian influenza virus surveillance from March 2017–September 2022, we described the percent of pooled samples that were positive for avian influenza A, A(H5), A(H5N1), A(H5N6), and A(H5N8) viruses in live bird markets (LBMs) in Vietnam.

Methods

Monthly at each LBM, 30 poultry oropharyngeal swab specimens and five environmental samples were collected. Samples were pooled in groups of five and tested for influenza A, A(H5), A(H5N1), A(H5N6), and A(H5N8) viruses by real‐time reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction. Trends in the percent of pooled samples that were positive for avian influenza were summarized by LBM characteristics and time and compared with the number of passively detected avian influenza outbreaks using Spearman's rank correlation.

Results

A total of 25,774 pooled samples were collected through active surveillance at 167 LBMs in 24 provinces; 36.9% of pooled samples were positive for influenza A, 3.6% A(H5), 1.9% A(H5N1), 1.1% A(H5N6), and 0.2% A(H5N8). Influenza A(H5) viruses were identified January–December and at least once in 91.7% of sampled provinces. In 246 A(H5) outbreaks in poultry; 20.3% were influenza A(H5N1), 60.2% A(H5N6), and 19.5% A(H5N8); outbreaks did not correlate with active surveillance.

Conclusions

In Vietnam, influenza A(H5) viruses were detected by active surveillance in LBMs year‐round and in most provinces sampled. In addition to outbreak reporting, active surveillance for A(H5) viruses in settings with high potential for animal‐to‐human spillover can provide situational awareness.
Reconsidering the implications of formative versus reflective measurement model misspecification
Authors: Aguirre‐Urreta Miguel I. , Rönkkö Mikko , Marakas George M.
Published: December 2023

The literature on formative modelling (“formative measurement”) in the information systems discipline claims that measurement model misspecification, where a reflective model is used instead of a more appropriate formative model, is widespread. In this research, we argue that this cannot be true because models misspecified in this way would fail the measurement validation procedures used with reflective models and thus would not be publishable. To support this argument, we present two extensive simulation studies. The simulation results show that in most cases where data originates from a formative model, estimating a reflective model would not produce results that satisfy the commonly used measurement validation guidelines. Based on these results, we conclude that widespread publication of models where the direction of measurement is misspecified is unlikely in IS and other disciplines that use similar measurement validation guidelines. Moreover, building on recent discussions on modelling endogenous formatively specified latent variables, we demonstrate that the effects of misspecification are minor in models that do pass the model quality check. Our results address important issues in the literature on the consequences of measurement model misspecification and provide a starting point for new advances in this area.
Comparing incidental learning of single words and collocations from different captioning conditions: The role of vocabulary knowledge and working memory
Authors: Teng Mark Feng , Cui Yachong
Published: December 2023

Background

Vocabulary learning in a second language (L2) encompasses crucial aspects, including single words and collocations. Research indicates that L2 learners can incidentally learn single words from captioned videos, but less is known about the incidental learning outcomes of collocations, let alone the differences in learning gains for single words and collocations under different captioned conditions, as well as individual differences that may account for such differences.

Objectives

This study aimed to fill this gap by comparing the learning gains of single words and collocations while investigating the influence of vocabulary knowledge (VK) and working memory (WM) on the learning results within diverse forms of captioning conditions: full captions, keyword captions, and no captions.

Methods

The study involved 129 young Chinese ESL learners who completed vocabulary tests assessing their meaning recall before, immediately after, and 2 weeks after the study, as well as tests for VK and WM.

Results and Conclusions

The results showed that full captions are the most efficacious condition for enhancing both single word and collocation learning. The depth of VK, as well as phonological and complex WM, were significant factors in the learning of new language items.

Takeaways

Different types of captioning (full or keyword) contribute differently to the learning of various language items. Individual differences in WM and depth of VK among learners should be considered when utilizing captioned videos for language learning.
Sensory description of beverages of intervarietal hybrids of Conilon and Robusta: Natural and fermented coffees
Authors: Viencz Thayna , da Silva Portela Claudimara , Rocha Rodrigo Barros , Alves Enrique Anastácio , Ramalho André Rostand , de Toledo Benassi Marta
Published: December 2023

This study describes the sensory profile of beverages of Coffea canephora hybrids (clones BRS 2314 and BRS 2357) in natural (N) and fermented (F) versions. Flash Profile and Temporal Dominance of Sensations were performed; physicochemical characteristics were evaluated. Increase in total titratable acidity and reduction in pH was observed with fermentation. BRS 2314 beverages had higher contents of 5‐caffeoylquinic acid and caffeine. Natural coffees were described as having brown/coffee color, coffee aroma and flavor, roasted aroma and flavor, sweet aroma, and sour taste, and presenting dominance of coffee and tobacco flavors, and bitter and sour tastes. Fermented coffees were described as full‐bodied and having non‐characteristic, fermented and herbal aromas, astringent sensation, bitter taste and bitter aftertaste, and residual flavors, with the dominance of chocolate, fermented and roasted flavors, and bitter taste. BRS 2357 beverages were characterized by bitter taste and bitter aftertaste. BRS 2314N beverage presented attributes considered positive for quality.

Practical Applications

The results are relevant for the coffee production chain and consumers. Intervarietal hybrids of Conilon and Robusta are grown in an area characterized by family farming and with great prospects for sustainable production (in the Rondônia/BR state, Western Amazon) and are developed to express the best characteristics of both botanical varieties, as the high potential of Robusta coffees for fine cup beverages. The hybrid clones were successfully evaluated by experts, but the results do not necessarily correspond to the consumers' insights into coffee brew quality. In addition, fermentation allows to produce beverages with different nuances. The joint use of quick methodologies for static (Flash Profile) and temporal (Temporal Dominance of Sensations) sensory descriptions provided a closer representation of the consumers' perception of those products. This information brings new market perspectives for high‐yield Coffea canephora coffees that are now going through a moment of breaking paradigms regarding quality.
Unchaining supply chains: Transformative leaps toward regenerating social–ecological systems
Authors: Gualandris Jury , Branzei Oana , Wilhelm Miriam , Lazzarini Sergio , Linnenluecke Martina , Hamann Ralph , Dooley Kevin J. , Barnett Michael L. , Chen Chien‐Ming
Published: December 2023

The worsening climate, biodiversity, and inequity crises have existential implications. To help resolve these crises, supply chains must move beyond a minimal harm approach. Instead, supply chains must make positive contributions to and harmoniously integrate with the living systems around them. Despite agreement on this urgent need, supply chain management research still lacks a shared roadmap for establishing economically sustainable supply chains that actively regenerate social–ecological systems. This essay deepens the understanding of regenerative supply chains, inviting supply chain scholars and practitioners to rally around timely questions and codevelop new answers. We first scrutinize the paradigmatic assumptions that continue to anchor contemporary research and practice in supply chain management, showing how these once helpful assumptions now hold the community back from seeking much needed solutions. We then offer real‐world examples and synthesize emerging arguments from multiple disciplines to propose three new principles of regenerative organizing: proportionality, reciprocity, and poly‐rhythmicity. We also delve into the implications of pursuing these regenerative principles for supply chain coordination, governance, and resilience. Finally, we reflect on the fit of empirical research designs and methods for examining the creation of new regenerative supply chains and the conversion of existing supply chains.
Does the sampling frequency of an eye tracker affect the detection of glaucomatous visual field loss?
Authors: Maniarasu Priyanka , Shasane Prathamesh Harshad , Pai Vijaya H. , Kuzhuppilly Neetha I. R. , Ve Ramesh S. , Ballae Ganeshrao Shonraj
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Evidence suggests that eye movements have potential as a tool for detecting glaucomatous visual field defects. This study evaluated the influence of sampling frequency on eye movement parameters in detecting glaucomatous visual field defects during a free‐viewing task.

Methods

We investigated eye movements in two sets of experiments: (a) young adults with and without simulated visual field defects and (b) glaucoma patients and age‐matched controls. In Experiment 1, we recruited 30 healthy volunteers. Among these, 10 performed the task with a gaze‐contingent superior arcuate (SARC) scotoma, 10 performed the task with a gaze‐contingent biarcuate (BARC) scotoma and 10 performed the task without a simulated scotoma (NoSim). The experimental task involved participants freely exploring 100 images, each for 4 s. Eye movements were recorded using the LiveTrack Lightning eye‐tracker (500 Hz). In Experiment 2, we recruited 20 glaucoma patients and 16 age‐matched controls. All participants underwent similar experimental tasks as in Experiment 1, except only 37 images were shown for exploration. To analyse the effect of sampling frequency, data were downsampled to 250, 120 and 60 Hz. Eye movement parameters, such as the number of fixations, fixation duration, saccadic amplitude and bivariate contour ellipse area (BCEA), were computed across various sampling frequencies.

Results

Two‐way ANOVA revealed no significant effects of sampling frequency on fixation duration (simulation, p = 0.37; glaucoma patients, p = 0.95) and BCEA (simulation, p = 0.84; glaucoma patients: p = 0.91). BCEA showed good distinguishability in differentiating groups across different sampling frequencies, whereas fixation duration failed to distinguish between glaucoma patients and controls. Number of fixations and saccade amplitude showed variations with sampling frequency in both simulations and glaucoma patients.

Conclusion

In both simulations and glaucoma patients, BCEA consistently differentiated them from controls across various sampling frequencies.
Optimizing cultivation and shipping environments for an edible green alga, Caulerpa chemnitzia var. laetevirens (Bryopsidales) from Japan: Effects of temperature, irradiance, desiccation and salinity on photochemical efficiency
Authors: Terada Ryuta , Matsuda Koki , Nishihara Gregory N.
Published: December 2023

The effects of four stressors, temperature, irradiance, desiccation and salinity, on the photochemical efficiency (ΔF/) of an edible green alga, Caulerpa chemnitzia var. laetevirens from Kagoshima, Japan, were determined for optimizing cultivation and shipping environments using a pulse amplitude modulation‐chlorophyll fluorometer. The ΔF/ remained stable at 24–34°C during the 3‐day temperature exposures ranging from 8 to 36°C; however, it dropped at higher and lower temperatures. During continuous exposure for 6 h to irradiance levels of 400 (low) and 1000 (high) μmol photons m−2 s−1 at 16, 24 and 32°C, the decrease in ΔF/ was pronounced at high irradiance. Moreover, ΔF/ also dropped at 16°C even under low irradiance, suggesting the occurrence of low temperature–light stress. Desiccation experiments under 50% humidity and up to 5 h of aerial exposure at 24°C and dim light (20 μmol photons m−2 s−1) indicated that ΔF/ was well tolerated within 1 h of desiccation; however, it dropped quickly as the desiccation period prolonged, suggesting that, if more than 20% of the interior water was lost, ΔF/ dropped progressively. However, during a similar experiment up to 14 days of aerial exposure under saturated humidity (99%) and dim light (12:12 h light/dark photocycle), as the interior water of the frond was maintained because of the saturated humidity, ΔF/ appeared to be well maintained for up to 5 days. Similar to desiccation, this alga exhibited stenohaline characteristics (30–40 psu) under the salinity gradient of 0–80 psu for up to 7 days of culture at 24°C and under dim light (12:12 h light/dark). In conclusion, this alga can be cultivated by modifying the techniques used for cultivating Japanese Caulerpa lentillifera and adjusting its environment accordingly. To ensure appropriate shipping conditions, it is essential to maintain saturated humidity in a plastic container at room temperature.
Effects of the cardiac cycle on auditory processing: A preregistered study on mismatch negativity
Authors: Li Lingjun , Ishida Kai , Mizuhara Keita , Barry Robert J. , Nittono Hiroshi
Published: December 2023

The systolic and diastolic phases of the cardiac cycle are known to affect perception and cognition differently. Higher order processing tends to be facilitated at systole, whereas sensory processing of external stimuli tends to be impaired at systole compared to diastole. The current study aims to examine whether the cardiac cycle affects auditory deviance detection, as reflected in the mismatch negativity (MMN) of the event‐related brain potential (ERP). We recorded the intensity deviance response to deviant tones (70 dB) presented among standard tones (60 or 80 dB, depending on blocks) and calculated the MMN by subtracting standard ERP waveforms from deviant ERP waveforms. We also assessed intensity‐dependent N1 and P2 amplitude changes by subtracting ERPs elicited by soft standard tones (60 dB) from ERPs elicited by loud standard tones (80 dB). These subtraction methods were used to eliminate phase‐locked cardiac‐related electric artifacts that overlap auditory ERPs. The endogenous MMN was expected to be larger at systole, reflecting the facilitation of memory‐based auditory deviance detection, whereas the exogenous N1 and P2 would be smaller at systole, reflecting impaired exteroceptive sensory processing. However, after the elimination of cardiac‐related artifacts, there were no significant differences between systole and diastole in any ERP components. The intensity‐dependent N1 and P2 amplitude changes were not obvious in either cardiac phase, probably because of the short interstimulus intervals. The lack of a cardiac phase effect on MMN amplitude suggests that preattentive auditory processing may not be affected by bodily signals from the heart.