bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The relationship between immune markers and tryptophan–kynurenine metabolites in South African people with HIV
Authors: Williams Monray E. , Asia Levanco K. , Lindeque Zander , Van Vuren Esmé Jansen
Published: January 2025

HIV-1 remains a global challenge, especially in high-prevalence areas like South Africa. This study explores the relationship between inflammation and metabolism in people with HIV, focusing on immune markers and the tryptophan–kynurenine (Trp–Kyn) pathway. We examined immune markers (hsCRP, suPAR, IL-6, NGAL, and sCD163) and Trp–Kyn metabolites (QUIN, Trp, Kyn, Trp/Kyn ratio, and kynurenic acid) in n = 69 treatment-naive South African people with HIV. Using targeted liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) metabolomics and various assays, we observed significant associations between immune markers and Trp–Kyn metabolites. IL-6 was negatively associated with Trp (P < 0.001) and positively with the Kyn/Trp ratio (P = 0.005). hsCRP was positively associated with QUIN (P = 0.036). suPAR showed significant negative associations with Trp (P = 0.036), positive associations with the Kyn/Trp ratio (P < 0.001), and QUIN (P = 0.007). sCD163 negatively associated with Trp (P < 0.001) and positively with the Kyn/Trp ratio (P < 0.001). When participants were stratified by inflammation levels (based on CRP), IL-6 (P = 0.002), QUIN (P = 0.009), and Kyn (P = 0.032) were significantly higher in the high inflammation group. Specific associations were observed only in certain groups, such as IL-6 negatively associating with Trp and kynurenic acid in the high inflammation group, and suPAR associating negatively with Trp in the low inflammation group. These exploratory findings provide further insight into how peripheral inflammation and metabolism are interrelated in South African people with HIV, potentially guiding future therapeutic strategies.
Risk factors and resolution of patient-reported pain and mental health symptoms following rib fracture(s)
Authors: Sundlof Madison , Switalla Kayla , Jones Emma K. , Bahr Matthew , Doering Michael , Martin David , McCormick-Deaton John , Melton-Meaux Genevieve B , Tignanelli Christopher J.
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND

Rib fractures, constituting 10% to 15% of trauma admissions, contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality. Effective postdischarge patient care remains a challenge. Our system has operationalized patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) via a mobile platform into routine postdischarge monitoring for rib fracture patients. This study aimed to use PROMs to investigate the association between patient factors and postdischarge pain and mental health.

METHODS

We collected PROMs from nine Midwest trauma hospitals (2021–2022) using a mobile platform. The platform provided automated check-ins, education, health reminders, and 24/7 monitored interventions based on PROM responses. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the association of patient factors for the primary outcome. The primary outcome was pain 2 weeks postdischarge (days 4–14). Secondary outcomes were mental health at 1 week, with long-term assessments at one and 3 months.

RESULTS

Of 72 patients, 55.6% reported moderate to severe pain at 2 weeks, with higher admission pain scores associated with increased pain (odds ratio, 1.69; 95% confidence interval, 1.15–2.5; p < 0.01). By 4 weeks, 29.4% of responding patients reported persistent moderate-to-severe pain, decreasing to 4.0% by 12 weeks. Patients with moderate-to-severe pain within the first 2 weeks also reported significantly higher rates of mental health symptoms at (44.8% vs. 16.7%) compared with mild pain. By weeks 4 and 12, mental health differences between pain groups were insignificant.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests a potential link between early pain and mental health symptoms. In addition, higher pain at admission may predict worse pain outcomes 2 weeks postdischarge. Patients in our cohort showed improvement in both pain and mental health symptoms within 4 to 12 weeks. These findings highlight the opportunity for PROMs and mobile apps to support optimal postdischarge follow-up and help minimize persistent pain, particularly for rib fracture patients with identifiable risk factors.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.
Tenacibaculum platacis sp. nov., Tenacibaculum vairaonense sp. nov. and Tenacibaculum polynesiense sp. nov. isolated from batfish (Platax orbicularis) in Tahiti Island, French Polynesia
Authors: Lopez Pierre , Fradet Benjamin , Coffion Lucie , Bernardet Jean-François , Saulnier Denis , Duchaud Eric
Published: January 2025

Ten novel Gram-negative, aerobic, non-sporulating, yellow-pigmented rod-shaped bacterial strains motile by gliding were isolated from marine organisms/environments in French Polynesia. Three of them designated as 190524A05cT, 190524A02bT and 190130A14aT were retrieved from orbicular batfish (Platax orbicularis) mucus. Online database comparisons using 16S rRNA amplicons resulted in over 95% similarity to the genus Tenacibaculum. Phylogenetic analyses based on 679 concatenated core protein sequences revealed that strains 190524A05cT, 190524A02bT and 190130A14aT showed the highest similarity to Tenacibaculum skagerrakense DSM 14836T, Tenacibaculum xiamenense LMG 27422T and Tenacibaculum holothuriorum S2-2T, respectively. Digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average nt identity values between strains 190524A05cT, 190524A02bT and 190130A14aT and other type strains were less than 76.25 and 24.1%, respectively. The DNA G+C content was 31.48, 30.66 and 31.98 mol% for strains 190524A05cT, 190524A02bT and 190130A14aT, respectively. Menaquinone-6 was detected as the major isoprenoid quinone in these three strains. The major polar lipids (phosphatidylethanolamine and aminophospholipid) were similar to the chemotaxonomic profile of other species of the genus Tenacibaculum. Strain 190524A05cT contained summed feature 3 (comprising C16:1 ω7c and/or iso-C15:0 2-OH), iso-C15:1 G, iso-C15:0 and iso-C17:0 3-OH as the major cellular fatty acids. Strain 190524A02bT contained summed feature 3 (comprising C16:1 ω7c and/or iso-C15:0 2-OH), iso-C15:0, iso-C15:1 G and iso-C17:0 3-OH as the major cellular fatty acids. Strain 190130A14aT contained iso-C15:1 G, summed feature 3 (comprising C16:1 ω7c and/or iso-C15:0 2-OH), iso-C15:0 and iso-C17:0 3-OH as the major cellular fatty acids. Based on the phenotypic and molecular features, these three strains represent novel species of the genus Tenacibaculum for which the names Tenacibaculum platacis sp. nov., with 190524A05cT (= CIP 112470T = DSM 118113T) as the type strain; Tenacibaculum vairaonense sp. nov., with 190524A02bT (= CIP 112469T = DSM 118112T) as the type strain; and Tenacibaculum polynesiense sp. nov., with 190130A14aT (= CIP 112468T = DSM 118111T) as the type strain, are proposed.
Dyella aluminiiresistens sp. nov., a Al3+-tolerant bacterium with the ability to inhibit Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis isolated from rhizosphere soil of muskmelon
Authors: Li Yi , Wang Jiaojiao , Wu Chunyuan , He Jian , Li Qinfen , Deng Xiao , Tan Huadong
Published: January 2025

A bacterial strain, designated as A6T, was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of a healthy muskmelon in Wenchang, Hainan Province, China. The cells of strain A6T were Gram-negative, aerobic, short rod and motile with a single polar flagellum. Strain A6T could tolerate up to 55.0 mM Al3+ and inhibited the growth of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis, which is the pathogen of muskmelon Fusarium wilt. Growth occurred at 15–37 ℃ (optimum at 30 ℃), pH 4.5–8.0 (optimum pH 6.5) and with 0–3.0 % NaCl (w/v; optimum, 0.5%). Strain A6T shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with Dyella lutea SaT (98.0%), followed by Dyella thiooxydans ATSB10T (98.0%), Frateuria edaphi 5GH9-34T (97.9%), Dyella nitratireducens DHG59T (97.7%), Frateuria defendens DHoT (97.7%) and Frateuria soli 5GH9-11T (97.7%). Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene and genomic sequences indicated that strain A6T belonged to the genus Dyella and formed a subclade with Dyella lutea SaT and Dyella thiooxydans ATSB10T. The average nucleotide identity (ANI), average amino acid identity (AAI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between A6T and its closely related type strains were 78.8–80.8 %, 70.0–71.7 % and 20.5–22.1 %, respectively. The sole respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), two unidentified aminophospholipids (APL1-2) and three unidentified phospholipids (PL1-3). The major cellular fatty acids (≥5 %) were iso-C17 : 0, C16 : 0, summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1 ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl), iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The genome size of strain A6T was 3.7 Mb with a DNA G+C content of 65.1%. Based on the phenotypic, phylogenetic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic features, strain A6T represents a novel species in the genus Dyella, for which Dyella aluminiiresistens A6T sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is A6T (= GDMCC 1.4640T = KCTC 92542T).
Handheld ISFET Lab-on-Chip detection of YAP1 nucleic acid and AR-FL and AR-V7 mRNA from Liquid Biopsies for Prostate Cancer Prognosis
Authors: Broomfield Joseph , Kalofonou Melpomeni , Gulli Costanza , Powell Sue M. , Fernandes Rayzel C. , Leach Damien A. , Moser Nicolas , Sarwar Naveed , Mangar Stephen , Bevan Charlotte L. , Georgiou Pantelis
Published: January 2025

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a highly prevalent disease, causing the second largest amount of male cancer deaths worldwide. Currently, the prostate specific antigen (PSA) blood test remains the standard serum prognostic and diagnostic monitoring biomarker but it lacks specificity and sensitivity. PSA testing can lead to invasive biopsies which can result in under detection of clinically significant disease and potential overtreatment of indolent disease. There are promising circulating biomarkers which could facilitate less invasive and more accurate tests, but present challenges in robust quantitation and deployment in clinical settings. This work presents the rapid detection of circulating YAP1 nucleic acid, androgen receptor (AR-FL) and AR-V7 mRNA for PCa prognostics in blood plasma from PCa patients. Sensitive detection of circulating YAP1 nucleic acid, AR-FL and AR-V7 mRNA extracted from PCa clinical samples was achieved with a reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay. Optimisation of mRNA extraction methodologies for reliable detection of circulating mRNA for RT-LAMP and RT-qPCR detection took place. Multiplex testing of circulating AR-FL mRNA and YAP1 nucleic acid on an ISFET Lab-on-Chip platform was readily achieved with bio-electronic signal detection taking place within 15 min. Detection of AR-V7 and AR-FL mRNA could also be achieved simultaneously with the handheld device. Evaluation of clinical data indicated that circulating YAP1 nucleic acid presence in extracted RNA from the blood plasma of patients correlated with more advanced clinical cancer staging (p = 0.043) and PSA at diagnosis (p = 0.035). The work presents potential for Point-of-Care detection of circulating mRNA from clinical samples for PCa prognostics.
Unraveling the Role of Gut Microbiota and Plasma Metabolites in Fibromyalgia: Insights from Mendelian Randomization and Dietary Interventions
Authors: Niu Mengqi , Li Jing , Zhuang Xiaoman , Yangyang Chenkai , Chen Yali , Zhang Yingqian , Maes Michael
Published: January 2025

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex disorder characterized by chronic pain, fatigue, and functional impairments, with unclear pathological mechanisms. Gut microbiota and plasma metabolites have been implicated in FM, but their causal relationships remain unexplored. Objective: This study aims to assess the causal relationships between gut microbiota, plasma metabolites, and FM using Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis and to explore potential mediating mechanisms. Methods: Public genome-wide association study data were analyzed using bidirectional MR. Associations between gut microbiota, plasma metabolites, and FM were evaluated, and multivariable MR identified mediating metabolites. Results were validated with inverse variance weighted, MR-Egger, and weighted median methods, with metabolic pathway enrichment analysis for further insights. Results: MR identified protective associations between FM and four taxa (family Enterobacteriaceae, genus Butyricicoccus, genus Coprococcus1, and order Enterobacteriales) and risk associations with genus Eggerthella and genus Ruminococcaceae UCG005. Additionally, 82 plasma metabolites linked to pathways such as caffeine metabolism, α-linolenic acid metabolism, GLP-1, and incretin regulation were associated with FM. Mediation analysis revealed Enterobacteriaceae and Enterobacteriales influenced FM risk through 2,3-dihydroxypyridine and palmitoylcholine. Conclusion: Personalized dietary interventions, such as limiting caffeine intake, increasing omega-3 fatty acid consumption, adopting a low glycemic index diet, and reducing the intake of high-oxalate foods, may effectively alleviate FM-related symptoms by modulating metabolic pathways, reducing inflammation, and mitigating oxidative stress. This study highlights the intricate interactions between the gut microbiota and metabolic pathways, providing critical scientific evidence and actionable targets for clinical interventions, dietary management, and precision medicine approaches in FM treatment.
DeepSpaceDB: a spatial transcriptomics atlas for interactive in-depth analysis of tissues and tissue microenvironments
Authors: Honcharuk Vladyslav , Zainab Afeefa , Horimoto Yoshiya , Takemoto Keiko , Diez Diego , Kawaoka Shinpei , Vandenbon Alexis
Published: January 2025

Spatial transcriptomics provides a revolutionary approach to mapping gene expression within tissues, offering critical insights into the spatial organization of cellular and molecular processes. However, generating new spatial transcriptomics data is expensive and technically demanding, and analyzing such data requires advanced bioinformatics expertise. While publicly available datasets are growing rapidly, existing databases offer limited tools for interactive exploration and cross-sample comparisons.

Here, we introduce DeepSpaceDB, a next-generation spatial transcriptomics database designed to address these issues. DeepSpaceDB focuses on interactivity and advanced analytical functionality, enabling users to explore spatial transcriptomics data with unprecedented flexibility. DeepSpaceDB allows for interactive selection and comparison of gene expression across regions within a single tissue slice or between slices, such as comparing hippocampal regions of an Alzheimer’s model mouse and a control. It also includes quality indicators, database-wide trends, and advanced visualizations that provide real-time interactivity, such as zoomable plots and hover-based information display. Moreover, these functions are not restricted to the samples collected in our database but can also be applied to samples uploaded by users.

The current version of DeepSpaceDB focuses explicitly on samples of the 10X Genomics Visium platform, ensuring higher-quality analyses and enhanced exploration tools, including comparison between interactively selected regions of tissue sections. This tradeoff enables unique features like similarity-based sample embeddings and database-wide comparisons, setting it apart from other databases prioritizing broad platform coverage over functionality.

With its combination of advanced tools and interactive capabilities, DeepSpaceDB represents a transformative resource for spatial transcriptomics research, paving the way for deeper insights into tissue organization and disease biology.

Availability:DeepSpaceDB is available atwww.deepspacedb.com.
Tomography of longitudinal phase space linearization for the generation of attosecond electron bunches
Authors: Schaap B. H. , Musumeci P.
Published: January 2025

The generation of electron bunches on the attosecond timescale is important for a multitude of accelerator-based applications. Here, we report on a tomographic measurement of the (pre)linearized longitudinal phase space of a low charge 3 MeV electron bunch generated with the 1.6 cell Pegasus photoinjector for the generation of attosecond bunches. The nonlinear correlations in the longitudinal phase space induced by space charge at the photocathode, radiofrequency field curvature of the gun, and vacuum dispersion are compensated using a compact X-band linearizer. Then, the initial and compensated phase of the picosecond electron bunch is precisely reconstructed by neural network assisted tomographic reconstruction from momentum spectra at varying buncher linac phase. Finally, we combine the measured phase space shape with particle tracking simulations to show that electron bunches as short as 941 as develop downstream the beamline.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Criticality and thermodynamic geometry of quantum BTZ black holes
Authors: Mansoori Seyed Ali Hosseini , Pedraza Juan F. , Rafiee Morteza
Published: January 2025

Within the framework of extended black hole thermodynamics, where the cosmological constant acts as the thermodynamic pressure and its conjugate as the thermodynamic volume, we analyze the phase structure and thermodynamic geometry of the three-dimensional quantum Bañados-Teitelboim-Zanelli (qBTZ) black hole. Our results uncover two-phase transitions in the T−S plane across all pressures except at a critical value. Numerical analysis reveals continuous critical phenomena along the coexistence curve, with critical exponents of 2 and 3 for the heat capacity at constant pressure and the new thermodynamic geometry (NTG) curvature, respectively. Importantly, these values notably deviate from the well-known critical exponents observed in mean-field van der Waals (vdW) fluids, where the NTG curvature and heat capacity demonstrate discontinuous criticality. To our knowledge, our investigation is the first exploration of critical behavior in black holes incorporating consistent semiclassical backreaction.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Model-Independent Tests of the Hadronic Vacuum Polarization Contribution to the Muon
g−2
Authors: Di Luzio Luca , Keshavarzi Alexander , Masiero Antonio , Paradisi Paride
Published: January 2025

The hadronic vacuum polarization (HVP) contributions to the muon g−2 are the crucial quantity to resolve whether new physics is present or not in the comparison between the standard model (SM) prediction and experimental measurements at Fermilab. They are commonly and historically determined via dispersion relations using a vast catalogue of experimentally measured, low-energy e+e−→hadrons cross section data as input. These dispersive estimates result in a SM prediction that exhibits a muon g−2 discrepancy of more than 5σ when compared to experiment. However, recent lattice QCD evaluations of the HVP and a new hadronic cross section measurement from the CMD-3 experiment favor a no-new-physics scenario and, therefore, exhibit a common tension with the previous e+e−→hadrons data. This study explores the current and future implications of these two scenarios on other observables that are also sensitive to the HVP contributions in the hope that they may provide independent tests of the current tensions observed in the muon g−2.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
QCD Constraints on Isospin-Dense Matter and the Nuclear Equation of State
Authors: Abbott Ryan , Detmold William , Illa Marc , Parreño Assumpta , Perry Robert J. , Romero-López Fernando , Shanahan Phiala E. , Wagman Michael L. ,   NPLQCD Collaboration
Published: January 2025

Understanding the behavior of dense hadronic matter is a central goal in nuclear physics as it governs the nature and dynamics of astrophysical objects such as supernovae and neutron stars. Because of the nonperturbative nature of quantum chromodynamics (QCD), little is known rigorously about hadronic matter in these extreme conditions. Here, lattice QCD calculations are used to compute thermodynamic quantities and the equation of state of QCD over a wide range of isospin chemical potentials with controlled systematic uncertainties. Agreement is seen with chiral perturbation theory when the chemical potential is small. Comparison to perturbative QCD at large chemical potential allows for an estimate of the gap in the superconducting phase, and this quantity is seen to agree with perturbative determinations. Since the partition function for an isospin chemical potential μI bounds the partition function for a baryon chemical potential μB=3μI/2, these calculations also provide rigorous nonperturbative QCD bounds on the symmetric nuclear matter equation of state over a wide range of baryon densities for the first time.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Emergent Rate-Based Dynamics in Duplicate-Free Populations of Spiking Neurons
Authors: Schmutz Valentin , Brea Johanni , Gerstner Wulfram
Published: January 2025

Can spiking neural networks (SNNs) approximate the dynamics of recurrent neural networks? Arguments in classical mean-field theory based on laws of large numbers provide a positive answer when each neuron in the network has many “duplicates”, i.e., other neurons with almost perfectly correlated inputs. Using a disordered network model that guarantees the absence of duplicates, we show that duplicate-free SNNs can converge to recurrent neural networks, thanks to the concentration of measure phenomenon. This result reveals a general mechanism underlying the emergence of rate-based dynamics in large SNNs.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy of a scheelite crystal using microwave-photon counting
Authors: Billaud E. , Balembois L. , Travesedo J. , Le Dantec M. , Rančić M. , Albertinale E. , Truong R. , Bertaina S. , Chanelière T. , Goldner P. , Estève D. , Vion D. , Flurin E. , Bertet P.
Published: January 2025

Counting the microwave photons emitted by an ensemble of electron spins when they relax radiatively has recently been introduced as a sensitive new method for electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy at millikelvin temperatures. Here, we apply this spin fluorescence method to a scheelite crystal of CaWO4, finding some known (Er3+, Yb3+, Nd3+, and Fe3+) and other unknown paramagnetic impurities. Investigating the zero nuclear spin isotope (I=0) transition of Er3+:CaWO4 as a model system, we provide a quantitative analysis of the time-dependent photon counting rate following an excitation pulse, as a function of its power. The achieved signal-to-noise ratio is found to be an order of magnitude higher than the one obtained by inductively detected Hahn echo under identical conditions. Finally, we use spin fluorescence spectroscopy at low excitation power to probe the properties of rare-earth ions close to a metallic wire deposited on the surface; our data reveal line distortion caused by the mechanical strain imparted by the thermal contractions of the metal relative to the underlying crystal. Coherent oscillations are also observed for the most highly strained ions.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Photon transport in bimodal atom-cavity systems with waveguide coupling: Application to deterministic photon subtraction
Authors: Pasharavesh Abdolreza , Bajcsy Michal
Published: January 2025

The single-photon Raman interaction has emerged as a promising tool for deterministic photon subtraction, acting as a photon-activated switch in which the first arriving photon renders the system transparent to subsequent photons. Here, we employ the input-output formalism to perform a single-photon transport analysis within a photon subtractor consisting of a three-level quantum emitter coupled to a bimodal cavity-waveguide system. The analysis provides the frequency response of the system and reveals how it is affected by the key physical parameters of the cavity modes, such as coupling strengths and decay rates. We utilize these results to calculate the probability of successful photon subtraction from pulses of different temporal shapes, durations, and carrier frequencies. Subsequent analysis combines the input-output formalism with the quantum trajectory method to numerically verify the analytical findings as well as to assess the impact of photon number of the input pulse on the subtractor's performance. Our findings highlight the single-photon model's capability in predicting the system's response to multiphoton inputs in the pulsed regime as well as its potential utility in the design of efficient single-photon subtractors.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Factors associated with the length of inpatient stay of individuals with intellectual disability and autistic individuals across North of England
Authors: Jaydeokar Sujeet , Hochard Kevin , Bakiler Esra , Swithenbank Claire , Hutchinson Christine , Odiyoor Mahesh
Published: January 2025

Purpose

According to NHS statistics, as of July 2023, there were around 2045 people with intellectual disability and autistic people in mental health and specialist hospitals. Details of their inpatient stay were captured through Assuring Transformation data returns (NHS Digital, 2023) and includes data on all types of mental health hospitals. This study aims to understand the characteristics of people with intellectual disability and of autistic adults who are in inpatient settings across north of England in February 2022. It explores the clinical and demographic factors that might have an impact on the length of their inpatient stay.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a cross-sectional study using routinely collected demographic and clinical data in 2022 of inpatients across the north of England.

Findings

A total of 625 patients were in an inpatient setting across the north of England at the time of the data collection. The results indicate that the underlying diagnostic category, region, nature of inpatient service, legal framework, reason for admission and outcome of Care (Education) and Treatment Reviews are factors that are associated with the person’s length of stay in a hospital.

Practical implications

This study highlighted the need to review the community models of care to meet needs of those with intellectual disability. It further highlighted the need to collect and analyse longitudinal data, address social care needs and further understand the factors linked to regional variations.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is a first study that investigated the factors associated with length of stay using inpatient data from across the north of England. It provides new insights into the factors that affect length of stay.
How can short travel videos facilitate tourists’ decision-making about traveling to cultural heritage destinations? Evidence from the Wudang Mountain Complex
Authors: Wu Shan , Peng Xin
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Tourist attractions promote their marketing campaigns by releasing short tourism promotional videos for their potential to promote tourists’ decision-making. However, few scholars have studied the impact of short videos of cultural heritage tourism sites on potential tourists’ destination decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the Wudang Mountain Complex, a world cultural heritage site, was used as a case study, and stimulus-organism-response theory was applied to forecast the behavioral motives of prospective tourists. About 401 responses from those who watched the short videos of the Wudang Mountain Complex were collected for the structural equation modeling test.

Findings

The study’s findings have validated the link among tourists’ cultural involvement, cultural experience, positive emotions, cultural identity, destination image, cultural heritage value and destination decisions. Positive emotions and cultural heritage values directly and significantly influence decision-making. Meanwhile, cultural involvement is very important, and it indirectly influences decision-making through cultural experience, positive emotions and cultural heritage values. However, cultural identity and destination image do not significantly influence decision-making.

Originality/value

The research enhances comprehension of how short video promotions influence cultural heritage tourism. It sheds light on the development of tourism promotions for cultural heritage sites and the creation of short tourism videos.
Fintech and financial inclusion: conceptual foundations and research landscape
Authors: Badra Shailja , Jain Sarika , Vichore Sarita
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to explore the themes of “Fintech” and “Financial Inclusion” since their inception using bibliometric analysis and pave the way for future research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is based on 351 publications from the Scopus database, covering timespan from 2007 to September 2023. The bibliometric analysis involves performance metrics (e.g. publication year, notable articles, leading journals and influential authors) and scientific mapping (e.g. word map analysis, three-field plot, bibliographic coupling, co-occurrence network analysis and thematic mapping). Tools used include Biblioshiny for performance analysis and VOSviewer for visualization.

Findings

The bibliometric analysis reveals the publication trends, most influential authors, articles, journals, countries and important keywords. Subsequently, it presents the network connections among them in the “Fintech” and “Financial inclusion” fields. It identified emerging research diversifications in the literature on fintech and financial inclusion, while performance and citation analysis reveal significant growth in publications since 2019. Science mapping identifies four major clusters of research themes: measuring financial inclusion, leveraging data and analytics, technological change through infrastructure and access and usage of financial services. The study emphasizes the importance of Fintech in enhancing financial inclusion, particularly in developing regions.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this study is the extraction of research articles from a single database, Scopus. The study emphasizes the importance of Fintech in enhancing financial inclusion, particularly in developing regions. Future research could explore the role of Fintech in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals and the G20 High-Level Principles for Digital Financial Inclusion. Additionally, there is a need to examine the behavioral changes induced by Fintech in traditional financial institutions and end-users across different economies.

Originality/value

This is one of the comprehensive studies to explore “Fintech” and “Financial Inclusion” from a bibliometric lens. The study highlights and discusses the recent themes in fintech and financial inclusion from broader social and managerial perspective.
Building organizational knowledge in corporate entrepreneurship: role of time and commonality
Authors: Snehvrat Saurav , Dutta Swarup Kumar
Published: January 2025

Purpose

How much should existing firms explore while venturing into new businesses? This study builds an organizational learning-based model for corporate entrepreneurship by applying and extending the seminal March (1991) simulation model. This paper aims to analyze the impact of the exploitation-exploration mix (commonality) on organizational knowledge across the short- and long-term.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a two-stage stochastic simulation approach to model adaptive processes related to learning within organizations. In Stage 1, an organization with no initial knowledge is allowed to achieve equilibrium against the realities associated with the first business. In Stage 2, a new reality is introduced, corresponding to the new business. The new corporate venture is, then, allowed to achieve a new equilibrium knowledge by varying commonality across time.

Findings

The findings suggest that, in the long term, increasing exploitation builds optimal knowledge only when the new and old businesses are very similar. Organizations where employees learn slowly from the organization (low socialization rate) while the organization learns fast from employees (high organizational learning rate) generate optimal steady-state organization knowledge. However, firms face a temporal dilemma. In the short term, firms with low socialization rates and high organizational learning rates fare worse than other configurations.

Research limitations/implications

Corporate entrepreneurship efforts encompass various conflicts between knowledge sharing and temporality. These conflicts are especially important in technology-driven industries and firms. The study adds a detailed understanding regarding various learning configurations using which firms can respond to new business opportunities and their impact (across time) on knowledge.

Practical implications

The study provides important inputs to managers and academics, alike, on the tricky nature of managing and maximizing corporate entrepreneurship efforts in knowledge-intensive and technology industries. This paper isolates specific firm knowledge-based dilemmas on the optimal approach toward corporate entrepreneurship ventures over time and commonality.

Originality/value

The study extends March’s seminal 1991 study on a single business to corporate entrepreneurship settings using a set of stochastic simulations. In doing so, the study adds to the corporate entrepreneurship as well as knowledge management literatures. This paper explores various scenarios emerging from time, organizational code commonality and match between business realities and arrive at optimal knowledge configurations for each scenario.
The lived experiences of Black occupational therapy students at a UK university
Authors: Otuniga Motunrayo , Chichaya Tongai F.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Only 4% of occupational therapists in the UK are Black. There is a scarcity of literature that engages with, or interrogates, issues of racism, coloniality, power imbalances and privilege within the field of occupational therapy. Very little is known about the experiences of occupational therapy students from minoritised ethnic backgrounds in the United Kingdom (UK). This study aims to explore the experiences of Black students enrolled in pre-registration occupational therapy programmes at a university in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative phenomenological study design was used for this study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect data from seven Black occupational therapy students who were selected using purposive sampling. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.

Findings

Four themes were generated from the experiences of Black occupational therapy students in this study. The themes are as follows: bitter-sweet experiences; harsh realities on placement; the need for intentionality when planning and delivering the course; and the need for creating safe spaces during practice placement.

Originality/value

Anti-Black racism exists within occupational therapy education and practice settings and negatively affects the education experience of students at the university of focus. The findings illuminated the experiences and feelings of Black occupational therapy students mainly highlighting racial discriminatory experiences. There were some positive experiences with educators. Participants provided valuable suggestions for creating safe spaces inclusive of Black occupational therapy students.
Patients’ trust in the Indian healthcare system and its impact on the intention to use artificial intelligence-based healthcare chatbots
Authors: Chellasamy Aarthy , N. Elangovan , Nagarathinam Aishwarya , Rangasamy Sangeetha
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Indian patients have different medicine systems available at the service that alter their healthseeking behaviour (HSB). This study aims to examine the beliefs and behaviour of patients in India towards the healthcare system and how it affects their intention to use healthcare chatbots.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey instrument was developed from standard scales and validated by experts. The data was collected from 397 respondents in an urban area and tested using a structural equation model in SAS JMP software.

Findings

The study found that awareness and perception of chatbots and distrust on doctors and health systems impact trust in a chatbot. The results show that trust in chatbots influences the intention to use chatbots. The belief in alternative medicine systems and HSB also influence the intention to use chatbots. The study findings also imply that health-care chatbots should cater to HSB and the belief in alternative medicine.

Research limitations/implications

The study was conducted only among the urban population because services based on technology are more available in metro cities. Bengaluru is considered the representative population of urban India.

Practical implications

The level of disruption that chatbots can provide to the healthcare system makes this study significant. The study findings will help to manage the factors that can enable chatbot inclusivity, as the current system is inaccessible to many patients.

Originality/value

This paper addresses an identified need to study patients’ trust in the Indian healthcare system and their intention to use chatbots. The level of disruptions these chatbots can cause in the health-care system is undeniable and patients’ trust in these chatbots will eventually transform the health-care sector.
Exploring linkages between social diversity, management control, and team performance: an integrative literature review
Authors: Vasquez-Peñaloza Lisseth , Sánchez-Expósito Maria Jesus , Gomez-Ruiz Laura
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to explore the influence of management control on the performance of teams with surface levels of social diversity.

Design/methodology/approach

Under the categorization-elaboration model perspective, an integrative literature review was conducted. Selecting articles published in the Scopus and Web of Science databases until 2023 and with the terms about gender diversity, age diversity, racial diversity and team performance, obtaining 122 documents. Results were analyzed in a matrix under the criteria of social diversity as a principal variable and examined the effects on team performance. Subsequently, it is synthesized according to the social diversity dimension and then integrated into an analysis with conceptual perspectives from management control systems.

Findings

The main negative effects of surface-level social diversity on team performance arise from stereotypical perceptions and social biases about differences in gender, age and race, affecting team members’ interactions. This scenario is related to the causes of the need for management control in the absence of direction, motivation problems and personal limitations, so control systems associated with possible solutions to improve group performance are proposed.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this work opens the discussion on the influence of management control on the performance of teams with social diversity. Demographic changes require new perspectives for team management, from management control providing a way to guide socially diverse team behaviors to desired team performance.
Factors influencing blockchain adoption in accounting and auditing in the face of Industry 4.0: a multi-criteria decision-making approach
Authors: Jena R. K.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Thus the purpose of this study is to prioritize the factors affecting the blockchain technology in accounting and auditing practices. Industry 4.0 technology has revolutionized how businesses and professionals perform tasks. Blockchain technology is one such Industry 4.0 technology and has the potential to change the processes used to measure and communicate financial information. More research, particularly in India, is required to better comprehend the use of blockchain in accounting and auditing.

Design/methodology/approach

This research used multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM)-based qualitative research approach (“interpretive structural modeling [ISM]” and “cross-impact matrix multiplication [MICMAC]”) to rank and classify the factors affecting blockchain adoption in accounting and auditing.

Findings

This study classified environmental, technological and management factors according to driving and dependent powers that enable blockchain adoption in accounting and auditing. The findings of this study showed that top management and government support were the most critical determinants of blockchain adoption in Indian accounting and auditing firms.

Originality/value

This research is one of the few qualitative studies examining the factors affecting blockchain adoption in accounting and auditing processes. After the Indian Government’s 2021 blockchain policy, this study is among the first to assess blockchain adoption factors using multi-criteria decision-making techniques in India to the best of the authors’ knowledge. The findings will assist stakeholders (government, technocrats, service providers, etc.) in increasing blockchain penetration in India’s accounting and auditing sectors.
A systematic review on employee happiness: three-decade review, synthesis and research propositions
Authors: Dhiman Neeraj , Kanojia Honey , Jamwal Mohit , Kumar Sachin
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study presents a systematic review of “employee happiness” research from 1991–2023. In this way, this study aims to critically appraise the existing literature, and synthesize themes, thereby, paving a clearer understanding of the construct, along with providing the future research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

By adopting a systematic approach, this study followed scientific procedures and rationales for systematic literature reviews for article selection. A total of 57 articles were finally chosen after a careful examination from 110 selected journals.

Findings

The current study identified three major themes after evaluating the selected literature on Employee happiness: (1) work, family and personal blend, (2) organizational support, and (3) Ebullience sentiment. Amidst an ambiguous usage of several related constructs in employee happiness research, the review provided a clear definition of “employee happiness” along with proposing crucial research directions.

Originality/value

There is a lack of systematic reviews on employee happiness in the existing literature. Thus, by far, this effort is one of the earliest endeavors that researchers undertook toward understanding employee happiness.
The impact of port service quality on customer satisfaction: the case of clearing and forwarding agents in Kuwait Shuwaikh Port
Authors: Alsalfiti Ahmed , Notteboom Theo
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The research identifies the factors influencing the satisfaction of clearing and forwarding (C&F) agents in Shuwaikh Port, Kuwait, based on port service quality (PSQ). The research is based on the ROPMIS model to study PSQ. This research adds value to PSQ studies and the need to explore this concept further in the context of Kuwait Shuwaikh port.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 49 C&F agents using a survey method. A self-administered questionnaire was designed using extant literature. The data are analyzed using SPSS to carry out the validity and reliability, followed by correlation and regression analyses to study the ROPMIS factors on C&F satisfaction.

Findings

The findings indicate that as per correlation analysis, all five PSQ factors are significant with C&F satisfaction. However, the regression results indicate that out of the five PSQ factors, only resources-related PSQ and management-related PSQ are significant towards C&F satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

This research implies a policy review need for current port operations and emphasizes understanding customer (C&F) expectations. PSQ improvements lead to economic benefits for the country by enhancing the effectiveness of logistics and port management.

Practical implications

The findings promote the need to use technology for improved management, which could enhance Shuwaikh port’s service quality in Kuwait, meet C&F agents' needs and maintain industry competitiveness.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills an identified need to study PSQ in Kuwait government-operated ports to provide better end-user experience and satisfaction.
Boundary conditions on the dark side of high-performance work systems: leader-member exchange as a job resource
Authors: Yu Jiawei , Abdul Hamid Roshayati , Du Lin
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Employee emotional exhaustion is widely recognized as a hidden cost associated with high-performance work systems (HPWS). To delve deeper into the pathway from HPWS to emotional exhaustion and explore the boundary conditions capable of mitigating these hidden costs, this study, building upon the job demands-resources (JD-R) model, proposes that psychological strain serves as a mediator and theorizes that leader-member exchange (LMX) operates as a job resource serving to buffer the adverse effect of HPWS-induced psychological strain on emotional exhaustion.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a time-lagged research design with a four-week interval to test the proposed hypotheses. Two waves of survey data were collected from 398 respondents in the Chinese state-owned banking sector.

Findings

The findings largely supported our hypotheses. Specifically, the results indicated that psychological strain mediated the relationship between HPWS and emotional exhaustion. In addition, LMX, as a job resource, moderated the indirect relationship between HPWS and emotional exhaustion. High-quality LMX reduced the likelihood of employees experiencing psychological strain caused by HPWS, thereby buffering the manifestation of emotional exhaustion.

Originality/value

By innovatively introducing the LMX as a job resource, this study demonstrates that the hidden costs of HPWS are not inevitable. This finding relieves organizational researchers and practitioners from the dilemma of choosing between enhancing performance and alleviating employee emotional exhaustion when implementing HPWS.
The power of independent reading
Authors: Mackenzie Noella
Published: January 2025

Purpose

To become good at anything we need to practice. However, in the classroom context, much of the reading time is devoted to instruction rather than practice. Reading practice should be daily. Text choice, motivation and reading for pleasure all interact to support implicit learning.

Design/methodology/approach

Review and synthesise the literature discussing independent reading in the primary classroom.

Findings

The more a student reads, the more their reading improves. Independent reading promotes implicit learning. Outcomes of independent reading include motivation to read more, expanded vocabulary, grammar and spelling knowledge, the ability to read fluently, improved comprehension skills, increased general knowledge and overall academic achievement. Writing and oral language skills can also improve if opportunities are created for talking about books and independent reading is used as inspiration and models for writing.

Research limitations/implications

The research is based on existing literature. The limit of 3,000 words restricts the depth of the paper.

Practical implications

The finding supports teachers to include independent reading in their daily timetable. Suggestions for establishing independent reading are provided at the end of the paper.

Social implications

Engagement in reading “acts as a mediator of gender and socio-economic status and… can help leverage social change” (OECD, 2021, p. 28). Independent reading benefits students in multiple ways and helps close the gap between those who have access to books at home and those who do not.

Originality/value

A great deal of emphasis is placed on extrinsic reading motivation and test scores. Independent reading provides the opportunity for growth and development in all areas of literacy learning through implicit learning and enjoyment.