bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beyond efficiency: the role of lean practices and cultures in developing dynamic capabilities microfoundations
Authors: Gutierrez Leopoldo , Lameijer Bart Alex , Anand Gopesh , Antony Jiju , Sunder M Vijaya
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to theorize and test the relationships among lean operations and lean supply chain practices, learning- and innovation-oriented lean cultures and dynamic capabilities (DCs) microfoundations. Further, this study aims to assess the association of DCs microfoundations with process innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers combine primary data collected from 153 manufacturing firms located in five continents using a survey designed for the purpose of this study with archival data downloaded from the Bureau Van Dijk Orbis database and test the hypothesized relationships using structural equation modelling.

Findings

Results support the contribution of lean operations and lean supply chain practices to the development of DCs microfoundations, which further lead to greater process innovation. Additionally, while a learning-oriented lean culture positively moderates the relationships between both lean operations and lean supply chain practices and DCs microfoundations, an innovation-oriented lean culture only moderates the relationship between lean operations practices and DCs microfoundations.

Practical implications

This study identifies DCs microfoundations as the key mechanisms for firms implementing lean practices to achieve greater levels of process innovation and the important role played by lean cultures. This study provides direction for managers to put in place DCs through lean implementations, enabling their firms to be ready to respond to challenges and opportunities generated by environmental changes.

Originality/value

While previous research has confirmed the positive effects of lean practices on efficiency, the role of lean practices and cultures in developing capabilities for reacting to environmental dynamism has received little attention. This study offers an empirically supported framework that highlights the potential of lean to adapt processes in response to environmental dynamics, thereby extending the lean paradigm beyond the traditional focus on operational efficiency.
Using chatbots in e-retailing – how to mitigate perceived risk and enhance the flow experience
Authors: Silva Susana C. , De Cicco Roberta , Vlačić Božidar , Elmashhara Maher Georges
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Chatbots represent an undeniable player between online retailers and customers as they boost operational efficiency and bring cost savings to businesses while offering convenience for customers in terms of timing and immediacy. However, as chatbots represent a new-born online touchpoint in retailing, especially when it comes to online pre-purchase and purchase experience, this study examines whether and how effort expectation, facilitating condition, performance expectancy, social influence, trust, perceived risk and flow affect consumers' intention to use chatbots for online shopping. The purpose of this paper is to address this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 226 respondents participated in an online survey. Participants were asked to try a new online service and interact with a chatbot designed using Chatfuel, a platform within the Facebook Messenger setting. Structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed research model regarding the intention to use chatbots.

Findings

This study discusses the importance of offering useful and trustworthy conversational agents for online shopping and argues and explains the insignificant paths amongst other studied factors and intention to use chatbots concluding with the need to explore more drivers for such contemporary technologies. Moreover, the findings indicate that trust turns out to be an important predictor of behavioural intention towards chatbots, in addition to its role in mitigating perceived risk and enhancing flow experience.

Originality/value

Given the lack of empirical evidence related to chatbots applied for business purposes, this paper fills a gap in this research field and provides a deeper understanding of what leverages consumers' intention to use chatbots for online shopping.
The impact of COVID-19 on women and children in the UK who were victims of domestic abuse: a practitioner perspective
Authors: Proudman Charlotte , Lloyd Ffion
Published: November 2022

Purpose

This study aims to explore the impact of COVID-19 on women and children in the UK who were victims of domestic abuse.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw from their experiences of working in the domestic abuse sector to reflect on the impact of lockdown restrictions on women and children, focussing on the impact of government restrictions that created an environment in which abusers could control the movement of victims.

Findings

The impact of the pandemic was significant as victims were locked into the abuse, unable to escape for fear of breaching lockdown rules. The lockdown affected victims of different forms of violence against women and girls in the UK including forced marriage and female genital mutilation, which highlighted the ramifications of intersectional inequalities for abuse victims.

Originality/value

This paper articulates the devastating impact of the pandemic on vulnerable women, and their fair and just access to the family courts. This paper concludes that women were failed by the government and that there was not nearly enough support from support agencies, which has left many at risk and suffering significant harm.
Soil technology and post-harvest losses in Nigeria
Authors: Osabohien Romanus
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Post-harvest losses are becoming a huge issue worldwide and are predominantly severe in developing countries. Seeking ways to control post-harvest losses is important because losses decrease farm income by more than 15% for approximately 480 million small-scale farmers.

Design/methodology/approach

The study engaged Wave 4 (2018/2019) of the Living Standards Measurement Studies–Integrated Survey on Agriculture, to examine the impact of soil technology such as fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides and certified crops on post-harvest losses in Nigeria. The study engaged descriptive statistics, logit regression and propensity score matching (PSM) to analyse the data.

Findings

The study found that approximately 38% of the household harvest was lost along the value chain. In addition, the results showed that among the indicators of soil technology, crop certification has a significant impact on the reduction of post-harvest losses. The implication is that from the nearest neighbour and kernel-based matching, the use of certified crops by households contributed to 1.62 and 1.36% reduction in post-harvest losses, respectively. In contrast, pesticide, herbicide and fertiliser use had no significant impact on post-harvest losses.

Research limitations/implications

One of the limitations is that this study applied the PSM, the model did not account for endogeneity. Therefore, in examining this concept, further studies should consider applying other impact model such as the difference-in-difference to account for endogeneity.

Originality/value

While previous studies have examined how ICT adoption, storage mechanisms and value chain among others help to minimise post-harvest losses, the aspect of how soil technology can reduce post-harvest losses has been a subject of exclusion in the extant literature. This study empirically examines the impact of soil technology adoption on post-harvest losses in Nigeria.
Exploring the effects of brand risk management activities on brand security: a perspective from innovation stimulus as a moderator
Authors: Hoang Phi Dinh , Ta Thi Dao , Bui Hai-Yen Thi
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Although brand risk management (BRM) is widely acknowledged as critical concern of business leaders, there exists little empirical evidence regarding what activities firms could do to make their brand secured in the increasingly competitive market. Moreover, previous studies find out the important role of innovation stimulus in firm performance, but little attention is paid on how firm's innovation stimulates the firm's brand security. This study aims at exploring the impacts of BRM activities on brand security with the innovation stimulus as a moderator.

Design/methodology/approach

Mixed method is applied in conducting this research. In the qualitative research, an interview with managers of 20 large-size foodstuff companies in Vietnam is conducted to obtain insights into their understanding BRM activities and brand security as well as the role of innovation stimulus in managing brand risk and developing measurements for new constructs. In the quantitative research, a sample of 258 respondents is collected for the tests of reliability and validity as well as all hypotheses using SPSS software.

Findings

The authors’ findings show that the level of implementation of BRM activities influences the brand security with the moderating effect of innovation stimulus. Specifically, four dimensions of BRM activities including: strategy, personnel, processes and investment have direct, positive and significant impact on brand security. Innovation stimulus including innovation in leadership and innovation in knowledge management could serve as a moderating variable.

Originality/value

The findings of the current study have contributed to BRM literature by highlighting the importance of the implementation of BRM activities and the key role of innovation stimulus in ensuring the brand security, on which previous studies have paid little attention. The study suggests some guidance for firms about how to improve the innovation stimulus in enhancing the effectiveness of BRM activities and, as a result, increasing the brand security of the firm.
Reflecting on the past—a key to facilitating learning in strategy practice?
Authors: Korin Heidi , Seeck Hannele , Liikamaa Kirsi
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The literature on the past triggering learning in strategy practice is scant. To fill this gap, this study aims to examine the meaning of the past to learning in strategy practice and expands on the strategy-as-practice (SAP) literature. Understanding the relationship between the past and learning in strategy practice is important because learning is what keeps strategy practice in motion and remains in place, even if organizations and strategy practitioners change.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a longitudinal case study design combined with historical methods to examine how the past is embedded in present strategy practice. To capture learning in strategy practice over time, the authors applied a four-stage methodology in our analysis of document and interview data.

Findings

The authors identified four dimensions of the past embedded in the present strategy practice. These dimensions emerged from the analysis of the interviews and document data. The study’s results showed that the past appears in structures and routines, materiality, positioning and reflecting over repeated rounds of strategic planning. According to the study’s results, reflecting on strategy practice draws on past structures and routines, positioning and materiality. The past facilitates reflecting and reflecting on the past enables learning in strategy practice.

Originality/value

The authors constructed a conceptual model and showed that in strategy practice, reflection triggers learning. The authors contributed to theory development by demonstrating how the past is embedded in present strategy practice and is available for use by strategy practitioners. The authors showed that strategy practice is a continuous learning process.
Employees’ perceptions and earnings benchmarks
Authors: Park Jung Eun “JP” , Wang Yiding , Wei Sijing
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Employees, as internal stakeholders, not only play significant roles in a company’s operations but are also important users of a company’s financial information. However, prior accounting research to date has not explored whether employees incorporate a firm’s ability to meet earnings benchmarks in forming and revising their perceptions of firms. This study aims to focus on whether a firm’s ability to meet relevant earnings benchmarks impacts employees’ perceptions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use employees’ perception scores from the 100 Best Companies to Work for from 1998 to 2015. The authors conduct an empirical study to examine the impact of beating earnings benchmarks on the perceptions of employees by estimating regression analyses. The dependent variable is employee perceptions of the firm. The variables of interest are the earnings growth and the analyst forecast benchmarks. The authors control for earnings performance and other determinants of employees’ perceptions.

Findings

The authors find that beating the earnings benchmarks is relevant for employees but has different impacts on the employees’ perceptions of firms. Specifically, both level and change analyses suggest that a firm’s ability to beat the earnings growth benchmark affects employees’ perceptions. However, the authors find no associations between employees’ perceptions and the analyst forecast benchmarks.

Research limitations/implications

The authors recognize the amount of variation among the two groups’ perceptions from the binary variable creates an inherent limitation that the authors examine the best firms in terms of employee perceptions compared to the second-best firms. Therefore, the authors create another measure, EMPLOYEE_PERCEPTION2, which equals one if the firm’s ranking is within the top quartile and zero if the firm’s ranking is within the bottom quartile. This new variable increases the variation of employees’ perceptions in the sample to address the inherent limitation by allowing us to compare the best firms to the worst firms in the sample.

Originality/value

The study highlights the importance of beating earnings benchmarks for employees as a broader group of stakeholders. The study contributes to accounting benchmarks literature by exploring a different group of earnings benchmarks users. The authors also contribute to psychology studies by providing empirical evidence on the previously untested, intuitive prediction that employees’ views depend on a firm’s ability to meet relevant earnings benchmarks.
Colleagues' norms regarding work-related messages: their differential effects among remote and onsite workers
Authors: Gillet Nicolas , Austin Stéphanie , Huyghebaert-Zouaghi Tiphaine , Fernet Claude , Morin Alexandre J.S.
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Research has shown that colleagues' norms promoting the need to respond quickly to work-related messages (CN) have a negative effect on work recovery experiences. In the present study, the authors examine the direct and indirect – through affective rumination and problem-solving pondering – effects of these norms on work–family conflict, family–work conflict and job satisfaction, and verify whether and how these associations differ between employees working onsite (n = 158) or remotely (n = 284).

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 442 employees completed an online survey that covered measures on CN, affective rumination, problem-solving pondering, work–family conflict, family–work conflict and job satisfaction.

Findings

As hypothesized, the study results revealed that CN were positively related to work–family conflict and family–work conflict, but not to job satisfaction. Moreover, the indirect effects of CN on work–family conflict and job satisfaction were significantly mediated by affective rumination and problem-solving pondering, whereas the indirect effects of these norms on family–work conflict were significantly mediated by affective rumination. Finally, the relations between CN and the mediators (affective rumination and problem-solving pondering) were stronger among employees working onsite than among employees working remotely.

Originality/value

These results revealed that working remotely buffered the detrimental effects of CN on affective rumination and problem-solving pondering.
Mycorrhizal nutrient acquisition strategies shape tree competition and coexistence dynamics
Authors: Van Nuland Michael E. , Ke Po‐Ju , Wan Joe , Peay Kabir G.
Published: November 2022

Mycorrhizal fungi with different nutrient acquisition strategies influence plant species performance and physiology, thereby defining their trophic niche. This might drive resource competition dynamics that cumulatively impact tree species coexistence, but few manipulative experiments have directly tested this.

Combining surveys and experiments in a modern coexistence theory framework, we tested how variation in mycorrhizal strategies and nutrient conditions affects plant competitive outcomes. We focused on two genera of co‐occurring tree species with different mycorrhizal states: Acer (arbuscular mycorrhizal, AM) and Populus (dual mycorrhizal, but often considered predominantly ectomycorrhizal, EM).

The EM and AM fungal responsiveness in Populus species varied with latitude and nitrogen (N) limitation. Host‐specific soil microbiome conditioning and inorganic N fertilization combined to qualitatively affect coexistence outcomes. Lower N conditions favoured Populus over Acer trees, and N fertilization reversed this outcome for southern species, aligning with regional‐scale forest mycorrhizal transitions.

Results from the coexistence experiment also predict competitive exclusion between the tree species pairs, which could arise, in part, from their mycorrhizal differences and is consistent with alternative stable states in dominant forest mycorrhizal strategies. Such bistability appears in natural systems as a bimodal distribution of Populus vs. Acer tree species dominance using long‐term forest inventory data.

Synthesis: The magnitude and outcome of microbially mediated competition between Populus and Acer depends on soil nutrient availability, which likely relates to their mycorrhizal differentiation. These findings support the importance of mycorrhizal symbioses for contributing to large‐scale biogeographical patterns of tree species trophic niche separation across soil resource gradients and bistability in forest mycorrhizal structure.
Clinical characteristics of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander emergency department patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Stephensen Laura , Greenslade Jaimi , Starmer Katrina , Starmer Greg , Stone Richard , Bonnin Robert , Brazzale Anthony , Drahm‐Butler Tileah , Campbell Virginia , Davis Tania , Mowatt Elizabeth , Brown Nathan , Proctor Karlie , Ashover Sarah , Milburn Tanya , McCormack Louise , Graves Nicholas , Gatton Michelle , Mahoney Ray , Parsonage William , Cullen Louise
Published: November 2022

Objectives

To describe the demographics, presentation characteristics, clinical features and cardiac outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients who present to a regional cardiac referral centre ED with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods

This was a single‐centre observational study conducted at a regional referral hospital in Far North Queensland, Australia from November 2017 to September 2018 and January 2019 to December 2019. Study participants were 278 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people presenting to an ED and investigated for suspected ACS. The main outcome measure was the proportion of patients with ACS at index presentation and differences in characteristics between those with and without ACS.

Results

ACS at presentation was diagnosed in 38.1% of patients (n = 106). The mean age of patients with ACS was 53.5 years (SD 9.5) compared with 48.7 years (SD 12.1) in those without ACS (P = 0.001). Patients with ACS were more likely to be male (63.2% vs 39.0%, P < 0.001), smokers (70.6% vs 52.3%, P = 0.002), have diabetes (56.6% vs 38.4%, P = 0.003) and have renal impairment (24.5% vs 10.5%, P = 0.002).

Conclusions

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients with suspected ACS have a high burden of traditional cardiac risk factors, regardless of whether they are eventually diagnosed with ACS. These patients may benefit from assessment for coronary artery disease regardless of age at presentation.
Island settings and their influence on geographical research methods
Authors: Agius Karl
Published: November 2022

This study presents lessons learned from the application of mixed methods during three field visits to central Mediterranean islands over an eight‐year period to learn about and from visitors who voluntarily paid to experience ecotourism. The study outlines various challenges encountered in research in small island settings. Such challenges include logistical difficulties to reach islands, including those originating from weather conditions, difficulty in practising observation in small communities, sampling dilemmas, different levels of trust and willingness to disclose views among interview participants, lack of standardised data, language barriers that may limit who conducts research on specific islands, and substantial fluctuations in population size throughout the year. Findings show that the choice and application of methods for island research need to be informed by island dynamics; this entails adapting methods and using different data collection techniques to mitigate challenges arising from island settings. The study also outlines the need of more research in the application of mixed methods when studying islands.
The dynamics and livelihood implications of illegal mining in Ghana: A critical assessment
Authors: Afriyie Kwadwo , Abass Kabila , Frempong Foster , Arthur Beatrice , Gyasi Razak M
Published: November 2022

Discourses on “illegal” or informal small‐scale mining (galamsey) have presented it largely as a menace. Using Ghana as the focus of our study, we present a counter‐narrative to the predominant discourse. Employing qualitative in‐depth interviews with 193 local galamsey operators, the study found that economic factors coupled with the combative posture of state regulatory agencies explain the persistence of illegal activity. Although galamsey is not problem‐free, the study revealed it is the livelihood support base of such communities, providing jobs and incomes to many households. Since mineral‐rich local communities, at least, in part, depend on galamsey, the state and its regulatory agencies could collaboratively work with local agencies and mineral‐rich communities to fully exploit the hidden treasures in galamsey while reducing the proximate negative effects.
Anti‐virulence activity of novel (1‐heteroaryloxy‐2‐hydroxypropyl)‐ phenylpiperazine derivatives against both wild‐type and clinical drug‐resistant Candida albicans strains
Authors: Huang Junjun , Song Shihao , Zhao Shuo , Sun Xiuyun , Wang Zijie , Huang Xiaorong , Xiao Qing , Deng Yinyue
Published: November 2022

Candida albicans is an important human fungal pathogen. Our previous study disclosed that aryloxy‐phenylpiperazine skeleton was a promising molecule to suppress C. albicans virulence by inhibiting hypha formation and biofilm formation. In order to deeply understand the efficacy and mechanism of action of phenylpiperazine compounds, and obtain new derivatives with excellent activity against C. albicans, hence, we synthesized three series of (1‐heteroaryloxy‐2‐hydroxypropyl)‐phenylpiperazines and evaluated their inhibitory activity against C. albicans both in vitro and in vivo in this study. Compared with previously reported aryloxy‐phenylpiperazines, part of these heteroaryloxy derivatives improved their activities by strongly suppressing hypha formation and biofilm formation in C. albicans SC5314. Especially, (9H‐carbazol‐4‐yl)oxy derivatives 25, 26, 27 and 28 exhibited strong activity in reducing C. albicans virulence in both human cell lines in vitro and mouse infection models in vivo. The compound 27 attenuated the virulence of various clinical C. albicans strains, including clinical drug‐resistant C. albicans strains. Moreover, additive effects of the compound 27 with antifungal drugs against drug‐resistant C. albicans strains were also discussed. Furthermore, the compound 27 significantly improved the composition and richness of the faecal microbiota in mice infected by C. albicans. These findings indicate that these piperazine compounds have great potential to be developed as new therapeutic drugs against C. albicans infection.
Clinical efficacy of amrubicin in patients with small cell lung cancer relapse after first‐line treatment including immune checkpoint inhibitors: A retrospective multicenter study (TOPGAN 2021‐01)
Authors: Uematsu Shinya , Kitazono Satoru , Tanaka Hisashi , Saito Ryota , Kawashima Yosuke , Ohyanagi Fumiyoshi , Tozuka Takehiro , Ryosuke Tsugitomi , Sakatani Toshio , Horiike Atsushi , Yoshizawa Takahiro , Saiki Masafumi , Tambo Yuichi , Koyama Junji , Kanazu Masaki , Kudo Keita , Tsuchiya‐Kawano Yuko , Yanagitani Noriko , Nishio Makoto
Published: November 2022

Background

The therapeutic efficacy of cytotoxic anticancer drugs has been reported to be enhanced after immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in non–small cell lung cancer; however, it is unclear whether the same is applicable for small cell lung cancer (SCLC). We evaluated the efficacy of second‐line amrubicin (AMR) following first‐line platinum‐based chemotherapy and ICI combination therapy (chemo‐ICI) in SCLC.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively enrolled consecutive patients with SCLC treated with AMR as a second‐line following chemo‐ICI as first‐line between July 2019 and April 2021 from 16 institutions throughout Japan. We investigated the therapeutic effectiveness, safety, and efficacy‐enhancing variables of AMR.

Results

Overall, 89 patients treated with AMR after first‐line chemo‐ICI were analyzed. The overall response rate (ORR) was 29.2% (95% confidence intervals [CI], 20.1–39.8) and median PFS (m PFS) was 2.99 months (95% CI, 2.27–3.65). Patients who relapsed more than 90 days after receiving first‐line platinum combination therapy (sensitive relapse) exhibited greater ORR (58.3% vs. 24.7%, p = 0.035) and m PFS (5.03 vs. 2.56 months, p = 0.019) than patients who relapsed in <90 days (refractory relapse). Grade 3 or higher adverse events were mainly hematological toxicity.

Conclusions

Our study suggested that the therapeutic effect of AMR was not enhanced after ICI on SCLC. However, AMR may be effective in cases of sensitive relapse after chemo‐ICI. There was no increase in severe toxicity associated with AMR after ICI.
Safety of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 messenger RNA vaccine in lung cancer patients undergoing anticancer chemotherapy: A multicenter, prospective, observational, patient‐reported outcome study
Authors: Harada Daijiro , Tamura Tomoki , Ninomiya Kiichiro , Kubo Toshio , Kuyama Shoichi , Tachibana Sayaka , Inoue Koji , Chikamori Kenichi , Kudo Kenichiro , Ochi Nobuaki , Maeda Yoshinobu , Kiura Katsuyuki
Published: November 2022

Background

COVID‐19 incidence is high in patients with cancer. The fatality rate was high for the Delta variant, necessitating infection prevention by vaccination. This study evaluated the safety of a SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine in patients with advanced lung cancer receiving anticancer therapy.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled patients receiving anticancer drugs for advanced lung cancer and planning SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination. Early side effects within 7 days of vaccination were evaluated using patient‐reported outcome (PRO) surveys. Chi‐square test and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used.

Results

Post‐vaccination PROs were collected from 406 patients (252 were males). The mean age was 72 years. Treatment at the time of initial vaccination included chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), a combination of chemotherapy and ICI, targeted therapy including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, and others in 115, 93, 45, 147, and six cases, respectively. The vaccines administered were BNT162b2 and mRNA273 in 361 and three cases, respectively and unknown in 42 cases. A total of 16.1% of patients developed fever (38°C) after the second mRNA vaccination (95% confidence interval: 12.6%–20.1%). This rate is comparable to data previously reported in 120 patients and slightly higher than that of healthy participants of the BNT162b2 study. Patients receiving treatment with cytotoxic anticancer agents were more likely to have high fever. Multivariate analysis showed no correlation between fever frequency and patient background. No serious initial adverse events due to vaccination were observed.

Conclusions

Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 mRNA vaccination is safe; however, post‐vaccination fever is more common in patients undergoing lung cancer treatment than in healthy individuals.
Mitigating pseudoreplication and bias in resource selection functions with autocorrelation‐informed weighting
Authors: Alston Jesse M. , Fleming Christen H. , Kays Roland , Streicher Jarryd P. , Downs Colleen T. , Ramesh Tharmalingam , Reineking Björn , Calabrese Justin M.
Published: November 2022

Resource selection functions (RSFs) are among the most commonly used statistical tools in both basic and applied animal ecology. They are typically parameterized using animal tracking data, and advances in animal tracking technology have led to increasing levels of autocorrelation between locations in such data sets. Because RSFs assume that data are independent and identically distributed, such autocorrelation can cause misleadingly narrow confidence intervals and biased parameter estimates.

Data thinning, generalized estimating equations and step selection functions (SSFs) have been suggested as techniques for mitigating the statistical problems posed by autocorrelation, but these approaches have notable limitations that include statistical inefficiency, unclear or arbitrary targets for adequate levels of statistical independence, constraints in input data and (in the case of SSFs) scale‐dependent inference. To remedy these problems, we introduce a method for likelihood weighting of animal locations to mitigate the negative consequences of autocorrelation on RSFs.

In this study, we demonstrate that this method weights each observed location in an animal's movement track according to its level of non‐independence, expanding confidence intervals and reducing bias that can arise when there are missing data in the movement track.

Ecologists and conservation biologists can use this method to improve the quality of inferences derived from RSFs. We also provide a complete, annotated analytical workflow to help new users apply our method to their own animal tracking data using the ctmm R package.
Plastic pollution can affect the emergence patterns of loggerhead turtle hatchlings
Authors: Sousa‐Guedes D. , Sillero N. , Bessa F. , Marco A.
Published: November 2022

Coastal urbanization, plastic pollution and climate change are increasingly affecting marine turtles' nesting habitats. In addition to facing risks of mortality due to saltwater inundation or predation, their eggs and hatchlings' might also be affected by plastic debris accumulation on beaches, but no studies to date have analysed such impact. To analyse whether plastic pollution on nests' surfaces affects the embryos' and hatchlings' survival odds, we designed a field experiment in a turtle hatchery on a nesting beach of the loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta) in Boa Vista Island (Cabo Verde). We applied three treatments with distinct plastic levels (18 nests per treatment): control (no added plastics), low density (64 plastic fragments with 24.5 g of plastic weight per nest) and high density (128 plastic fragments with 49.0 g of plastic weight per nest). Then, we tested 16 variables related to the incubation period, emergence period and hatchlings' fitness. Our results suggest that nests with high plastic density have a significantly lower probability of successful emergence. Moreover, plastics also affected the synchronized emergence of hatchlings, with more scattered and smaller emergent groups, which might increase the predation risk. Considering that turtle nesting habitats are becoming increasingly threatened, this additional threat might compromise the survival of turtle hatchlings on beaches.
Effect of forest areas configuration on the community of insectivorous bats in agroforestry landscapes
Authors: Vilches‐Piñones Karol I. , Matus‐Olivares Camilo , Catalán German , Lisón Fulgencio
Published: November 2022

In Chile, many aspects of the ecology of bats and their distribution are unknown, despite their ecological and economic importance. This situation does not allow a correct implementation of conservation efforts even when they are legally recognized as beneficial animals for agriculture. Here, we studied the bats' activity and community in two agricultural landscape types (homogeneous vs. heterogeneous) in a hotspot of biodiversity in the centre‐south of Chile. We monitored four transects of 10 km per landscape type with 10 listening points separated by 1 km. These transects were repeated 5 times, once per month. We evaluated the bats activity according to the forest cover type (native, mixed and plantations) and the isolated trees density. Our results showed that the heterogeneous landscape was dominated by T. brasiliensis while the homogeneous landscape was by Lasiurus spp. However, only the species T. brasiliensis was affected by the landscape type. In the heterogeneous landscape, only the forest cover variables had significance in the activity of the bat species, where Lasiurus spp. and M. chiloensis had a positive response for native and mixed forest, as well as Lasiurus spp. had a negative response for plantations. The density of isolated trees had a negative effect on the activity of T. brasiliensis and Lasiurus spp. in the homogeneous landscape type. Our results showed the importance of considering the forest elements in agroforestry landscape to conserve bat communities.
Oral sorbents for small, charged uremic toxins, and carbon block for regeneration of dialysate: Fourth down and long
Authors: Ash Stephen R.
Published: November 2022

Complexities of sorbent regeneration of dialysate led me to look at other ways to use sorbents to remove uremic toxins. An oral sorbent containing cation and anion exchangers showed effective binding of potassium, phosphate, sodium, hydrogen, and ammonium (from urea) in vitro. Animal studies are ongoing. Carbon block columns can effectively bind organic and middle molecules toxins from the dialysate. Together, these two technologies have the potential to greatly simplify dialysis for end‐stage renal disease patients.
Women in community‐involved tourism enterprises: Experiences in the Philippines
Authors: Gutierrez Eylla Laire M. , Vafadari Kazem
Published: November 2022

The tourism industry has long been recognised for supporting women in achieving economic empowerment and social freedom through entrepreneurial and employment opportunities. Widely recognised as a women‐dominated sector, tourism is deemed to be a facilitator of women's development following the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As the existing literature suggests, women's involvement in tourism activities supports local economic growth and development, while facilitating social transformation that enables them to create their own identities. Despite these achievements, several studies noted the persisting issues women face in participating in tourism. With the goal of contributing to existing discourses, this paper aims to analyse their experiences in community entrepreneurship by examining several community‐involved tourism enterprises in the Philippines. The findings of this study reveal that women have been largely involved in tourism activities in that country, yet their experiences working in these enterprises vary. The opportunities and challenges identified in this study can serve as a springboard for further analysis of the experience of women working in the Philippine tourism industry.
Population pharmacokinetics of subcutaneous alemtuzumab in kidney transplantation
Authors: Zwart Tom C. , Bezstarosti Suzanne , Achini Federica R. , Reinders Marlies E. J. , Schilham Marco W. , Heidt Sebastiaan , Guchelaar Henk‐Jan , de Fijter Johan W. , Moes Dirk Jan A. R.
Published: November 2022

Aim

Alemtuzumab is a monoclonal antibody used as induction immunosuppressive therapy in kidney transplantation. It targets CD52 on lymphocytes, inducing profound immune cell depletion upon administration. Owing to its off‐label status in kidney transplantation, its pharmacokinetic characteristics are largely unknown in this setting, and its current fixed dosing algorithm originates from other populations. We developed a population pharmacokinetic model for alemtuzumab in kidney transplant recipients and investigated the potential of personalized alemtuzumab therapy.

Methods

In total, 362 pharmacokinetic observations drawn 0‐165 days after transplantation were available from 61 adult kidney transplant recipients who received two consecutive doses of 15 mg alemtuzumab subcutaneously. A population pharmacokinetic model was developed using nonlinear mixed‐effects modelling and applied to simulate various dosing regimens.

Results

The alemtuzumab concentration‐time data were best described by a two‐compartmental model with first‐order absorption and parallel first‐order and time‐varying concentration‐dependent elimination, with between‐subject variability on the first‐order elimination (39.6%) and central distribution volume (39.6%). Alemtuzumab pharmacokinetics varied with body size, rendering lighter individuals exposed to lympholytic alemtuzumab concentrations (>0.1 mg/L) for prolonged durations as compared to their heavier peers. This between‐subject variability could be reduced through lean bodyweight‐adjusted dosing, showing a twofold to threefold reduction in the slope of the median alemtuzumab exposure over the bodyweight range.

Conclusion

Alemtuzumab displays substantial pharmacokinetic variability in kidney transplant recipients, which may warrant a personalized treatment strategy. Lean bodyweight‐adjusted dosing poses an option for individualized dosing, but further evaluation of its potential clinical benefit is warranted.
When (if ever) may doctors discuss religion with their patients?
Authors: Notini Lauren , Oakley Justin
Published: November 2022

There is ongoing debate within the bioethics literature regarding to what extent (if any) it is ethically justifiable for doctors to engage in religious discussion with their patients, in cases where patients cite religious considerations as influencing their medical decision‐making. In this paper, we concede that certain forms of religious discussion between doctors and patients are morally permissible (though not necessarily morally obligatory), insofar as patients’ religious beliefs may comprise an important part of their overall wellbeing and can influence their medical decisions. However, we argue that it is not morally permissible for doctors to engage in substantive religious discussion with their patients, beyond simply inquiring about the patient's values (which may include their religious values) or referring patients to a chaplain or religious figure for further discussion. In support of this claim, we put forward two key arguments which have remained relatively unaddressed in the current debate. First, we argue that it is not practical for doctors to engage in substantive religious discussion with patients, and hence it cannot be morally obligatory for them to do so. Second, we argue that, while doctors might have a professional duty to ensure that their patient's religious interests (if any) are addressed, this does not entail that doctors themselves are the ones who should directly address these interests. Along the way, we anticipate and respond to some possible objections to these two key arguments.
Utility of temporal self‐regulation theory in health and social behaviours: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Dorina Indita , Mullan Barbara , Boyes Mark , Liddelow Caitlin
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Temporal self‐regulation theory was developed to address an observed intention‐behaviour gap across behaviours. However, a synthesis of studies has not yet been conducted to investigate the theory's utility to explain behaviour and bridge the intention‐behaviour gap. This review aimed to evaluate the predictive ability of temporal self‐regulation theory to understanding behaviour and pre‐registered at PROSPERO (ID: CRD42021253174).

Method

Forward citation searches on the original theory publication through Google Scholar until May 2021 identified 37 eligible articles, including, 12,555 participants assessing at least two of the three theory constructs. Random‐effects meta‐analyses assessed the strength of associations between theory constructs on behaviour and random effects meta‐regressions assessed moderators of behaviour.

Results

Findings provide support for temporal self‐regulation theory to explain behaviour with very weak (self‐regulatory capacity r = .039, CI = .00, –.07) to moderate (intention r = .331, CI = .26, .40; behavioural pre‐potency r = .379, CI = .32, .44) effect sizes. Further, the strength of associations varied across behaviour types and contexts. However, there was high heterogeneity across studies and some moderating effects could not be assessed due to insufficient numbers of studies assessing interactions.

Conclusions

We urge researchers to assess and report interactions for better understanding of the drivers of behaviour to develop effective interventions for positive behaviour change.
Motivational and self‐efficacy reciprocal effects during a 12‐month' weight regain prevention program
Authors: Palmeira António L. , Sánchez‐Oliva David , Encantado Jorge , Marques Marta M. , Santos Inês , Duarte Cristiana , Matos Marcela , Larsen Sofus C. , Horgan Graham , Teixeira Pedro J. , Heitmann Berit L. , Stubbs R. James
Published: November 2022

Objective

Weight regain prevention is a critical public health challenge. Digital behaviour change interventions provide a scalable platform for applying and testing behaviour change theories in this challenging context. This study's goal was to analyse reciprocal effects between psychosocial variables (i.e., needs satisfaction, eating regulation, self‐efficacy) and weight over 12 months using data from a large sample of participants engaged in a weight regain prevention trial.

Methods

The NoHoW study is a three‐centre, large‐scale weight regain prevention trial. Adults who lost >5% of their weight in the past year (N = 1627, 68.7% female, 44.10 ± 11.86 years, 84.47 ± 17.03 kg) participated in a 12‐month' digital behaviour change‐based intervention. Weight and validated measures of basic psychological needs satisfaction, eating regulation and self‐efficacy were collected at baseline, six‐ and 12 months. Correlational, latent growth models and cross‐lagged analysis were used to identify potential reciprocal effects.

Results

Baseline higher scores of needs satisfaction and self‐efficacy were associated with six‐ and 12‐month' weight loss. Baseline weight was linked to all psychosocial variables at six months, and six‐months weight was associated with needs satisfaction and self‐efficacy at 12 months. During the 12 months, increases in eating regulation, needs satisfaction and self‐efficacy were associated with weight loss over the same period, and reciprocal effects were observed between the variables, suggesting the existence of Weight Management Cycles.

Conclusions

While further studies are needed, during long‐term weight regain prevention, weight decrease, needs satisfaction and self‐efficacy may lead to Weight Management Cycles, which, if recurrent, may provide sustained prevention of weight regain.
Interaction Structures in the Online Psychodynamic Psychotherapy of a Patient with Anxiety Symptoms
Authors: Feijo Luan Paris , Strassburger Betina Capobianco , Barcellos Eduarda Duarte , Nardi Suzana Catanio Santos , Serralta Fernanda Barcellos
Published: November 2022

Interaction structures (IS) are reciprocal and mutual patterns of interaction between the therapist and patient, sometimes without either being aware of them. IS are mostly unique to each dyad but also can capture patterns that might be due to a particular therapy approach or clinical condition. The identification of IS in online psychodynamic settings can help clarify whether truly dynamic processes occur in virtual therapeutic relationships. The present study aimed to describe the general characteristics of the psychotherapeutic process and to identify the interaction structures in the online psychodynamic psychotherapy with an anxious patient. This was a longitudinal, systematic case study. The 24 online psychodynamic psychotherapy sessions were analysed by independent judges using the Psychotherapy Process Q‐Set. Through the exploratory factor analysis of the main components, four IS were identified: (1) confident patient and encouraging therapist, (2) introspective patient and therapist fostering independence, (3) patient feeling understood and responsive/non‐critical therapist, and (4) conflicted dyad exploring relationships. All patterns of interaction showed clinical validity, and pattern number (2) was positively associated with the treatment time. The study suggests that a truly psychodynamic process can be achieved in virtual settings. This kind of study denotes the characteristics of the dyad interaction and can contribute to the development of guidelines for therapeutic management attuned to the idiosyncrasies of the patients. More research on online practice is needed.
Investigating hate crime: Law enforcement decision making in race based hate crimes
Authors: Bryan Timothy
Published: November 2022

In recent decades, a growing number of police services in Canada have stressed commitments to protecting vulnerable communities from violence and intimidation and by combating hate crime. In 2020, the number of hate crimes reported to police in Canada increased by 37% to the highest number ever recorded. While social science research in several national contexts has examined the policing of hate crime, few studies have examined how police investigate hate crimes in Canada. This paper examines the investigative process and police decision‐making with respect to racially motivated and anti‐Black hate crimes reported in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). This paper argues that while police claim that the circumstances of a given incident determines how police respond and whether a case is ultimately solved, in fact police decision making and particularly the way police conceive of racism and hate, profoundly shapes investigative processes and outcomes.
Baby steps to a child‐to‐child network: A path to empower children for exercising their participation rights
Authors: Erdiller‐Yatmaz Zeynep , Erdemir Ersoy , Demiral Seran
Published: November 2022

This study focuses on an adult‐initiated and child‐led research journey that aimed to explore the path to empower children towards exercising their participation rights in different environments of their lives. To this end, a series of multi‐stage participation empowerment activities were carried out with 60 children in Istanbul, as guided by the child participation model and ecological systems theory. Findings are narrated through children's voices and illustrate their multifaceted opinions, challenges and demands with respect to how they participate in life. Children's experiences in this research journey suggest that grassroots of a child‐to‐child participation network is possible via empowerment and capacity building activities.