bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring differentiated empowering leadership: the impact on knowledge sharing
Authors: Song Yuanzhao , Choi Myeongcheol
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This paper seeks to explore the influence mechanism of differentiated empowering leadership on knowledge sharing and the moderating role of perceptions of organizational politics.

Design/methodology/approach

A paired-sample collection method is employed to conduct an empirical research study on 287 employees.

Findings

The results indicate that the direct effect of differentiated empowering leadership on knowledge sharing is not significant, but it has a significantly positive impact on their organizational cynicism. Moreover, organizational cynicism plays the sole mediating role between differentiated empowering leadership and knowledge sharing. Finally, the perceptions of organizational politics moderate the relationship between differentiated empowering leadership and organizational cynicism as well as that between organizational cynicism and knowledge sharing.

Originality/value

The research results demonstrate the specific mechanism by which differentiated empowering leadership influences knowledge sharing through the mediating role of organizational cynicism. In particular, the paper determines the distinct roles played by perceptions of organizational politics as boundary conditions within this mechanism.
Environmental innovation and SDGs among the production SMEs: the mediating role of green branding
Authors: Rehman Fazal Ur
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study evaluates the impact of environmental innovation (EI) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) along with mediating role of green branding among the production oriented small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) based on the resource-based view (RBV) and ecological modernization theories.

Design/methodology/approach

The study compiled data through questionnaire-based survey and inspected via partial least square structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to find results.

Findings

The findings indicate that EI aligns positive significant association with SDGs among the production SMEs. The study also discovers that green branding mediates between EI and SDGs.

Practical implications

The results have interesting implications for policy and explicate the practitioners to apply the techniques of eco-organizational innovation, eco-product innovation and eco-process innovation to achieve SDGs.

Originality/value

Even, the topics of EI and SDGs have gained significant attention, but this is the first study in these domains.
Revolutionising costume design education: a case study on the impact of Microsoft Copilot
Authors: Nik Harun Nik Ashri , Md Syed Md Azalanshah , Abdullah Fadli
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the role of an artificial intelligence (AI) tool, Microsoft Copilot, in enhancing costume design education. It focuses on the tool’s impact on student creativity, technical skills and educational quality assurance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors adopted a qualitative approach, drawing insights from interviews with students and educators, along with observations from a costume design course. Thirty students and three educators participated, with the study focusing on how AI-assisted tools influenced learning outcomes, creativity and the integration of AI into traditional design methods.

Findings

The authors discovered that Microsoft Copilot allowed students to quickly generate and refine their design concepts, which boosted both their efficiency and creativity. However, the authors found that some students became overly reliant on AI-generated designs, highlighting the need to balance AI with traditional design practices. The authors also emphasised the importance of providing technical support to help students effectively use AI tools in the classroom.

Research limitations/implications

Their study focused on a single cohort in one educational setting, which may limit the generalisability of its findings. Future research should investigate the long-term effects of AI on creativity and explore strategies to minimise over-reliance on AI-generated designs.

Originality/value

Their research provides valuable insights into the integration of AI in creative fields, particularly in costume design education. The findings contribute to ongoing discussions on using AI to enhance learning outcomes while safeguarding individual creativity and essential artistic skills.
Professionals reacting to identity crisis: exploring threats, struggles and coping behaviours
Authors: Tomo Andrea
Published: December 2024

Purpose

The paper explores the relationships between identity struggles and their antecedents and consequences to understand identity dynamics across different professions as a process of reaction and counter-reaction to identity threats and struggles.

Design/methodology/approach

By adopting an integrated view of professional identity, the paper employs a systematic literature review, paying particular attention to the micro-politics and identity dynamics to explore the relationship threats, struggles and coping behaviours.

Findings

The paper maps out the threats, struggles and coping behaviours across different professions and the relationships existing between them. The paper also abstracts the findings into a conceptual model for understanding professional identity formation as an iterative process involving identity struggles, threats and coping behaviours.

Originality/value

The paper, bringing together studies with different theoretical and ontological approaches to professional identity, reconciles the literature to provide a detailed account of the nuances characterizing the identity work made by professionals to deal with events threatening their identities. Unlike previous studies, the paper elaborates on how threatening events and struggles shape professionals’ reactions, acknowledging the interdependency between macro, meso and micro levels. By doing so, the paper provides theoretical and practical insights into unstable identities and the work made by professionals to cope with identity uncertainty and crisis.
Is it worth it to go green? ESG disclosure, carbon emissions and firm financial performance in emerging markets
Authors: Gabr Dina H. , ElBannan Mona A.
Published: December 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore how environmental investments impact the firm financial outcomes in emerging markets using a sample of 4,081 firms across 25 emerging countries from different regions from 2010–2022.

Design/methodology/approach

Fixed effect regressions with robust standard errors for unbalanced panel data are used to investigate the impact of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) disclosure scores and carbon emissions intensity on firm profitability. The authors used simultaneous quantile regressions with bootstrapped standard errors to allow for estimating parameters of different quantiles of superior and inferior financial performers. Non-linear regressions are used to test for curvilinear relationships. Two-stage least squares regressions are used to mitigate concerns of endogeneity.

Findings

The results reveal that firms with less emissions of carbon dioxide report high profitability, however, firms with high ESG disclosure scores do not achieve superior performance. The authors detect a positive curvilinear U-shaped relationship and determine threshold level of ESG scores. Furthermore, firms with sustainable investments have more resilient performance during COVID-19 pandemic.

Research limitations/implications

A comprehensive analysis of the complex effect of environmental sustainability on financial performance in emerging markets uncovers the strategic motivations behind ESG disclosures and the thresholds where environmental performance translates into financial gains. Overall, this study emphasises the significance of sustainable investments in enhancing long-term profitability and resilience in emerging markets during turbulent times.

Practical implications

Proactive carbon emission reduction strategies are essential to safeguard firm competitive advantage. Firm ESG investments should be considered when forecasting firm value and stock price. There is a growing need for rigid policies to promote a green economy and mitigate climate change risks.

Originality/value

Offers a unique setting to examine the association between firm environmental and financial performance across emerging countries and regions. It explores the non-linear shape and magnitude of this relation across high-low quantiles of profitability. It sheds new light on the impact of sustainable practices on firm resilience during COVID-19 pandemic.
Practical guide for the diagnosis and treatment of localized and generalized cutaneous pruritus (chronic itch with no underlying pruritic dermatosis)
Authors: Hashimoto Takashi , Okuno Satoshi
Published: December 2024

Itch, also known as pruritus, is one of the most prevalent symptoms observed in dermatological practices. Itch frequently arises from primary pruritic dermatoses, although it may also manifest in the absence of a primary pruritic skin rash. The latter itchy condition is referred to as “cutaneous pruritus” in the Japanese guidelines published in 2020. Cutaneous pruritus can be classified into two categories based on its distribution: localized cutaneous pruritus and generalized cutaneous pruritus. Localized cutaneous pruritus is indicative of a neuropathic cause, whereas generalized cutaneous pruritus suggests underlying systemic disease(s), drug‐induced itch, psychogenic itch (also known as functional itch disorder), or chronic pruritus of unknown origin (CPUO). Systemic diseases associated with cutaneous pruritus include disorders of iron metabolism, chronic kidney disease, chronic liver disease (especially cholestasis), endocrine/metabolic diseases, hematological disorders, and malignant solid tumors. CPUO is a term used to describe chronic itch that is often generalized and for which no underlying cause can be identified despite a comprehensive and careful diagnostic workup. A variety of treatment approaches are available for cutaneous pruritus, including device‐based physical therapies (such as phototherapy) and medications that act on the itch‐perception processing pathway from the skin, peripheral sensory nerves, the spinal cord, to the brain. This review presents an overview of the current knowledge regarding cutaneous pruritus, from its underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms to the diagnostic procedures and treatment approaches that are currently available.
Variation in leaf phosphorus fractions reflects plant adaptations and distribution in low‐phosphorus tropical forests
Authors: Fan Yingxu , Lambers Hans , Sayer Emma J. , Li Yingwen , Li Yongxing , Zhang Jingfan , Li Zhian , Hu Zhongmin , Li Hui , Wang Jun , He Xiaofang , Wang Faming
Published: December 2024

Tropical forests are generally characterized by high species diversity and low soil phosphorus (P) availability. Although tropical plants have evolved adaptations to low soil P availability, we know relatively little about the strategies of different groups of species to efficiently use P, or how these strategies might shape their distributions.

We compared the performance of 16 co‐occurring species in tropical forests in South China under two soil P regimes. We divided these species into three groups: exotic species, which are not native to South China; eurytopic native species, which occur in both P‐limited and P‐richer habitats; stenotopic native species, which only occur in low‐P habitats. We assessed their growth rates, foliar functional traits and foliar P fractions under experimentally manipulated soil P availability (Control vs. +P).

Exotic species exhibited greater plasticity in allocation of leaf P fractions than native species. Compared with native species, exotic species allocated more P to inorganic‐P than to ester‐P and nucleic‐P in P‐enriched soil, while they allocated less P to inorganic‐P and ester‐P in low‐P soil. Eurytopic native species responded inconsistently to P addition, indicating that eurytopic native species may employ various strategies to cope with low P availability, whereas stenotopic native species showed only minor changes in leaf P allocation with P fertilization.

We distinguished two strategies for plant adaptation to low soil P availability: (1) a P‐plastic strategy exhibited by exotic species, in which Pleaf and leaf P‐fraction allocation patterns changed substantially with soil P enrichment; (2) a P‐conservative strategy exhibited by stenotopic native species, in which Pleaf and leaf P‐fraction allocation patterns changed only slightly with soil P enrichment.

In conclusion, the distinct strategies exhibited by plants in low‐P habitats may determine their distribution and coexistence in tropical regions.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Hydrocarbon detection via quantum mechanics–based highlight volumes extraction
Authors: Xue Ya‐juan , Zhang Hong , Zhang Jin‐Qiang , Wang Xing‐jian , Cao Jun‐xing , Liu Zhe‐ge , Wen Wu , Yang Jia , Li Dong‐Fang
Published: December 2024

Spectral decomposition, aiding for direct hydrocarbon detection, generally employs time–frequency analysis methods to characterize the time‐varying frequency contents of the subsurface layers. However, ongoing efforts to improve time–frequency analysis resolution still face limitations, leading to inaccurate spectral decomposition. In this study, a quantum mechanics–based highlight volumes extraction method, which includes the quantum peak amplitude above average volume and the quantum peak frequency volume, is proposed as a novel spectral decomposition method for hydrocarbon detection. Seismic data are transformed into the time–frequency domain using continuous wavelet transform, and then each sample's amplitude spectrum of each trace is projected on a specific basis constructed by the wave functions using the Schröedinger equation. This yields the corresponding projection coefficient for each sample's amplitude spectrum. For each projection coefficient, the quantum peak amplitude above average volume is calculated by subtracting the average amplitude from the maximum amplitude. The quantum peak frequency volume consists of the local frequency points where the quantum peak amplitude is the maximum. Our approach stands out for its ability to indicate strong amplitude anomalies typically associated with the hydrocarbons and precise gas reservoir locations and has also been validated to handle seismic data with low signal‐to‐noise ratio well. Model tests and field data applications show the effectiveness and the advantages of the proposed quantum mechanics–based highlight volumes extraction method. The comparison with the conventional methods illustrates that the proposed quantum mechanics–based highlight volumes extraction method has higher temporal and spatial resolution and is more accurate in detecting the hydrocarbons in the gas reservoir. However, it may require longer computational times compared with the conventional methods. This work aims to complement the current spectral decomposition techniques with a new quantum mechanics–based highlight volumes extraction method.
Multiple disturbances, multiple legacies: Fire, canopy gaps and deer jointly change the forest seed bank
Authors: Reed Samuel P. , Royo Alejandro A. , Carson Walter P. , Olmsted Castilleja F. , Frelich Lee E. , Reich Peter B.
Published: December 2024

Disturbance regimes, like low‐intensity fire, canopy gaps and ungulate browsing, play a critical role in determining ecological composition and structure in temperate forests around the world.

Each disturbance (or lack thereof) can lead to unique plant communities, but we do not understand how combined disturbances change plant diversity and the resulting soil seed bank. Changes in the soil seed bank, which depend on the plants that survive post‐disturbance, can then influence future biodiversity and succession.

We used a long‐term experiment in West Virginia, USA, that factorially manipulated low‐intensity fire, deer exclusion and canopy gaps. Thirteen years after disturbance initiation, we sampled the seed bank from each disturbance treatment.

We found that low‐intensity fire led to increased seed bank density, with additional canopy gaps and deer exclusion each creating unique seed bank communities. Combined fire, canopy gaps and deer presence led to high seed bank diversity and the most unique seed communities, while canopy gaps and deer had no effect on seed banks unless the area was previously burned. In contrast, combined fire, canopy gaps and deer exclusion led to the lowest seed bank diversity of all treatments, reflecting the continued legacy of extant plants that grew immediately after disturbance. Seed communities were also distinct from extant understory species over 13 years, regardless of disturbance treatment.

Each reintroduced disturbance combination left a unique legacy in the seed bank that will likely influence future forest reorganization following disturbances, adding to our understanding of how multiple disturbances influence forest succession and organization.

Synthesis. Forest disturbance regimes have changed around the world and are being restored or manipulated to support biodiversity. Reintroduction of disturbance leads to unique plant communities, but we do not understand how combined disturbances change the soil seed bank. Using an experiment that manipulates low‐intensity fire, canopy gaps and deer exclusion, we find that combinations of these experimental treatments leads to substantially different seed communities. These disturbance‐altered seed banks will likely influence future biodiversity and successional patterns, highlighting how the restoration of disturbance can strongly and indirectly influence temperate forest community dynamics.
Ida B. Wells‐Barnett as an anticolonial theorist on crime and punishment
Authors: Tucker‐Shabazz AunRika , Kim Veda Hyunjin
Published: December 2024

Treasuring the legacy of Ida B Wells‐Barnett as a Black feminist is a vital liberatory commitment, as previous scholarship has commendably demonstrated. Equally important, however, is the need to present Wells‐Barnett as an anticolonial theorist whose scholarly texts—Southern Horrors, A Red Record, and Crusade for Justice—should be incorporated into social theory curricula. This article examines Wells‐Barnett's acute apprehension of the foundational structures of the US empire‐state in her scholarly writings on lynching. As she analysed, the white mob violence epitomised the co‐re‐formation of race and gender, rule of difference, and subversion of offender‐judge relationship. The agency of non‐state actors (e.g., lynch mobs) and government agents (e.g., judge and politicians) co‐constituted the reformation—not total transformation—of these foundational structures. Lynching, therefore, was the lynchpin of the US empire‐state in the post‐Reconstruction period: it sustained the white supremacist order by imposing a mass death penalty on Black people, while simultaneously serving as a disgrace to US civilization. To conclude, we highlight how Wells‐Barnett's theory offers broader relevance to anticolonial/postcolonial sociology, particularly through her subaltern standpoint, attention to the role of non‐state actors, and her commitment to intersectional analysis.
Pregnancy After Metabolic Bariatric Surgery: Risks and Rewards for Mother and Child
Authors: Ceulemans Dries , Deleus Ellen , Benhalima Katrien , van der Schueren Bart , Lannoo Matthias , Devlieger Roland
Published: December 2024

As the prevalence of obesity increases worldwide, and lifestyle modification or pharmaceutical treatment yields insufficient results for patients with severe obesity, an increasing number of patients opt for metabolic bariatric surgery as an effective and durable treatment of this disease. Seeing as 80% of these patients are women, many of whom are of reproductive age, pregnancies after metabolic bariatric surgery become increasingly common. Metabolic bariatric surgery has many benefits for overall health and pregnancy outcomes, but certain risks are also reported. This leads to the rise of a new population of patients with their own specific needs regarding follow‐up. This review discusses the various benefits and risks of these types of surgery for pregnancy. We provide an overview of the current state of the evidence and look into future research goals.
Point‐of‐Care Tests for Preeclampsia: Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Diagnostic Test Accuracy Studies
Authors: Elbarbary Nouran , Pritsini Filippa , Kazi Ayisha , Wang Chao , Thilaganathan Baskaran , Bhide Amarnath
Published: December 2024

Background

Preeclampsia is a common condition associated with significant maternal and foetal complications. The diagnosis of preeclampsia is based on clinical criteria, with recent introduction of angiogenic markers as an aid to clinical triage. Several biomarkers are now available in a point‐of‐care test format, which provide swift results to support clinical decision‐making.

Objectives

To determine sensitivity and specificity of available point‐of‐care tests used for preeclampsia prediction.

Search Strategy

Systematic searches of databases (PubMed/Medline, Ovid Embase) from inception till May 2024 were done to identify relevant studies. Selection criteria: we included studies reporting on the diagnostic test accuracy of any point‐of‐care test for short‐term prediction of preeclampsia in the second or third trimester.

Data Collection and Analysis

Data were extracted using pre‐designed template, and statistical analysis was performed to pool sensitivity and specificity and a hierarchal summary receiver operating characteristic curve model was used. Quality of included studies and risk of bias were assessed following the QUADAS‐2 tool.

Main Results

We identified 17 studies that met the inclusion criteria, six of which described the use of glycosylated fibronectin, five with Congo red, two with placental growth factor (PlGF) and one study each investigated nephrin, misfolded protein, CD44/FKBPL ratio and inositol phosphoglycan‐P. Meta‐analysis was possible only for glycosylated fibronectin with a pooled sensitivity of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.51–0.94) and a specificity of 0.84 (95% CI: 0.71–0.93). Five studies were included in meta‐analysis, all of which had a low risk of bias on the QUADAS assessment.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the point‐of‐care glycosylated fibronectin testing might be beneficial in clinical triage for preeclampsia in an at‐risk population.
Can online interactions reduce loneliness in young adults during university closures in Japan? The directed acyclic graphs approach
Authors: Kambara Kohei , Toya Akihiro , Lee Sumin , Shimizu Haruka , Abe Kazuaki , Shigematsu Jun , Zhang Qingyuan , Abe Natsuki , Hayase Ryo , Abe Nobuhito , Nakai Ryusuke , Aoki Shuntaro , Asano Kohei , Asano Ryosuke , Fujimura Makoto , Fukui Ken’ichiro , Fukumoto Yoshihiro , Furutani Kaichiro , Hasegawa Koji , Hashimoto Hirofumi , Hashimoto Mikoto , Hosogoshi Hiroki , Ikeda Hiroshi , Ishioka Toshiyuki , Ito Chiharu , Iwano Suguru , Kamada Masafumi , Kanai Yoshihiro , Karita Tomonori , Kasagi Yu , Kashima Emiko S. , Kato Juri , Kawachi Yousuke , Kawahara Jun‐ichiro , Kimura Masanori , Kira Yugo , Kiyonaga (Sakoda) Yuko , Kohguchi Hiroshi , Komiya Asuka , Masui Keita , Midorikawa Akira , Mifune Nobuhiro , Mizukoshi Akimine , Nawata Kengo , Nishimura Takashi , Nogiwa Daisuke , Ogawa Kenji , Okada Junko , Okamoto Aki , Okamoto Reiko , Sasaki Kyoko , Sato Kosuke , Shimizu Hiroshi , Sugimura Atsushi , Sugitani Yoko , Sugiura Hitomi , Sumioka Kyoko , Sunaguchi Bumpei , Takebe Masataka , Tanabe Hiroki C. , Tanaka Ayumi , Tanaka Masanori , Taniguchi Junichi , Tokunaga Namiji , Tomita Ryozo , Ueda Yumiko , Yamashita Tomomi , Yamaura Kazuho , Yogo Masao , Yokotani Kenji , Yoshida Ayano , Yoshida Hiroaki , Yoshihara Katsue , Yoshikawa Ayumi , Yanagisawa Kuniaki , Nakashima Ken'ichiro
Published: December 2024

As a countermeasure to the increased loneliness induced by the COVID‐19 pandemic‐related university closures, universities provided students with online interaction opportunities. However, whether these opportunities contributed to reducing loneliness during the university closures remains unclear, as previous studies have produced contradictory findings. We conducted a nationwide cross‐sectional survey. Data were collected on demographics, social environment, social support, interactions, health and loneliness from 4949 students from 60 universities across Japan. We used psychological network and Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) to examine the effect of online interactions on loneliness during university closures during COVID‐19. The results showed that the frequency of online interactions with friends did not exert a significant influence on loneliness during university closures. A comparative examination of the DAGs further illuminated that the social environment exhibited fewer pathways for interpersonal interactions and social support during these closure periods. The psychosocial pathways influencing young adults' loneliness show variations contingent on the university's closure status. Notably, the impact of heightened online interactions with friends on loneliness appears to be less pronounced among young adults in the context of university closure.
Perioperative outcomes in elderly patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy: a propensity‐matched analysis
Authors: Xue Kang , Liu Xiaofeng , Wang Li , Xiong Junjie , Tian Bole
Published: December 2024

Background

To investigate perioperative outcomes of pancreatoduodenectomy in elderly patients.

Method

Data for 977 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy from January 2018 to January 2023 were retrospectively analysed. Patients aged 75 years or older (n = 81) were matched with patients younger than 75 years (n = 896) using nearest neighbour propensity scores matching in a 1:1 ratio.

Result

After matching, there were no significant differences in perioperative characteristics between the old group (n = 80) and the young group (n = 80). Regarding perioperative outcomes, we observed a higher incidence of postpancreatectomy haemorrhage (13.8% vs. 3.8%; P = 0.025) and pulmonary infection (26.3% vs. 8.8%; P = 0.004) in the old group. The major morbidity (Clavien–Dindo ≥3), cardiovascular complications and length of stay were higher in the old group before matching, however, no difference was observed between the matched cohorts (P > 0.05). The multivariate analysis revealed ASA score ≥3 (OR = 3.672, 95% CI 1.367–9.863; P = 0.010) and longer operative time (OR = 1.006, 95% CI 1.000–1.011; P = 0.039) were independently identified as risk factors for major morbidity. Moreover, the subgroup analysis demonstrated that laparoscopic surgery significantly mitigated the incidence of major morbidity in elderly patients.

Conclusion

With careful patient selection and perioperative management, elderly patients may achieve comparable short‐term outcomes to those of their younger counterparts.
The role of a hemoadsorption filter on cytokine levels during 1 hour of thoraco‐abdominal normothermic regional perfusion for donation after circulatory death heart donation in a porcine model
Authors: Vandendriessche Katrien , van Suylen Vincent , Brouckaert Janne , Matthys Patrick , Dauwe Dieter , Meyns Bart , Erasmus Michiel , Neyrinck Arne , Rex Steffen , Rega Filip
Published: December 2024

Background

Both global ischemia caused by circulatory arrest and extracorporeal circulation circuits have been shown to trigger cytokine release. We hypothesized that inserting a hemoadsorption device during thoraco‐abdominal normothermic regional perfusion (TA‐NRP) in the donation after circulatory death setting would mitigate the inflammatory response, potentially resulting in improved cardiac allograft function.

Methods

In 15 pigs, circulatory arrest was induced by hypoxia. After a 15‐min no‐touch‐period, TA‐NRP was performed for 60 min. Eight pigs had a hemoadsorption device incorporated in the ECC, while seven did not. Plasma concentrations of IFN‐α, IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐4, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐10, and IL‐12p40 were assessed by ELISA at baseline, immediately at start of TA‐NRP, 60 min after start of TA‐NRP (just before weaning from ECC), and at 30 and 60 min after weaning from ECC. Cardiac function was assessed with pressure–volume loop analysis.

Results

Hemoadsorption had no relevant effects on systemic cytokine levels post TA‐NRP. IL‐6 plasma levels gradually rose throughout the procedure for both groups. Hemoadsorption did not affect systolic or diastolic left ventricular function, nor were global hemodynamics improved by hemoadsorption.

Conclusions

The insertion of a hemoadsorption device did not significantly affect plasma cytokine levels or cardiac function. Further research is necessary to assess the role of the inflammatory response in DCD heart transplantation and its modulation by TA‐NRP.
Environmental Concern of Owner‐Managers and Environmental Practices of SMEs: A Typology Considering Size and Sector‐Specific Environmental Regulations
Authors: Vandersteene Anthony
Published: December 2024

Previous works have highlighted that small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) are responsible for approximately 60%–70% of European industrial pollution, which has led scholars to investigate whether owner‐managers, the most influential decision‐makers in SMEs, actually care about environmental issues. Although existing works have identified various antecedents of owner‐managers' environmental concern, limited attention has been paid to understand how they could turn such environmental concern into environmental practices. Therefore, the present research explores how owner‐managers' environmental concern influences the environmental practices of SMEs, whereas considering the effects of company size and sector‐specific environmental regulations. Relying on interviews with 19 Belgian SME owner‐managers, we contribute to the existing literature by providing a typology classifying SMEs' environmental practices according to their owner‐managers' environmental concern and considering company size and environmental sectoral regulations. Four profiles emerge from this typology: climate change champions, green opportunists, eco‐compliant followers and routine entrepreneurs. This typology highlights the fact that micro‐enterprises are more likely to adopt environmental practices when they are mandatory. In contrast, the adoption of environmental practices is more likely to result from owner‐managers' environmental concern in small to medium‐sized firms.
Psychotherapeutic Treatment of Chronic Suicidality
Authors: Goldblatt Mark J. , Phillips Alison C. , Ronningstam Elsa , Schechter Mark , Herbstman Benjamin
Published: December 2024

People who seriously consider killing themselves over a protracted period of time, usually years, represent great treatment challenges. Chronic suicidal ideation represents a communication of conscious and unconscious wishes that may be clarified through psychotherapy leading to various outcomes. For one group of patients, this focus will eventually change as they move gradually, over long periods of time, towards more life‐affirming goals; a second group will continue to think intensely about suicide for many years, despite various psychotherapeutic interventions, without resorting to self‐destructive action; and a third group will go on to attempt suicide which may or may not end in death. In this paper, we present two case studies describing the treatment of patients struggling with chronic suicidality who engaged in psychotherapy but with different outcomes. We discuss the possible outcomes and consider influential factors and suggestions for therapeutic interventions.
Cultivating Safe Spaces for Critical Reflection and Staff Care: Lessons Learned Through a Study Exploring Lived Experiences of Child and Family Social Workers
Authors: Cavener John , McGovern William , Lochhead Lydia
Published: December 2024

This paper presents findings of a study which explored lived experience(s) of social workers responsible for supporting children and families during COVID‐19. To represent voices of practitioners while addressing a gap in qualitative data highlighting their day‐to‐day experience(s) the study aims and objectives were to: (1) develop insight into personal and professional challenges practitioners faced during COVID‐19 and (2) consider lessons learned from social workers' lived experiences for post‐pandemic staff care. Following ethical approval, data was collected through informal conversation with 34 social workers. Reflexive thematic analysis of digitally recorded data identified the overarching theme: ‘Managing change, risk and uncertainty’, which underpinned four sub‐themes including: (1) Determining thresholds and responding to referrals (2) Managing at a physical distance (3) Navigating work‐home life roles, responsibilities and priorities and (4) Challenges for self‐care and staff support. To safeguard against professional burn‐out, and encourage practitioners' post‐pandemic well‐being, opportunities for critical reflection and staff care should be fostered. As supervision remains central to staff care, ideas for cultivating safe spaces for critical reflection presented in this paper include use of aspects of the values‐based and relationship‐based supervision model developed in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire.
Structural change and inequality in a general equilibrium model of a transition economy
Authors: Tyrowicz Joanna , Makarski Krzysztof , Lutynski Jan
Published: December 2024

The paper studies the role of economic transition in the evolution of wealth inequality. We build a novel overlapping generations model that features heterogeneous workers and exogenous changes: (i) a structural change shifting employment from manufacturing to services and increasing educational attainment, (ii) TFP growth along the path of macroeconomic convergence and (iii) gains in longevity. Using this model, we quantify the role of structural change in the evolution of wealth inequality in Poland as of 1990. We show that a rise in wealth inequality because of growing longevity is lower in an economy undergoing structural change. Thus, structural change per se lowers wealth inequality, at least initially. We also provide an evaluation of a policy‐relevant redistribution instrument.
The Effect of the Pre‐Transplant Disease Status on the Outcome for Recipients of T‐Cell Depleted Allogeneic Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants for Large B Cell Lymphomas
Authors: Marzolini Maria A. V. , Kayani Irfan , Carpenter Ben , Laurence Arian , McLornan Donal , Raj Kavita , O'Reilly Maeve , Roddie Claire , Stringaris Kate , Kottaridis Panagiotis , Morris Emma C. , Thomson Kirsty J. , Peggs Karl S.
Published: December 2024

Objectives

Deauville scores (DS) from PET/CT imaging are increasingly being used to direct response‐adjusted treatment strategies in lymphoma, including large B cell lymphomas (LBCL).

We aimed to investigate the outcome of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) in LBCL and the role played by pre‐transplant disease status, as determined by DS.

Methods

We performed a retrospective, observational study of adults treated with a T‐cell depleted alloHSCT for de novo DLBCL or high‐grade transformation.

Results

Sixty‐four patients received an alloHSCT. Forty‐four had acute GvHD (38 had Grade 1–2). Overall non‐relapse mortality (NRM) at 1 year was 20.31%. Patients ≥ 55 years had a higher cumulative incidence of NRM (66.67%) than those who were < 55 years (25.08%) (p = 0.00660). A 4‐year relapse risk was 22.5%. Fourteen patients had disease relapse. The 4‐year overall survival (OS) was 49.80%; median OS was 3.7 years (1.4–7.1). Patients with a pre‐alloHSCT DS of 1–2 had a higher OS than a DS of 3–5 (61.97% vs. 34.23%; p = 0.0167); this was confirmed on multivariate analysis. Younger patients (< 55 years) had a higher OS than those ≥ 55 years (60.91% vs. 18.75%; p = 0.0246).

Conclusions

The pre‐transplant Deauville score was predictive of the clinical outcome and patients with an absence of metabolically active disease pre‐transplant had superior outcomes.
Teleconnection Impacts of Climatic Variability on Tuna and Billfish Fisheries of the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean: A Study Towards Sustainable Fisheries Management
Authors: Mondal Sandipan , Punt Andre E. , Mendes David , Osuka Kennedy Edeye , Lee Ming‐An
Published: December 2024

Climatic variability significantly impacts global fisheries by altering oceanographic conditions, potentially affecting fishing yields and species composition, and studying climate change's effects is crucial for understanding marine ecosystems, predicting disruptions and informing sustainable management strategies. Hence, this study examined the impact of climatic variability on pelagic predators like tunas, marlins and swordfish, using fishery data from 2005, January to 2016, December, focusing on nine commercially significant species each from the Indian and South Atlantic oceans. The hypothesis of the study was composed of two parts, that is, different populations of same species in the Indian and South Atlantic Ocean may respond differently to climatic variability, and the impact of teleconnections on fisheries may vary across these two oceans. The first part of the current study involved evaluating the importance of climatic variability on species using generalised additive modelling, while the second part involved analysing the unique effects of species‐specific climatic variability using cross‐spectral and cross‐wavelet analysis. The current study revealed two significant findings: firstly, species in the Indian Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean had distinct response to climatic variability (first hypothesis), and secondly, the species in the Indian Ocean displayed a higher level of sensitivity to teleconnection impacts (second hypothesis). The study's findings can help fisheries communities to anticipate and adapt to changes in fish distribution and productivity, enhancing their practices and spatial management, thereby promoting sustainable global fisheries management.
Return trajectory and the forecastability of bitcoin returns
Authors: Rudkin Simon , Rudkin Wanling , Dłotko Paweł
Published: December 2024

This paper tests the extent to which the ability to correctly predict subsequent bitcoin (BTC) return signs is dependent upon historic BTC return trajectories. Using topological data analysis ball mapper (TDABM), we demonstrate that the performance of random forest and logit regression models varies according to return trajectory. A novel use of TDABM as a forecast model shows that mapping historic return trajectories can also produce more accurate directional return forecasts. Our approach highlights how the predictability of BTC price change direction is dependent on return trajectories. Visualizing historic return trajectories when forming and evaluating return forecasts is imperative.
Marine Protected Areas That Preserve Trophic Cascades Promote Resilience of Kelp Forests to Marine Heatwaves
Authors: Kumagai Joy A. , Goodman Maurice C. , Villaseñor‐Derbez Juan Carlos , Schoeman David S. , Cavanuagh Kyle C. , Bell Tom W. , Micheli Fiorenza , De Leo Giulio , Arafeh‐Dalmau Nur
Published: December 2024

Under accelerating threats from climate‐change impacts, marine protected areas (MPAs) have been proposed as climate‐adaptation tools to enhance the resilience of marine ecosystems. Yet, debate persists as to whether and how MPAs may promote resilience to climate shocks. Here, we use 38 years of satellite‐derived kelp cover to empirically test whether a network of 58 temperate coastal MPAs in Central and Southern California enhances the resistance of kelp forest ecosystems to, and their recovery from, the unprecedented 2014–2016 marine heatwave regime that occurred in the region. We also leverage a 22‐year time series of subtidal community surveys to mechanistically understand whether trophic cascades explain emergent patterns in kelp forest resilience within MPAs. We find that fully protected MPAs significantly enhance kelp forests' resistance to and recovery from marine heatwaves in Southern California, but not in Central California. Differences in regional responses to the heatwaves are partly explained by three‐level trophic interactions comprising kelp, urchins, and predators of urchins. Urchin densities in Southern California MPAs are lower within fully protected MPAs during and after the heatwave, while the abundances of their main predators—lobster and sheephead—are higher. In Central California, a region without lobster or sheephead, there is no significant difference in urchin or kelp densities within MPAs as the current urchin predator, the sea otter, is protected statewide. Our analyses show that fully protected MPAs can be effective climate‐adaptation tools, but their ability to enhance resilience to extreme climate events depends upon region‐specific environmental and trophic interactions. As nations progress to protect 30% of the oceans by 2030, scientists and managers should consider whether protection will increase resilience to climate‐change impacts given their local ecological contexts, and what additional measures may be needed.
Subjected to Harassment: Deconstructing Power in an Encounter With Workplace Sexual Harassment
Authors: Beaton Erynn E. , Ali Maham
Published: December 2024

There is a consensus that power is central to sexual harassment. Research has focused most heavily on the bases of power upon which harassment is perpetrated. However, a feminist poststructural view locates power everywhere, suggesting that people encountering sexual harassment also have power. This study focuses on an encounter with sexual harassment experienced by a woman, whom we name Beth, while working for the government. We use deconstruction to understand how power manifests in Beth's narrative of sexual harassment by a congressman. Our deconstruction uncovers the complex manifestations of power in encounters with sexual harassment. We follow our deconstruction with a reconstruction, a fictional restory that demonstrates how power dynamics could ideally shift. Our findings shed light on the many ways in which power operates and highlight the ineffectiveness of current best practices around workplace sexual harassment.
Juxtaposing Nurses' and Patients' Perspectives of Missed Nursing Care: A Descriptive Mixed Method Design
Authors: Cohen Mirit , Drach‐Zahavy Anat , Srulovici Einav
Published: December 2024

Aims

To compare nurses' and patients' reports of missed nursing care, explore patients' perspectives and utilise these insights to elucidate discrepancies or congruence between perceptions.

Design

A descriptive mixed‐methods design combining quantitative (questionnaires) and qualitative (semi‐structured interviews) methods.

Methods

In the quantitative phase, 143 nurses and 643 patients completed the MISSCARE and MISSCARE‐Patient surveys. Correlations between their total missed care scores were examined. In the qualitative phase, 68 patients participated in semi‐structured interviews analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

The correlation between nurses' and patients' perceptions of missed nursing care was nonsignificant. Qualitative findings revealed three themes: (1) patients' need to preserve individuality; (2) most patients attributed missed care to systemic factors, while some attributed it to nurses' attitudes and (3) emotional responses varied from empathetic understanding, inadvertently enabling more missed care, to frustration and assertiveness to ensure receiving necessary care.

Conclusions

This study reveals a significant discrepancy between nurses' and patients' perceptions of missed care. Patient perspectives offer insights into this misalignment, highlighting differences in care priorities and role understanding.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

Enhancing nurse–patient communication and patient empowerment are crucial. Healthcare institutions should integrate patient feedback into quality initiatives, create supportive work environments and foster a patient‐centred care culture. Effectively marketing nurses' expertise and implementing strategies to manage patient assertiveness are essential.

Impact

This study addresses the discrepancy in perceptions of missed nursing care between nurses and patients. It reveals how patients' care priorities and attributions influence their experience of missed care. Findings will impact healthcare policymakers, nursing educators and hospital administrators, informing strategies to improve care quality, patient satisfaction and nurse work environments across healthcare settings.

Reporting Method

The study has adhered to STROBE guidelines for the quantitative component and SRQR guidelines for the qualitative component.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.
Childhood maltreatment is associated with lower exploration and disrupted prefrontal activity and connectivity during reward learning in volatile environments
Authors: Armbruster‐Genç Diana J. N. , Neil Louise , Valton Vincent , Phillips Harriet , Rankin Georgia , Sharp Molly , Rapley Jessica , Viding Essi , Roiser Jonathan P. , McCrory Eamon
Published: December 2024

Background

Atypical reward processing is implicated in a range of psychiatric disorders associated with childhood maltreatment and may represent a latent vulnerability mechanism. In this longitudinal study, we investigated the impact of maltreatment on behavioural and neural indices of reward learning in volatile environments and examined associations with future psychopathology assessed 18 months later.

Methods

Thirty‐seven children and adolescents with documented histories of maltreatment (MT group) and a carefully matched group of 32 non‐maltreated individuals (NMT group) aged 10–16 were presented with a probabilistic reinforcement learning task featuring a phase of stable and a phase of volatile reward contingencies. Brain activation and connectivity were assessed simultaneously using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Computational models were used to extract individual estimates of learning rates and temperature, and neural signals in prespecified regions of interest were analysed during volatile and stable environments. In regression analyses, behavioural measures and neural signals at baseline were used to predict psychological symptoms at follow‐up.

Results

The MT group showed lower behavioural exploration, which predicted decreased internalising symptoms at follow‐up. The MT group had lower activation in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) during outcome delivery in volatile relative to stable contexts. OFC connectivity with an area in the mid‐cingulate cortex was also lower during outcome processing, which predicted higher general psychopathology at follow‐up.

Conclusions

These findings are consistent with the notion that low exploratory behaviour following childhood maltreatment is potentially a protective adaptation against internalising symptoms, while disrupted neural processing of reward learning in volatile environments may index latent vulnerability to mental illness.