bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A machine learning–based Coagulation Risk Index predicts acute traumatic coagulopathy in bleeding trauma patients
Authors: Richards Justin E. , Yang Shiming , Kozar Rosemary A. , Scalea Thomas M. , Hu Peter
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND

Acute traumatic coagulopathy (ATC) is a well-described phenomenon known to begin shortly after injury. This has profound implications for resuscitation from hemorrhagic shock, as ATC is associated with increased risk for massive transfusion (MT) and mortality. We describe a large-data machine learning–based Coagulation Risk Index (CRI) to test the early prediction of ATC in bleeding trauma patients.

METHODS

Coagulation Risk Index was developed using continuous vital signs (VSs) available during the first 15 minutes after admission at a single trauma center over 4 years. Data to compute the CRI were derived from continuous features of photoplethymographic and electrocardiographic waveforms, oximetry values, and blood pressure trends. Two groups of patients at risk for ATC were evaluated: critical administration threshold and patients who received an MT. Acute traumatic coagulopathy was evaluated in separate models and defined as an international normalized ratio (INR) >1.2 and >1.5 upon arrival. The CRI was developed using 2 years of cases for training and 2 years for testing. The accuracy of the models is described by area under the receiver operator curve with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

A total of 17,567 patients were available for analysis with continuous VS data, 52.8% sustained blunt injury, 30.2% were female, and the mean age was 44.6 years. The ability of CRI to predict ATC in critical administration threshold patients was excellent. The true positive and true negative rates were 95.6% and 88.3%, and 94.9% and 89.2% for INR >1.2 and INR >1.5, respectively. The CRI also demonstrated excellent accuracy in patients receiving MT; true positive and true negative rates were 92.8% and 91.3%, and 100% and 88.1% for INR >1.2 and INR >1.5, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Using continuous VSs and large-data machine learning capabilities, the CRI accurately predicts early ATC in bleeding patients. Clinical application may guide early hemostatic resuscitation. Extension of this technology into the prehospital setting could provide earlier treatment of ATC.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Retrospective, Prognostic Study; Level III.
The Y498T499-SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein interacts poorly with rat ACE2 and does not affect the rat lung
Authors: Green Amy L. , De Bellis Dylan , Cowell Evangeline , Lenchine Roman V. , Penn Timothy , Kris Luke P. , McEvoy-May James , Bihari Shailesh , Dixon Dani-Louise , Carr Jillian M.
Published: September 2024

The rat is a useful laboratory model for respiratory diseases. SARS-CoV-2 proteins, such as the spike (S) protein, can induce inflammation. This study has investigated the ability of the Q498Y, P499T (QP-YT) amino acid change, described in the S-protein of the mouse-adapted laboratory SARS-CoV-2 MA strain, to interact with rat angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) and stimulate responses in rat lungs. A real-time S–ACE2 quantitative fusion assay shows that ancestral and L452R S-proteins fuse with human but not rat ACE2 expressed on HEK293 (human embryonic kidney-293) cells. The QP-YT S-protein retains the ability to fuse with human ACE2 and increases the binding to rat ACE2. Although lower lung of the rat contains both ACE2 and TMPRSS2 (transmembrane serine protease 2) target cells, intratracheal delivery of ancestral or QP-YT S-protein pseudotyped lentivirus did not induce measurable respiratory changes, inflammatory infiltration or innate mRNA responses. Isolation of primary cells from rat alveoli demonstrated the presence of cells expressing ACE2 and TMPRSS2. Infection of these cells, however, with ancestral or QP-YT S-protein pseudotyped lentivirus was not observed, and the QP-YT S-protein pseudotyped lentivirus poorly infected HEK293 cells expressing rat ACE2. Analysis of the amino acid changes across the S–ACE2 interface highlights not only the Y498 interaction with H353 as a likely facilitator of binding to rat ACE2 but also other amino acids that could improve this interaction. Thus, rat lungs contain cells expressing receptors for SARS-CoV-2, and the QP-YT S-protein variant can bind to rat ACE2, but this does not result in infection or stimulate responses in the lung. Further, amino acid changes in S-protein may enhance this interaction to improve the utility of the rat model for defining the role of the S-protein in driving lung inflammation.
Relationship of Salmonella Typhimurium 14028 strain and its dam and seqA mutants with gut microbiota dysbiosis in rats
Authors: Yanık Hafize Dilşad , Akçelik Nefise , Has Elif Gamze , Akçelik Mustafa
Published: September 2024

Introduction. Disruptions in gut microbiota, known as dysbiosis, have been increasingly linked to pathogenic infections, with Salmonella Typhimurium being a notable contributor to these disturbances.

Hypothesis. We hypothesize that the S. Typhimurium 14028 WT strain induces significant dysbiosis in the rat gut microbiota and that the dam and seqA genes play crucial roles in this process.

Aim. In this study, it was aimed at investigating the dysbiotic activity of the S. Typhimurium 14028 WT strain on the rat gut microbiota and the roles of dam and seqA genes on this activity.

Method. Changes in the rat gut microbiota were determined by examining the anal swap samples taken from the experimental groups of these animals using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology.

Results. In the experimental groups, the dominant phyla were determined to be Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes (P<0.05). However, while the rate of Bacteroidetes was significantly reduced in those treated with the WT and seqA mutants, no significant difference was observed in the dam mutant compared to the control group (P<0.05). In all experimental animals, the dominant species was determined to be Prevotella copri, regardless of the experiment time and application. The analysis results of the samples taken on the third day from the rat groups infected with the S. Typhimurium 14028 WT strain (W2) presented the most striking data of this study.

Conclusion. Through distance analysis, we demonstrated that a successful Salmonella infection completely changes the composition of the microbiota, dramatically reduces species diversity and richness in the microbiota and encourages the growth of opportunistic pathogens.
Brainwaves Monitoring via Human Midbrain Organoids Microphysiological Analysis Platform: MAP
Authors: Hong SoonGweon , Song Minsun , Yang Woo Sub , Park In-Hyun , Lee Luke P.
Published: September 2024

Understanding the development and pathogenesis of the human midbrain is critical for developing diagnostics and therapeutics for incurable neurological disorders including Parkinson’s disease (PD)1–3. While organoid models are introduced to delineate midbrain-related pathogenesis based on experimental flexibility4–6, there is currently a lack of tools with high fidelity for tracing the long-term dynamics of intact brain networks— an essential portrait of physiological states7,8. Here, we report a brain organoid microphysiological analysis platform (MAP) designed for long-term physiological development and in-situ real-time monitoring, akin to electroencephalogram (EEG), of midbrain organoids. We successfully achieved the on-chip homogeneous organogenesis of midbrain organoids and in-situ, non-disturbing electrophysiological tracking of the midbrain network activities. Throughout our long-term EEG monitoring via MAP, we captured the early-stage electrophysiological evolution of midbrain development, transitioning from discontinuous brief brainwave bursts to complex broadband activities. Furthermore, our midbrain organoid MAP facilitated the modeling and monitoring of neurotoxin-induced Parkinsonism, replicating the pathological dynamics of midbrain circuitry and exhibiting PD-like alterations in beta oscillation. We envision that the modeling and monitoring of brain organoid MAP will significantly enhance our understanding of human neurophysiology, neuropathogenesis, and drug discovery of neurodegenerative diseases.
Targeted single cell expression profiling identifies integrators of sleep and metabolic state
Authors: Shih Meng-Fu Maxwell , Zhang Jiwei , Brown Elizabeth B. , Dubnau Joshua , Keene Alex C.
Published: September 2024

Animals modulate sleep in accordance with their internal and external environments. Metabolic cues are particularly potent regulators of sleep, allowing animals to alter their sleep timing and amount depending on food availability and foraging duration. The fruit fly,Drosophila melanogaster, suppresses sleep in response to acute food deprivation, presumably to forage for food. This process is dependent on a single pair of Lateral Horn Leucokinin (LHLK) neurons, that secrete the neuropeptide Leucokinin. These neurons signal to insulin producing cells and suppress sleep under periods of starvation. The identification of individual neurons that modulate sleep-metabolism interactions provides the opportunity to examine the cellular changes associated with sleep modulation. Here, we use single-cell sequencing of LHLK neurons to examine the transcriptional responses to starvation. We validate that a Patch-seq approach selectively isolates RNA from individual LHLK neurons. Single-cell CEL-Seq comparisons of LHLK neurons between fed and 24-hr starved flies identified 24 genes that are differentially expressed in accordance with starvation state. In total, 12 upregulated genes and 12 downregulated genes were identified. Gene-ontology analysis showed an enrichment forAttacins, a family of anti-microbial peptides, along with several transcripts with diverse roles in regulating cellular function. Targeted knockdown of differentially expressed genes identified multiple genes that function within LHLK neurons to regulate sleep-metabolism interactions. Functionally validated genes include an essential role for the E3 ubiquitin Ligaseinsomniac,the sorbitol dehydrogenaseSodh1,as well asAttacinCandAttacinBin starvation-induced sleep suppression. Taken together, these findings provide a pipeline for identifying novel regulators of sleep-metabolism interactions within individual neurons.
Evaluating the Effects of Aircraft Noise on Hearing and Physiological Indicators: A Study of Military Personnel Using iTRAQ Proteomics and Cognitive Assessments
Authors: Shukla Manish , Patel Jai Chand , Nayak Devasharma , Shukla Meenakshi , Chakravarti Shutanu , Kapoor Neeru
Published: September 2024

Background

Noise pollution poses a significant public health risk, with prolonged exposure to high levels of noise linked to various adverse outcomes such as annoyance, sleep disturbances, cognitive impairment, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is a prominent concern in noisy occupational settings.

Method

This study investigated NIHL among 621 male Air Force soldiers aged 18-45, exposed to intense aircraft noise. Auditory assessments included pure-tone audiometry (125 Hz to 8 kHz) to categorize hearing into normal, mild, moderate, and severe impairment. Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE) and auditory brainstem response (ABR) were used to evaluate cochlear and auditory nerve function. Heart rate variability (HRV) provided insights into autonomic responses. Cognitive functions were assessed through computerized tests, and blood plasma was analyzed for cardiac biomarkers, oxidative stress indicators, inflammatory markers, and neurotransmitters. Proteomic analysis used iTRAQ labeling, MudPIT, and MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry for protein quantification and identification, with validation through ELISA.

Results

The audiometric tests revealed varying degrees of hearing impairment, with significant threshold differences at 2000, 3000, 4000, and 6000 Hz, especially pronounced at 6000 Hz. The right ear showed greater impairment, and a characteristic high-frequency notch was observed, consistent with noise exposure. Proteomic analysis indicated that NIHL is associated with oxidative stress and systemic inflammation, with differential protein expression related to hearing, coagulation, and inflammation.

Conclusion

This study highlights the severe impact of aircraft noise on hearing and systemic health, demonstrating correlations between hearing impairment and biochemical markers. It emphasizes the role of oxidative stress and inflammation in NIHL development and underscores the need for effective noise management and protective measures in noisy work environments.
A Method of Feature Selection via Deep Convolution Neural Networks For Encoding Nonlinear Functional Network Connectivity and Its Application To The Classification of Mental Disorders
Authors: Vo Duc My , Calhoun Vince D.
Published: September 2024

In functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies, it is common to evaluate the brain's functional network connectivity (FNC) which captures the temporal coupling between hemodynamic signals. FNC has been linked to various psychological phenomena. However, current FNCs mainly represent linear statistical relationships, which may not capture the fully complexity of the interactions among brain intrinsic connectivity networks (ICNs). Therefore, it is crucial to explore approaches that can better account for possible intricate nonlinear interactions involved in cognitive operations and the changes observed in psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia. This exploration can lead to a better understanding of brain function and provide crucial insights into the underlying mechanisms of various psychological and psychiatric conditions. In this paper, we present an innovative approach which utilizes a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) to extract nonlinear heatmaps from functional network connectivity matrices. By analyzing the heatmaps, multi-level nonlinear interactions can be derived from the corresponding input FNC data. Our results show these networks represent a significant improvement over previous approaches and offer a robust framework for understanding the complex inter-actions between brain regions. By incorporating two stages in the training process, our method ensures optimal efficiency and effectiveness. In the initial stage, a deep convolutional neural network is trained to create heatmaps from various convolution layers of the network. In the next stage, by utilizing a t-test-based feature selection method, we can effectively analyze each heatmap from different convolution layers. This approach ensures that we are able to extract linear and nonlinear functional connectivity from the heatmaps that play an important role in distinguishing different groups. We used a large dataset consisting of both schizophrenia patients and healthy controls, which were divided into separate training and validation sets to evaluate this approach. Our system shows the potential to accurately distinguish differences between the schizophrenia and healthy control groups with high accuracy.
Reporting and justification of sample size in translational chronic variable stress procedures: A systematic review
Authors: Jordan Crispin , Romanò Nicola , Menzies John
Published: September 2024

Allin vivostudies using laboratory animals should be guided by the Three Rs: Replacement, Reduction and Refinement. The concept of Reduction is important in sample size estimation; the sample size used should allow the detection of a biologically meaningful effect size using appropriate statistical tests, but not at the expense of animal suffering. Because studies using chronic variable stress (CVS) procedures deliberately impose suffering, we reasoned that Three Rs principles would be a strong consideration in experimental design. To explore this, we conducted a systematic review of CVS studies to ask whether a biologically meaningful effect size was used to determine the sample size. Only one article in our sample of 385 reported doing this. Accordingly, it is questionable whether most of these studies align strongly with the principle of Reduction. While determining a biologically meaningful effect size is not always straightforward, we believe it is central to making biologically informed decisions about study design and interpretation, and we discuss possible ways forward.
Examination of Lipid Distributions in Hydrogel-Expanded Mouse Brain Tissue Using Imaging Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Samuel Jacob M. , Yan Tingting , Liang Zhongling , Prentice Boone M.
Published: September 2024

Imaging is an essential tool in biological research, and imaging mass spectrometry uniquely provides a label-free approach with high molecular specificity. However, imaging mass spectrometry is limited in spatial resolution, which in turn limits the biological structures and processes that can be studied at small dimensions. Custom lens setups and altered optical paths have been used to shrink the diameter of the incident laser beam probe in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry to achieve high spatial resolutions (< 5 μm). However, these research-grade instruments are complex and expensive, making high spatial resolution imaging experiments unrealistic for the broader community. An alternative method for improving spatial resolution is through physical magnification of the substrate, which has been well established in the subfield of expansion microscopy (ExM). ExM leverages superabsorbent hydrogels for isotropic expansion of tissues and retention of analytes containing fluorescent tags. While typical ExM involves covalently anchoring the analyte of interest to the hydrogel network, lipid retention without anchoring has been recently demonstrated for imaging mass spectrometry. Herein, we demonstrate expansion imaging mass spectrometry (ExIMS) of expanded, whole brain tissue and examine lipid distributions in both positive and negative ion mode across multiple brain structures. A linear expansion factor of 4.5-fold is achieved and used to obtain high spatial resolution images of mouse brain cerebellum. Approximately 95% of lipids in both positive and negative ion mode are retained in expanded tissue compared to unexpanded tissue. Additionally, the majority of lipid distributions across the brain are maintained post-expansion. Alterations to the hydrogel formulation (e.g., crosslinker density) can significantly affect the ability of ExIMS to maintain accurate lipid distributions in expanded tissue.
A germline PAF1 paralog complex ensures cell type-specific gene expression
Authors: Vilstrup Astrid Pold , Gupta Archica , Rasmussen Anna Jon , Ebert Anja , Riedelbauch Sebastian , Lukassen Marie Vestergaard , Hayashi Rippei , Andersen Peter
Published: September 2024

Animal germline development and fertility rely on paralogs of general transcription factors that recruit RNA polymerase II to ensure cell type-specific gene expression. It remains unclear whether gene expression processes downstream from such paralog-based transcription is distinct from that of canonical RNA polymerase II genes. InDrosophila, the testis-specific TBP-associated factors (tTAFs) activate over a thousand spermatocyte-specific gene promoters to enable meiosis and germ cell differentiation. Here, we show that efficient termination of tTAF-activated transcription relies on testis-specific paralogs of canonical polymerase-associated factor 1 complex (PAF1C) proteins, which form a testis-specific PAF1C (tPAF). Consequently, tPAF mutants show aberrant expression of hundreds of downstream genes due to read-in transcription. Furthermore, tPAF facilitates expression of Y-linked male fertility factor genes and thus serves to maintain spermatocyte-specific gene expression. Consistently, tPAF is required for the segregation of meiotic chromosomes and male fertility. Supported by comparative in vivo protein interaction assays, we provide a mechanistic model for the functional divergence of tPAF and the PAF1C and identify transcription termination as a developmentally regulated process required for germline-specific gene expression.
Failure process of fiber bundles with random misalignment
Authors: Kun Ferenc , Allan Lynet , Batool Attia , Danku Zsuzsa , Pál Gergő
Published: September 2024

We investigate the failure process of fiber bundles with structural disorder represented by the random misalignment of fibers. The strength of fibers is assumed to be constant so that misalignment is the only source of disorder, which results in a heterogeneous load distribution over fibers. We show by analytical calculations and computer simulations that increasing the amount of structural disorder a transition occurs from a perfectly brittle behavior with abrupt global failure to a quasibrittle phase where failure is preceded by breaking avalanches. The size distribution of avalanches follows a power-law functional form with a complex dependence of the exponent on the amount of disorder. In the vicinity of the critical point the avalanche exponent is 3/2; however, with increasing disorder a crossover emerges to a higher exponent 5/2. We show analytically that the mechanical behavior of the bundle of misaligned fiber with no strength disorder can be mapped to an equal load sharing fiber bundle of perfectly aligned fibers with properly selected strength disorder.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Designing
TaC
Virtual Substrates for Vertical
AlxGa1−xN
Power Electronics Devices
Authors: Roberts Dennice M. , Hachtel Jordan A. , Haegel Nancy M. , Miller Moira K. , Rice Anthony D. , Tellekamp M. Brooks
Published: September 2024

Power electronics are critical for a sustainable energy future, playing a key role in electrification and integration of renewable energy sources into the grid. Advances in ultrawide band gap materials are needed to handle higher powers in smaller form factors while reducing electrical and thermal losses. High Al content AlxGa1−xN is theoretically capable of meeting these demands, but its impact in power electronics has been severely restricted by a lack of substrates that can satisfy conductivity, lattice matching, and/or thermal expansion requirements. We demonstrate that electrically conductive TaC can be used as a virtual substrate for AlxGa1−xN heteroepitaxy. Scaleably sputtered

Ta

C

grown on Al2O3, followed by high-temperature face-to-face annealing, produces a thin film TaC template with an effective hexagonal lattice constant matched to Al0.70Ga0.30N. Annealing of the TaC promotes recrystallization, significantly improving crystallinity and reducing crystalline defects from as-deposited columnar grains to a step-and-terrace surface morphology, enabling the subsequent growth of high-quality Al0.70Ga0.30N by molecular beam epitaxy. X-ray diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscopy confirm that the AlxGa1−xN layer is heteroepitaxially aligned, strain-free, and lattice-matched, transitioning abruptly from TaC to AlxGa1−xN without intermediate phases. These results demonstrate TaC virtual substrates as electrically conductive, lattice-matched, and thermally compatible templates for vertical AlxGa1−xN devices that can meet the growing power needs of a sustainable energy future.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
How green marketing practices improve customer loyalty: the mediating role of green corporate image and the moderating role of green self-identity in the new energy vehicle market
Authors: Yang Kaixin , Bu Huimei , Huang Rui , Liu Matthew Tingchi
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This research aims to explore the mechanisms by which green marketing practices (GMP) influence customer loyalty (CL) and how green self-identity (GSI) moderates the relationship between green corporate image (GCI) and customer loyalty in the new energy vehicle (NEV) market.

Design/methodology/approach

The study surveyed individuals who had purchased new energy vehicle products through an online platform, resulting in 321 valid questionnaires obtained through a non-probability sampling method. The data were analyzed using the PLS-SEM method to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The research found that green advertisement, green product quality, green product price, external green supply chain management and the salesperson’s green expertise are GMP by the company, and they had positive effects on GCI. Furthermore, GCI had a positive mediating effect between GMP and CL, while green self-identity served as a positive moderator between GMP and CL.

Originality/value

This paper addresses the research gap in the literature on green image and consumer markets, providing a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underpinning GMP and consumer behaviors. These insights can assist companies in shaping a GCI and enhancing CL in the NEV market.
The influences of internal work locus of control on knowledge loss and organizational performance: role of job rotation in Chinese construction firms
Authors: Nyallu Beatrice Audifasi , Deng Xiaopeng , Mgimba Melckzedeck Michael
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Knowledge loss (KL) is still an unfortunate fact, causing many challenges, including poor organisational performance, despite prior efforts to investigate knowledge retention methods. Therefore, this study identifies early approaches to combat KL and poor organisational performance, shifting focus on employee personality traits.

Design/methodology/approach

Grounded on the social exchange theory (SET) cross-section data from 400 Chinese construction knowledge employees were used to investigate the role of internal work locus of control (IWLC) on job rotation (JR), KL and organisational performance. The data were analysed through IBM SPSS Statistics 25 and SmartPLS 4 software.

Findings

The results demonstrated that IWLC minimises KL and positively influences JR. Then, JR negatively influences KL and decreases in organisational performance. The negative mediating effect of JR in the relationship between IWLC, KL and decreased organisational performance were also found. Finally, KL proved to positively influence a decrease in organisational performance.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the new understanding of individual behaviour and its influence on organisational outcome variables. Specifically, for ultimate KL prevention and organisational performance improvement, an organisation should understand its employees' behaviours to establish progressive collective learning and knowledge sharing.

Practical implications

This study contributes to the new understanding of individual behaviour and its influence on organisational outcome variables. Specifically, for ultimate KL prevention and organisational performance improvement, an organisation should understand its employees’ behaviours to establish progressive collective learning and knowledge sharing.

Originality/value

This study is the first attempt to explore the influence of personality traits in the early minimisation of KL, particularly the role of IWLC and JR in combating KL and improving organisational performance.
Revisiting buyer–seller relationships in sustainable sourcing: advancing trust-commitment theory within the context of blockchain technology
Authors: Duan Yanji , Zhu Qingyun , Sarkis Joseph
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Trust-commitment theory has been fundamental in understanding interorganizational relationships in sustainable supply chain management. Trust-commitment dynamics can provide insights into sustainable sourcing outcomes. Despite recent extensions to trust-commitment theory, trust and commitment correlation and the mediation role of trust between antecedents (i.e. opportunism) and commitment remains fundamental. We revisit trust-commitment theoretical relationships within the context of blockchain technology—and specifically blockchain smart contracts.

Design/methodology/approach

We conducted the scenario-based experiment with 100 business professionals from operations, supply chain and related fields to test the proposed hypotheses on how different governance mechanisms impact various managerial perceptions in a buyer–seller setting.

Findings

Findings reveal that compared with the formal written contract, blockchain smart contract enhances affect-based trust—as the only significant trust dimension, secures buyer commitment and interestingly, encourages opportunistic behavior. The impact of blockchain smart contract on cognition-based and institution-based trust is not significant. The findings advance trust-commitment theory with valuable managerial insights within the blockchain and sustainable sourcing context.

Originality/value

This study serves as a foundation for future studies to further clarify blockchain technology on sustainable buyer–seller relationships using fundamental relationships of trust-commitment and other social exchange theories.
A triple bottom line decision framework for sustainable business location in the retail sector: a developing country perspective
Authors: Asante-Darko Disraeli , Osei Vivian , Agbodjah Sena
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Retail location decision-making is considered a critical issue with substantial implications for operational success. Nevertheless, choosing an ideal location is a complex problem involving the consideration of several qualitative-quantitative factors, often in conflict. Currently, there is a paucity of decision frameworks that identify the critical triple bottom line (TBL) criteria to support sustainable retail location choices in developing nations. This study, therefore, aims to offer a TBL framework that establishes the critical set of social, economic and environmental factors and analyses their cause-and-effect relationships for achieving sustainability outcomes in retail location decisions.

Design/methodology/approach

The Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) approach was used to evaluate the TBL sustainability framework comprising 25 sub-factors based on data collected from decision-makers actively involved in retail location decisions in Ghana.

Findings

The research results show that all the TBL pillars are prominent and overlap to realise sustainability requirements in retail location decisions. Specifically, the findings reveal that economic criteria are the most prominent component in the TBL framework that drives the social and environmental dimensions toward sustainable retail location decisions. The causal relationships are also highlighted to offer insights into the relevance of the decision criteria and establish a strategic path for achieving sustainability in the location decisions of retail firms.

Originality/value

The research provides information on the prominent criteria and complex interplay among the TBL parameters to enable decision-makers to make informed location choices that will ultimately increase the sustainability of retail firms operating in developing nations toward improved competitive advantage.
The role of institutional support on female-owned business sustainability from a developing Country’s perspective
Authors: Mwesigwa Rogers , Alupo Sarah , Nakate Mariam , Mayengo Joseph , Nabwami Ruth
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study aims to examine the association between institutional support dimensions and female business sustainability in Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a cross-sectional and quantitative approach. We collected data from a sample of 224 female-owned businesses using a self-administered questionnaire.

Findings

The findings indicate that institutional support is positively and significantly associated with the sustainability of female-owned businesses. The findings further indicate that all dimensions of institutional support (financial support, government policies and programs) are significantly and positively associated with female business sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

This study employed a cross-sectional design; thus, it was impossible to monitor changes in the behavior of female-owned businesses over time. It may be possible to generalize the findings of this study to other developing countries.

Originality/value

This study provides initial empirical evidence on the relationship between institutional support dimensions and female business sustainability using evidence from a developing African economy – Uganda.
Public value and public sector accountability in New Zealand
Authors: Sharma Umesh , Kaur Amanpreet
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to present an overview of the development of the public value accounting approach and its application to public sector accountability in New Zealand.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the public value framework to demonstrate the outcome-related planning and control mechanisms that are put in place in the public sector. The paper draws from archival research using a case study of the Ministry of Pacific Peoples.

Findings

The public value accounting-based calculative practices are on the rise within the New Zealand public sector. New Zealand’s public sector is oriented towards a public value budget.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited through the use of secondary data and the use of content analysis methodology. The research enables policymakers to fund initiatives that enhance the well-being of the community. Public value can be created as a joint effort between citizens and government as evident from the case study. By looking at the totality of the impact of government through public value creation can help to improve policy decisions. Government policymakers need to emphasise on those public value creation that has an enormous positive impact on the citizens. This will also help to improve the relationship between government and citizens through increased trust in the government by citizens.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the public value research which has received relatively less attention in the literature. Public value accounting is a research field that is yet to achieve a significant level of attention.
Understanding how pre-service teachers design numeracy-rich activities in non-mathematic curriculum areas
Authors: Getenet Seyum
Published: September 2024

Purpose

This study investigates the knowledge gaps of primary pre-service teachers (PSTs) in designing numeracy-rich tasks (NRTs) that incorporate real-life contexts across non-mathematics curriculum areas. It aims to understand the PSTs' competencies and the specific areas where they require further professional development.

Design/methodology/approach

The study involved 100 final-year PSTs from a primary education degree programme. These PSTs designed NRTs as part of a course focused on integrating numeracy across the curriculum. Data were collected from these assignments and analysed using a three-point analytical scoring scale and a knowledge framework to evaluate the presence of essential knowledge types in the designs.

Findings

The analysis revealed that while PSTs were adept at creating engaging activities focusing on teaching numeracy concepts, they struggled to effectively use numeracy to teach concepts in non-mathematics curricula. Most PSTs emphasised curriculum areas like Science and Geography in their NRTs. Significant gaps were noted in their ability to select suitable materials and in their understanding of integrating mathematics as a vehicle for teaching other subjects.

Originality/value

This study provides a unique insight into the challenges faced by PSTs in effectively integrating numeracy in non-mathematics curriculum areas. By identifying these knowledge gaps, the study contributes to enhancing the design of teacher education programmes, ensuring PSTs are better equipped to deliver comprehensive educational experiences.
Do participants lie? Imposter participants in online qualitative research
Authors: Wang Yixuan
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The wide adoption of online methodologies has enabled methodological innovations in online qualitative research. However, it also increases the risk of imposter participants who may falsify or fabricate their identities, particularly in studies that offer incentives/compensation. Imposter participants pose a significant threat to data and research integrity. This paper draws on the author’s experience of making methodological adjustments after encountering imposter participants in an online qualitative study to highlight the significance of taking proactive actions throughout online qualitative studies to address this concern.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper provides a review of how qualitative scholars approach this issue in online participant recruitment, data collection and data analysis. Then, the author shares methodological changes made for ongoing recruitment and data collection, as well as handling data collected from imposter participants.

Findings

Significant differences exist between verified participants and the incidences of imposter participants. Strategies in participant eligibility check, interview and member checking can be effective ways to address imposter participants throughout research projects.

Originality/value

The discussion on this concern is scant in the qualitative research community and so is the discussion of methodological and ethical approaches to address this issue. This paper underscores the importance for researchers to be aware of the risk of imposter participants and offer methodological considerations across stages in online qualitative studies for ethical and proactive methodological actions.
Differentially private survey research
Authors: Evans Georgina , King Gary , Smith Adam D. , Thakurta Abhradeep
Published: September 2024

Survey researchers have long protected respondent privacy via de‐identification (removing names and other directly identifying information) before sharing data. Unfortunately, recent research demonstrates that these procedures fail to protect respondents from intentional re‐identification attacks, a problem that threatens to undermine vast survey enterprises in academia, government, and industry. This is especially a problem in political science because political beliefs are not merely the subject of our scholarship; they represent some of the most important information respondents want to keep private. We confirm the problem in practice by re‐identifying individuals from a survey about a controversial referendum declaring life beginning at conception. We build on the concept of “differential privacy” to offer new data‐sharing procedures with mathematical guarantees for protecting respondent privacy and statistical validity guarantees for social scientists analyzing differentially private data. The cost of these procedures is larger standard errors, which can be overcome with larger sample sizes.
Losing on the home front? Battlefield casualties, media, and public support for foreign interventions
Authors: Fetzer Thiemo , Souza Pedro C. L. , Vanden Eynde Oliver , Wright Austin L.
Published: September 2024

How domestic constituents respond to signals of weakness in foreign wars remains an important question in international relations. This paper studies the impact of battlefield casualties and media coverage on public demand for war termination. To identify the effect of troop fatalities, we leverage the timing of survey collection across respondents from nine members of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Quasi‐experimental evidence demonstrates that battlefield casualties increase the news coverage of Afghanistan and the public demand for withdrawal. Evidence from a survey experiment replicates the main results. To shed light on the media mechanism, we leverage a news pressure design and find that major sporting matches occurring around the time of battlefield casualties drive down subsequent coverage, and significantly weaken the effect of casualties on support for war termination. These results highlight the role that media play in shaping public support for foreign military interventions.
Trajectories of social outcomes in individuals born very preterm from childhood to adolescence
Authors: Thompson Sarah C. H. , Treyvaud Karli , Pascoe Leona , Mainzer Rheanna M. , Nguyen Thi‐Nhu‐Ngoc , Inder Terrie E. , Doyle Lex W. , Anderson Peter J.
Published: September 2024

Aim

To compare trajectories of social functioning in peer problems and prosocial behavior from 5 to 13 years between individuals born very preterm (VPT) and full‐term (FT).

Methods

Participants were from the Victorian Infant Brain Study (VIBeS) longitudinal cohort, consisting of 224 individuals born VPT and 77 born FT recruited at birth. Social functioning was measured using the parent‐rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) peer problems and prosocial behavior subscales at 5, 7, and 13 years' corrected age. Multilevel mixed effects models were fitted.

Results

Peer problems increased with age (adjusted mean difference per year = 0.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.01, 0.07, p = 0.02), with higher peer problems in the VPT compared with the FT group (adjusted mean difference between groups = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.06, 0.86, p = 0.02). Prosocial behavior increased from early to middle childhood and decreased approaching adolescence, but was similar between VPT and FT groups (adjusted mean difference between groups = −0.05, 95% CI = −0.50, 0.40, p = 0.82).

Conclusion

Children born VPT are at greater risk for peer problems than FT peers and may benefit from receiving greater early social support.
Vaccine hesitancy as indecision: Creation and evaluation of the Unidimensional Vaccine Hesitancy Scale
Authors: Howard Matt C.
Published: September 2024

Background

Several authors have argued that vaccine hesitancy should be conceptualized as indecision in the vaccination decision‐making process, but no established measure with support for its psychometric properties and validity has been created from this operational definition.

Aims

To resolve this tension, this article undergoes a four‐study scale development process to create the 4‐item Unidimensional Vaccine Hesitancy Scale (UVHS).

Materials and Methods

We conduct four survey studies utilizing a total sample size of 884.

Results

In Studies 1 (n = 297) and 2 (n = 298), we provide psychometric support for the measure via exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. In Studies 3 (n = 193) and 4 (n = 106), we support the concurrent and discriminant validity of the measure by assessing its relations with relevant constructs, such as vaccination readiness and acceptance, and we also provide initial indicators of the scale's possible predictive qualities by testing its time‐separated effects with vaccination willingness, receipt and word‐of‐mouth.

Discussion

We leverage these results to provide a number of theoretical insights and suggestions for future practice. Of note, we highlight that different conceptualizations and operationalizations for the same construct can produce notably differing empirical findings, and vaccine hesitancy is no different.

Conclusion

Our cumulative efforts indicate that the UVHS is an appropriate measure to assess vaccine hesitancy as indecision.
Effect of abrupt post‐fire ash inputs on water quality and the phytoplankton community in lentic freshwaters
Authors: de Jesus Gabriel Sampaio , Machado Karine Borges , de Carvalho Priscilla , Nabout João Carlos , Bortolini Jascieli Carla
Published: September 2024

One of the major threats to biodiversity is changing fire regimes, particularly increasingly frequent fires, especially during the dry season. However, studies on the direct and indirect effects of fire on biotic responses in aquatic ecosystems are still scarce. In this study, we investigated how water quality and phytoplankton community structure were affected by different ash concentrations from burning vegetation of a tropical savanna.

We used a microcosm experiment to simulate the aquatic ecosystem with different ash concentration scenarios and evaluated the water quality and the composition, richness and density of phytoplankton over time.

We found increased total phosphorus and ammoniacal nitrogen concentrations after ash addition, in addition to changes in electrical conductivity. We identified 242 phytoplankton taxa throughout the experiment and identified changes in species composition among treatments. We identified changes in the taxonomic richness of total phytoplankton, green algae and desmids over time. The density of total phytoplankton, diatoms, green algae, desmids and cyanobacteria also changed over time.

Our results suggest that ash from terrestrial fires affects water quality and phytoplankton communities depending on the proportion of ash input. Our results serve as a basis for further investigations of the effects of fire on abiotic conditions in aquatic ecosystems and their communities over long periods of time. Finally, longer‐term experiments are needed to evaluate delayed responses by the phytoplankton community.
Inflammatory spindle cell PEComa of the lung with YAP1::TFE3 fusion: a report of two cases and a potential relationship with clear cell stromal tumour
Authors: Kojima Naoki , Nishino Shogo , Sasahara Yukiko , Taki Tetsuro , Imada Hiroki , Miyoshi Tomohiro , Watanabe Shun‐ichi , Ishii Genichiro , Yatabe Yasushi , Mori Taisuke , Yoshida Akihiko
Published: September 2024

Aims

The PEComa family of tumours is defined by spindle/epithelioid cells with myomelanocytic differentiation. A small subset harbours TFE3 fusion; however, YAP1::TEE3 has not been reported. Clear cell stromal tumour of the lung (CCST‐L) is an emerging entity characterized by spindle to epithelioid cells with focal cytoplasmic clearing, inflammatory infiltrates, no myomelanocytic differentiation, and YAP1::TFE3 fusion. Herein, we report two cases of lung tumours with myomelanocytic differentiation that showed inflammatory spindle cell histology, focal epithelioid clear cells, as well as YAP1::TFE3 fusion.

Methods and Results

The patients were both men, aged 61 and 68 years. The tumours in both cases presented as well‐circumscribed solid masses involving the lung hilum. After lobectomy, no recurrence was observed at 7 and 32 months. Both tumours shared storiform to short fascicular growth of long spindle cells, with a minor component of epithelioid cells showing clear cytoplasm in the background of substantial intratumoral chronic inflammation and dilated blood vessels. One tumour showed focal melanin deposition. Both tumours were immunohistochemically positive for HMB45, Melan A, and h‐caldesmon. Fluorescence in situ hybridization assays indicated the presence of YAP1::TFE3 fusions, which was confirmed by RNA sequencing in one case tested, and by immunohistochemical TFE3 expression and loss of YAP1 C‐terminus staining.

Conclusion

We present two cases of inflammatory spindle to epithelioid cell tumours of the lungs with myomelanocytic differentiation and YAP1::TFE3 fusion. This unique morphology and gene fusion suggest that these tumours may constitute a distinct subset of lung PEComa. Furthermore, morphological and molecular overlap with CCST‐L gives rise to a hypothesis of a potential inherent relationship between PEComa and CCST‐L.
Preparation and mechanical behavior of Yb2Si2O7 interphase in SiCf/SiC minicomposites
Authors: Mu Shuang , Ma Qin , Zhang Yu , Shen Xu , Liao Chunjing , Zhang Xiangyu , Ding Yusheng , Dong Shaoming , Yang Jinshan
Published: September 2024

In this work, the Yb2Si2O7 interphase was prepared on SiC fibers using the sol–gel method. The influence of sol concentration on the morphology of the interphase was discussed. After heat treatment in argon at 1200°C for 1 h, the Yb2Si2O7 was grown in situ on the fiber surface, forming an interphase layer. Then, SiCf/Yb2Si2O7/SiC minicomposites were prepared by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI). The Yb2Si2O7 interphase exhibited no changes throughout the high‐temperature preparation process and maintained stability and compatibility with the fiber and matrix. The tensile strength of SiCf/Yb2Si2O7/SiC minicomposites with Yb2Si2O7 interphase was significantly higher than SiCf/SiC minicomposites without interphase. The crack deflection, interfacial debonding, and fiber pullout were observed in the tensile fracture of the SiCf/Yb2Si2O7/SiC minicomposites.