bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A study on ancient Jain temple of Subaiee, Koraput Odisha from a heritage management perspective
Authors: Bhowmick Abhishek , Nayak Jayanta Kumar
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Heritage is a crucial aspect of national identity, and preserving it is essential for safeguarding cultural and historical continuity. In India, there are numerous policies and laws aimed at the preservation and management of cultural and natural heritage. This study aims to review the existing policies and programs for the preservation of cultural heritage in India, focusing specifically on an ancient Jain temple located in Subaiee village, Koraput District, Odisha. It also seeks to document the temple’s condition, history and religious significance and to evaluate local awareness of the heritage through public archaeology methodology.

Design/methodology/approach

The research involved a detailed review of preservation policies and programs at both state and central levels in India. It included documentation of the Jain Temple’s current condition, historical background and its role in the region’s religious history. Additionally, a public archaeology approach was used to assess local awareness and engagement with the temple’s heritage.

Findings

The study found that the Jain Temple complex has significant historical and architectural value. The current condition of the temple and its relics indicates a need for effective management strategies to prevent further damage and increase local awareness of the temple’s heritage value.

Originality/value

The research highlights the importance of preserving the ancient Jain Temple complex and calls for national and local efforts to identify, restore and maintain this valuable cultural heritage for future generations.
The use of co-words to analyse the conceptual structure of the application of VR and AR in autistic students
Authors: Lorenzo Gonzalo , Dechsling Anders , Nordahl-Hansen Anders
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The objective of the research is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the conceptual structure underlying global trends in the utilization of VR/AR for learning purposes among autistic children and adolescents.

Design/methodology/approach

With a sample of 57 documents obtained from different databases in the period 2010–2022, a scientific mapping was developed using the bibliometrix library designed in R.

Findings

It has been found that there are three main lines of work. The first with VR/AR with emotion recognition and theory of mind. Another line focused on “young children” that works on visual attention, simulation play and social communication. The third line is focused on adolescents with subthemes such as executive function, attention, social skills and learning environments.

Originality/value

The research allows the authors to design activities in those areas where the use of VR/AR has been successful. In this way, future implementation of these tools in the classroom is encouraged.
Analysis of the impact of financial, institutional and cultural factors on IFRS adoption: evidence from the non-EU Union countries
Authors: Dawd Issa , Charfeddine Lanouar
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aims to analyse the drivers of the shift towards the global adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in 23 non-European Union countries over the period from 2001 to 2019.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used various panel data models, including fixed effects panel Logit and Probit models for IFRS adoption status, and ordered panel data models for examining the extent and timing of IFRS adoption, accommodating the multifaceted nature of the dependent variable.

Findings

The results suggest that countries with a high Anglo-Saxon cultural background, human development and strong legal enforcement, particularly in controlling corruption, are more likely to adopt IFRS fully and early. Notably, the extent of business disclosure in these countries impacts IFRS adoption status but does not significantly affect the extent or timing of adoption. Surprisingly, the findings reveal that countries with higher financial openness are less likely to adopt IFRS.

Research limitations/implications

These results are relevant to standard setters and regulators in countries on the verge of adopting IFRS who are interested in financial, institutional and cultural factors and their impacts on IFRS adoption.

Originality/value

This research stands out for its emphasis on the pivotal role of cultural and institutional nuances in shaping the trajectory of IFRS adoption within non-European Union countries, thereby broadening the accounting discourse.
Advancing maturity in the adoption of digital technologies for energy efficiency in manufacturing industry
Authors: Andrei Mariana , Johnsson Simon
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aims to develop a maturity model to assess manufacturing companies’ adoption of digital technologies for energy efficiency and to formulate strategies to facilitate progress toward higher maturity levels. To achieve this goal, the study will identify and analyze the challenges inherent in the adoption and implementation of digital technologies for energy efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a mixed methodology, combining analysis of the literature for building a maturity model and a questionnaire for validating the model and developing strategies for advancing maturity. The questionnaire was answered by 101 Swedish manufacturing companies.

Findings

The findings reveal that the aluminum industries and iron and steel industries exhibit higher maturity levels in adopting digital technologies. Most companies are intermediate adopters utilizing core technologies such as the Internet of things, cloud and big data for energy use monitoring, analysis and reporting. A smaller subset of companies, identified as leading adopters, reached the highest maturity level, integrating artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and machine learning into their energy management systems to optimize both production and energy use. A key challenge identified is the “lack of knowledge” regarding the adoption and implementation of these technologies.

Research limitations/implications

It is essential to emphasize that the developed maturity model does not prioritize the adoption of multiple types of digital technologies. From a maturity standpoint, what truly matters is how effectively the information obtained from digital technologies is utilized in energy efficiency and energy management work to create knowledge and, thus, add value to the organization.

Practical implications

The maturity model and the strategies for advancing maturity related to the adoption of digital technology for energy efficiency are designed to be applicable to all types of manufacturing industries regardless of what sector or country the company is active in. The model can also be used by academia or other actors interested in evaluating the maturity level for the adoption of digital technologies for energy efficiency in companies in the manufacturing industry. The developed strategies offer guidance on determining which activities to undertake within the organization based on its current level of maturity.

Originality/value

This study’s main contributions are: (1) the maturity model to assess digital technology adoption for energy efficiency, (2) a set of strategies to advance maturity in adoption and (3) empirical investigation of maturity levels in the adoption of digital technologies for energy efficiency in 101 Swedish manufacturing companies.
Do big 4 auditors provide more timely audit after controlling for audit quality?
Authors: Lin Shu , Hao Lizhong , Liu Shengqiang
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine the audit efficiency and timeliness of Big 4 auditors relative to non-Big 4 auditors, where audit efficiency is defined as the auditor’s ability to conduct an audit more quickly or with fewer resources while still achieving effective outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use audit report lags (also referred to as audit delay) as a proxy for audit timeliness and efficiency, controlling for audit quality and audit fees (audit input). The authors use a propensity-score matching (PSM) approach to construct a pseudorandom sample in which each non-Big 4 client is matched with a similar Big 4 client based on their characteristics and audit quality, to control for potential endogeneity related to self-selection bias in this setting.

Findings

The authors find that non-Big 4 auditors are associated with shorter audit delays than Big 4 auditors. Additional analysis of the matched sample reveals that non-Big 4 auditors charge lower fees than Big 4 auditors do after controlling for the Big 4 premium. These findings do not support the notion that Big 4 auditors conduct audits more efficiently than non-Big 4 auditors do.

Originality/value

These results could be of interest to the management of public firms, audit committees, investors and regulators; provide valuable insights into the performance of audit firms in varying client environments; and contribute to a better understanding of audit timeliness and efficiency.
Insurance literacy, perceived trust and insurance inclusion in Uganda
Authors: Kiwanuka Archillies , Sibindi Athenia Bongani
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study primarily aimed to explore how insurance literacy and perceived trust interact to affect insurance inclusion in Uganda. Through this, we aimed to determine whether perceived trust serves as a mediator in the relationship between insurance literacy and insurance inclusion.

Design/methodology/approach

This research employed a correlational, cross-sectional and quantitative approach. A total of 400 voluntarily insured individuals in Uganda were sampled. Structured survey questionnaires were employed for data collection. PLS-SEM with bootstrapping was used to examine the hypothesized relationships.

Findings

The findings indicated a significant, positive correlation between insurance literacy with both insurance inclusion and perceived trust. Furthermore, perceived trust was identified as having a positive and significant impact on insurance inclusion in Uganda. Perceived trust was also established as a significant mediator in the connection between insurance literacy and insurance inclusion in the context of Uganda.

Originality/value

The contribution of this research resides in its explanation of how insurance literacy influences insurance inclusion in Uganda. For insurance literacy to influence insurance inclusion, a significant portion of insurance literacy is mediated through perceived trust of insurance providers.
Rethinking the factors of subjective well-being in older adults. A qualitative approach in Mexico
Authors: Martínez-Martínez Oscar A. , Andrade Guzmán Carlos , Reyes-Martínez Javier , Campillo-Toledano Claudia , Romero-González María Beatriz
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Mexico is going through an accelerated increment of the older adults population, which added to the conditions of poverty, places them in a high degree of vulnerability. Bearing this in mind, the aim of this paper is to identify which categories or factors generate the perception of subjective well-being (SWB) in older adults in Mexico.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative study was carried out in four Mexican states: Mexico City, Tamaulipas, State of Mexico and Oaxaca. Each state presents different levels of social well-being. The study participants were selected using the snowball method. In total, 41 in-depth interviews were carried out, which were analyzed with a thematic analysis approach.

Findings

Results show that older people’s SWB is related to different elements like family bonds, having good physical and mental health, personal development and practicing religion.

Research limitations/implications

Results represent experiences only for people interviewed in the states in which interviews were conducted, not representing national scope. Future studies can expand the territorial scope to have a higher comprehension regarding SWB in older adults.

Originality/value

These findings have implications in the design of public policies and programs, for improving the delivery of social and economic services to older adults within the Mexican context.
Striking variation of pollinator attracting scent within a highly specialized pollination system
Authors: De Cauwer Isabelle , Delle‐Vedove Roxane , Buatois Bruno , Godé Cécile , Dufay Mathilde
Published: February 2025

Although attractive scents play a crucial role in reproduction in insect‐pollinated plants, the degree of variation of this signal within and among populations remains understudied. Depending on the specifics of the reproductive system of the plant under scrutiny, it is possible to formulate predictions regarding this variation. In plants with separate sexes (dioecious species) and with highly specific pollination, one would predict (i) males to emit more scent than females, owing to sexual selection, (ii) scent bouquets to have a strictly similar composition between sexes, to guarantee efficient pollen transfer and (iii) variation of scent bouquet among populations that should mirror neutral genetic divergence.

These hypotheses were tested in the European fan palm, Chamaerops humilis, by collecting scent in eight populations from three regions, Spain, Sardinia and Sicily, quantifying densities of pollinators—Derelomus sp. and Meligethinus pallidulus—and genotyping the plants on a set of neutral markers.

Males emitted more scent than females. We detected some differences in bouquet composition between sexes, showing an imperfect inter‐sex mimicry in some populations. We also found a strong geographical effect, with individuals sampled in Sicily emitting a strikingly different scent bouquet, which contained high proportions of a volatile compound that was never detected in the other two regions.

Geographical variation of scent composition did not mirror neutral genetic structure: Sardinian and Spanish populations emitted similar scent bouquets but displayed very high levels of genetic differentiation. On the reverse, Sicilian populations showed both strong scent differences and appeared clearly genetically differentiated from populations found elsewhere, without any depletion in neutral genetic diversity.

Synthesis: Our study confirmed higher scent emission rates in males compared to females, consistent with expectations of sexual selection. However, we also discovered significant variation in the composition of the floral bouquet, which was unexpected given the highly specific pollination context. Together with observations of spatial genetic structure, these findings suggest a shift in plant‐pollinator interactions within the species across different regions.
NSUN3 Aggravates Sepsis‐Associated Acute Kidney Injury by Stabilising TIFA mRNA Through m5C
Authors: Zhang Chenran , Shen Wenming , Zheng Xuwen , Zhu Ming , Xu Kaiqi , Huang Hai , Yin Jinnan
Published: February 2025

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of sepsis and also a risk factor for progression of chronic kidney disease. NOP2/Sun RNA methyltransferase 3 (NSUN3) is involved in the regulation of sepsis progression. However, the mechanism by which NSUN3 regulates sepsis‐associated AKI (SA‐AKI) remains unclear.

Methods

SA‐AKI mouse model and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced injury model in HK‐2 cells were constructed. Haematoxylin–eosin staining, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), western blotting, cell counting kit 8, flow cytometry, 2′,7′‐dichlorofluorescein diacetate, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, methylation RNA immunoprecipitation‐qPCR, actinomycin D and TdT‐mediated dUTP Nick‐End Labelling staining assays were utilised to explore the expression and related mechanism of NSUN3 in the SA‐AKI models.

Results

The expression of NSUN3 and tumour necrosis factor receptor‐associated factor (TRAF)‐interacting protein with forkhead‐associated domain (TIFA) was upregulated in mice with SA‐AKI and LPS‐induced HK‐2 cells. Knockdown of NSUN3 inhibited LPS‐induced injury in HK‐2 cells. Mechanically, NSUN3 increased TIFA mRNA stability and upregulated its expression through m5C modification. Moreover, knockdown of NSUN3 was found to alleviate LPS‐induced HK‐2 cell injury and SA‐AKI in mice by reducing TIFA expression.

Conclusion

NSUN3 aggravates SA‐AKI by stabilising TIFA mRNA through m5C, indicating that NSUN3 may be a biomarker for SA‐AKI.
Shallow Hydrothermal Fluids Shape Microbial Dynamics at the Tagoro Submarine Volcano (Canary Islands, Spain)
Authors: Pérez‐Barrancos Clàudia , Fraile‐Nuez Eugenio , Martín‐Díaz Juan Pablo , González‐Vega Alba , Escánez‐Pérez José , Díaz‐Durán María Isabel , Presas‐Navarro Carmen , Nieto‐Cid Mar , Arrieta Jesús María
Published: February 2025

Shallow underwater hydrothermal systems are often overlooked despite their potential contribution to marine diversity and biogeochemistry. Over a decade after its eruption, the Tagoro submarine volcano continues to emit heat, reduced compounds, and nutrients into shallow waters, serving as a model system for studying the effects of diffuse hydrothermal fluids on surface microbial communities. The impact on both phytoplankton and bacterial communities was examined through experimental manipulations mimicking dilution levels up to ~100 m from the primary crater of Tagoro. Chlorophyll a concentration doubled in the presence of hydrothermal products, with peak levels detected about a day earlier than in controls. Picoeukaryotes and Synechococcus cell abundances moderately increased, yet small eukaryotic phytoplankton (≤ 5 μm) predominated in the hydrothermally enriched bottles. Dinoflagellates, diatoms, small green algae and radiolarians particularly benefited from the hydrothermal inputs, along with phototrophic and chemoautotrophic bacteria. Our results indicate that hydrothermal products in shallow waters enhance primary production driven by phototrophic microbes, potentially triggering a secondary response associated with increased organic matter availability. Additionally, protistan grazing and parasitism emerged as key factors modulating local planktonic communities. Our findings highlight the role of shallow submarine hydrothermal systems in enhancing local primary production and element cycling.
Exploring the potential of the Coventry Grid (CG) tool within mainstream middle school settings
Authors: Wall Sarah
Published: February 2025

The Coventry Grid (CG) seeks to address clinicians' concerns over the misdiagnosis of autistic spectrum conditions (ASC) and attachment problems (AP). While literature exists exploring the clinical benefits of the CG, and recent modifications have included the Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) profile, its potential in the educational context has been little examined; consequently, this original project explores the CG's uses with two mainstream middle school teachers and augments current practice. The findings reveal that with appropriate experience, training and caregiver input, staff may use the CG to gain an in‐depth picture of pupils' needs and assist the diagnostic process; primarily including (hitherto discouraged) dual identification. Moreover, as the aetiology of ASC and AP varies, applying this knowledge helps to provide suitable interventions—perhaps covering multiple diagnoses—for children early in their school careers.
Accidents, Crises, and Events in the Supreme Court: Paul v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust
Authors: Leitch Matthew
Published: February 2025

In Paul v Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, the Supreme Court held that a secondary victim cannot recover damages for psychiatric harm caused by witnessing a primary victim's medical crisis. This note examines the ratio of the majority's judgment, that the secondary victim must witness an accident (or its immediate aftermath) to successfully recover damages. It argues that the majority's accident requirement is problematic for three reasons: it was not required by the case law; it is not as certain or intelligible as the majority suggest; and it treats clinical negligence as a subclass of personal injury. The note also suggests that the common law has, contrary to the majority's analysis, started to develop a doctor's duty of care to a patient's family member. This would have provided the conceptual foundation upon which to treat the deaths as the relevant event in Paul. The note also considers the court's helpful clarification that the accident need not be sufficiently horrifying, and that the secondary victim need not suffer a sudden shock, as well as the Supreme Court's application of the scope of duty principle more broadly.
Public Information‐Seeking Intentions on COVID‐19 Risks: Considering the Role of Affective and Cognitive States
Authors: Hu Xiaoli , Zhu Weiwei , Zhou Baohuan , Liang Liang
Published: February 2025

Risk information represented by the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID‐19) has garnered significant attention as a foundation for individuals to appraise threats and engage in protective actions. Although many opportunities exist to provide risk information to the public in a permanent form, little attention has been paid to active information‐seeking behaviour. This study investigates the primary factors influencing the intent to seek information within the context of COVID‐19 and delves into the mechanisms of the information‐seeking process. We utilize a snowball sampling method to collect data. A total of 1300 people were selected from three universities, five companies, one hospital, and the local government as respondents. Based on a prior risk information‐seeking model, a hypothetical model was developed that accentuates the pivotal role of affective states and cognitive conditions (encompassing perceived risk and perceived knowledge). The empirical results underscore the significance of cognitive states in forecasting affective and informational responses. Surprisingly, the intent to seek information is directly influenced by perceived knowledge but not by perceived risk. Additionally, information needs play a mediating role in the information‐seeking process, underscoring the complex dynamics of seeking information in the context of COVID‐19.
The Combined and Comparative Impacts of Financial Incentives Versus Practice Facilitation Implementation Support for Social Risk Screening in Community Health Centers
Authors: Hessler Danielle , Marino Miguel , Kaufmann Jorge , Gold Rachel , King Anne , Wing Holly , Donovan Jenna , Pisciotta Maura , Ackerman Sara , Goldberg Bruce , Gottlieb Laura M.
Published: February 2025

Objective

To examine the impact of two interventions aimed at increasing the adoption of social risk screening in community health centers (CHCs).

Study Setting and Design

Intervention CHCs were in one of three groups, which received either: (1) tailored practice facilitation‐focused social risk screening implementation supports; (2) financial incentives for screening; and (3) both practice facilitation and financial incentives in staggered order. A group of control clinics was identified through propensity score matching and a difference‐in‐difference analysis compared effects across groups.

Data Sources and Analytic Sample

Using electronic health record data, we calculated monthly rates of social risk screening (per 100 adult patients) at 32 intervention clinics (19 practice facilitation supports only, 6 financial incentives only, 7 both financial incentives and practice facilitation supports), and 32 control clinics.

Principal Findings

Compared to control clinics, clinics in any intervention group had a greater increase in average monthly social risk screenings from pre‐ to post‐intervention that was maintained over the 24 months following intervention (difference‐in‐difference: 4.66, 95% CI: 0.89, 8.43). In the primary analysis, clinics engaged in both interventions increased screening rates when practice facilitation implementation supports were added to financial incentives (12 months 3.70, 95% CI: 0.34, 7.07; 24 months 4.18, 95% CI: −0.01, 8.87); adding financial incentives to practice facilitation supports resulted in increased screening rates but did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions

This study is the first to compare different interventions intended to bolster CHCs' social risk screening activities. As social risk screening becomes increasingly tied to US policy and payment structures, it is critical to identify strategies that can support implementation in settings serving underserved populations. Our findings suggest modest impacts of both financial incentives and practice facilitation supports.
Joint control of multiple food processing contaminants in Maillard reaction: A comprehensive review of health risks and prevention
Authors: Zhang Fan , Yu Xiaomei , Tian Yimei , Zeng Jia , Zhuang Pan , Jia Wei , Zhang Yu
Published: February 2025

There is an urgent need to address food safety concerns associated with multiple Maillard reaction‒derived chemical contaminants, such as acrylamide, heterocyclic aromatic amines, advanced glycation end products, and 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural, which are present in processed foods. Current studies have focused on single contaminant generated by the Maillard reaction; however, there is a dearth of information regarding the interactions of multiple contaminants and their joint control methods. This review article comprehensively summarizes the state‐of‐the‐art progress in the simultaneous analysis, coformation, joint hazardous control, and risk assessment of multiple food processing contaminants generated by the Maillard reaction. The Maillard reaction is associated with caramelization, lipid oxidation, protein oxidation, and ascorbic acid browning reactions. Mass spectrometry‒based chromatography is currently the preferred method for the simultaneous quantification of multiple contaminants, with metabolomics and indirect detection methodologies providing new insights. Mitigation strategies for multiple contaminants include optimizing pretreatment, introducing exogenous additives, regulating processing parameters, and utilizing emerging technologies. Limited animal studies on the metabolism of various contaminants have yielded diverse results, guided by biomarkers for deep understanding. Integrated risk assessment should be conducted to quantify multihazard health impacts. In future research, a unique framework should be developed for assessing multiple contaminants, characterizing their metabolic profiles, and optimizing control measures for Maillard reaction‒derived contaminants.
Factors associated with extended length of stay for paediatric mental health presentations to EDs in South Western Sydney, Australia
Authors: Khan Jahidur Rahman , John James Rufus , Middleton Paul M. , Huang Yao , Lin Ping‐I (Daniel) , Hu Nan , Jalaludin Bin , Chay Paul , Lingam Raghu , Eapen Valsamma
Published: February 2025

Objective

This study aimed to determine the factors associated with extended length of stay (LOS) for paediatric mental health (MH)‐related presentations to the EDs in South Western Sydney (SWS).

Methods

We analysed electronic medical records (eMRs) of 7444 MH‐related ED encounters of children and young people (CYP) aged up to 18 years from all six public hospitals in SWS from January 2016 to April 2022. Extended LOS was defined as encounters of more than 4 h. We assessed factors associated with extended LOS using a multi‐level logistic regression model, accounting for hospital‐level clustering.

Results

Approximately, 57.6% of all paediatric MH‐related ED presentations involved extended LOS. ED presentations by adolescents, patients with a culturally and linguistically diverse background, and those with ambulance arrival had increased odds of extended LOS compared to their counterparts. The odds of extended LOS were lower for encounters that occurred on weekends compared to weekdays, but the odds were higher for presentations that happened at night than during the day. Deliberate self‐harm, eating disorder, and schizophrenia spectrum disorders/psychosis‐related presentations had higher odds of extended LOS than other MH‐related presentations. Patients with MH presentations that required urgent evaluation (triage levels 1–2) had higher odds of extended LOS. Further, the odds of extended LOS were considerably lower during the COVID‐19 period compared to the pre‐COVID‐19 period.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight the need for equitable distribution of resources directed towards at‐risk CYP to improve MH outcomes and reduce health system burden.
COVID‐19 in Australia: Systems resilience and outcome fairness
Authors: Rutherford Glen , Kirkpatrick Jamie , Davison Aidan , Prahalad Vishnu
Published: February 2025

We apply a relational multiscalar model of the sustainability of social organisation to the management of COVID‐19 in Australia to analyse systems resilience and outcome fairness. Our model encompasses the structures, processes, functions, and contents of social organisation across micro, meso, and macro scales. We developed four data sets linked to COVID‐19 and analysed these as variables in our model: (1) letters to the editor in public newspapers; (2) net weekly payroll jobs growth; (3) income/wealth inequality; (4) COVID‐19 mortality and case/infection rates. These variables are used as proxies for democratic systems resilience, economic systems resilience, socioeconomic systems fairness, and public health systems efficacy, respectively. We found that as the pandemic progressed, public opinion shifted from favouring structural‐societal transformation to favouring incremental adaptation. Spatial scale and geographical location impacted the resilience of weekly payroll jobs, with ‘urban’/densely populated areas having less job growth than ‘regional’/less dense locations, and ‘national’ scale net jobs growth being greater than ‘job growth in New South Wales, Tasmania, and Victoria, in decreasing order. Transitions in pandemic policies of border restrictions and vaccination constrained net job losses, or enabled net gains over time, with the federal JobKeeper wage support preventing ‘breakout’ unemployment. Mobility restrictions and vaccination minimised mortality rates with self‐administered (RAT) testing possibly decreasing infection rates. While our findings affirm that the complexity and ‘messiness’ of social policy means that management outcomes are not easily predictable nor will necessarily match expectations, our model provides a framework for assessing system dynamics and outcome fairness.
Land Sharing and Land Sparing in Agriculture – Can We Change Our Attitudes?
Authors: Nagy Tímea Makszim Györgyné , Soós Anita
Published: February 2025

Land sharing and land sparing are the methods by which farmers can contribute to the protection of the environment and conserve biodiversity, as well as alleviating the impact of climate change and extreme weather events. However, these can reduce production, which have often been achieved through intensive monoculture farming causing long‐term damage to the fertility and structure of the soil. Preservation of biodiversity and the improvement of soil quality increases crop security and the long‐term profitability of farming, while improving the social perception of farmers. Many countries provide subsidies and impose regulations that encourage sustainable agricultural practices, including land fallowing. In this respect, we discuss the concepts of land sharing and land sparing. We outline the potential environmental and social benefits of fallowing agricultural land and restoring natural ecosystems, using concrete examples in European and other countries. We think that it is possible to farm land differently but that would require strong regulations. Tax incentives, research and development subsidies, and programmes for the use of renewable energy sources could also provide positive incentives. Context is crucial and more research is needed to establish whether land sharing or land sparing are the best practices to contribute to sustainable agriculture and ensure a healthy environment for future generations.
Analysis of dynamic flavor changes of volatile and non‐volatile fractions analysis of black qingke (Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum Hook. f.) during steaming process
Authors: Wang Junyi , Wang Ruifang , Gao Yan , Wang Jing , Qiao Lina , Li Huijuan , Zhao Guohua , Zhang Ning , Chen Hitao , Sun Jie , Wang Shuqi
Published: February 2025

Qingke (Hordeum vulgare L. var. nudum Hook. f.) is a cereal of Gramineae, and it is an indispensable food crop for people in the Qinghai—Tibetan Plateau of China. This work focused on the dynamic changes of volatile and non‐volatile fractions of qingke (Heilaoya), that is, black qingke, during steaming, and the flavor variations were discussed combined with their correlation. According to the results of sensory analysis, it revealed that the rice and sweet aroma of black qingke increased with the extension of steaming time and reached the maximum at 60 min, whereas the grassy aroma decreased. Besides, a total of 43 aroma fractions were identified by gas chromatography–olfactometry–mass spectrometry, with the largest quantity showing up at 60 min. In addition, the overall flavor of black qingke became more abundant after steaming for 40–60 min. Furthermore, combined with the changes of the non‐volatile substances, it was inferred that Maillard and Strecker reactions occurred between reducing sugars and amino acids, and the fractions, such as 2‐acetylthiazole, 2‐methylpyrazine, 2‐pentylfuran, and furfural, were generated. These components mainly presented notes of baked, rice, and grain. In addition, the fatty acids undergo oxidative degradation to generate hexanal and (E,E)‐2,4‐decadienal. These results can provide a theoretical basis for the flavor quality control and industrial production of qingke.
Effects of different extraction methods on the chemical composition, antioxidant activity and flavor of bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.) kernel oil
Authors: Yang Yunyun , Huang Zhaoxian , Xie Dan , Luo Jingru , Wang Taiwei , Xie Liangliang , Zhu Xiping , Zhuang Qibin , Guo Yubao , Zhu Xiuling , Jin Jun , Liang Li
Published: February 2025

Bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.) kernel is a by‐products of bayberry processing and are rich in oil. This study investigates the effects of different processing methods on bayberry kernel oil (BKO) yield, including cold pressing (CP), direct solvent (n‐hexane) extraction, ultrasound‐assisted n‐hexane extraction (UAE), steam explosion pretreatment to assist n‐hexane extraction, aqueous enzyme extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). The acid value, peroxide value, fatty acid composition, bioactive components content, and the antioxidant activity of the extracted BKO with six methods were compared. The results showed that the oil yield of bayberry kernel extracted by different methods was between 30.95% and 49.49%, and the oil yield of UAE was the highest. BKO samples extracted by different methods had lower acid value (0.39–0.59 mg KOH/g) and peroxide value (3.97–5.84 meq O2/kg), and were rich in unsaturated fatty acids (>85%), mainly including oleic (46.9%–47.9%) and linoleics (37.0%–39.5%). Meanwhile, BKO contained phytosterols (384.67–597.14 mg/100 g) and tocopherols (632.09–1227.62 µg/100 g), which was positively correlated with antioxidant activity. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of BKO varied on extraction methods. BKO extracted by CP and SFE showed more VOCs (25 in CP‐BKO, 26 in SFE‐BKO). The representative VOCs in BKO are alcohols and esters. The results provide references for further processing of BKO.
Macroporous adsorbent resin debittering of Huang long bing (HLB)‐affected orange juice and its impacts on consumer sensory acceptance
Authors: Washington Taylor L. , Briceno Fabiana V. , Sims Charles A. , Nau Katlyn , Yagiz Yavuz , Gu Liwei
Published: February 2025

Huang long bing (HLB) infection of oranges induces the biosynthesis and accumulation of bitter limonoids. The objective of this study was to debitter HLB‐affected orange juice while preserving the tasteless and health‐promoting limonoid glucoside and flavanones using resin adsorption. Three resins (FPX66, PAD900, and XAD16N) were found to have higher adsorption and desorption capacity for limonin among seven selected resins. Adsorption of limonoids rapidly increased in the first 2 h of kinetic tests, while slower adsorption kinetics were observed for flavanones. Limonin isothermal adsorption fit best with the Langmuir model, suggesting a physical, monolayer process. Dynamic adsorption showed that a fixed‐bed column packed with PAD900 was able to debitter 200 bed volumes of orange juice before limonin reached its taste threshold of 4.7 µg/mL in the eluent. The resin was regenerated by eluting the column with four bed volumes of alcohol or 4% NaOH to remove adsorbed compounds from the resin. Resin adsorption reduced limonin content in orange juice from 5.85 to 1.34 µg/mL but also decreased tasteless compounds by at least 40%. A consumer sensory test gave the debittered juice a higher overall liking and preference over untreated juice. This study showed that resin adsorption is an effective approach to reduce the bitterness of orange juice affected by HLB.
Association of Poor Sleep Quality With Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Xu Tian Yun , Zhang Yue , Zhao Shu Liang
Published: February 2025

Objectives

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic diseases with adverse events such as disease flare, progression, drug escalation, hospitalization, and surgery. Meanwhile, patients with IBD often have sleep disorders. We performed this systematic review and meta‐analysis aiming to investigate the relationship between sleep quality of patients with IBD and their prognosis.

Methods

MEDLINE and Web of Science Core Collection databases were searched for articles published up to November 2024. We pooled the hazard ratio (HR) and odds ratio (OR) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) for adverse outcome events during the follow‐up period in patients with poor sleep quality at baseline compared with those with normal sleep quality.

Results

Five studies were included with a total of 2333 patients with IBD. Poor sleep quality in patients with IBD was significantly correlated with the occurrence of adverse outcome events at follow‐up (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.14–2.33). Patients with Crohn's disease (CD) with poor sleep quality had a significantly higher risk of adverse outcome events at follow‐up (OR 1.58, 95% CI 1.26–1.99), whereas those with ulcerative colitis (UC) did not (OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.76–1.60).

Conclusion

Early identification of poor sleep quality in patients with IBD, especially CD, has a predictive effect on their prognosis.
Glucokinase Regulatory Protein as a Putative Target for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Related Complications: Evidence From the Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Mao Weian , Wang Guiquan , Wang Xiao , Shen Yan , Yuan Shuai , Wang Lin , Yang Haiyan , Li Yan , Chen Kai , Liu Jun , Dong Xi , Zhao Yue , Mu Liangshan
Published: February 2025

Background

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is one of the most common complications of pregnancy and is highly associated with adverse perinatal outcomes and long‐term health problems for the mother and offspring. However, there are respective limitations in the pharmacological strategies for the current treatment of GDM. Glucokinase regulatory protein (GCKR) has been associated with GDM in observational studies and animal experiments and thus represents a potential drug target of interest for investigation.

Methods

We applied two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) and colocalization analysis using summary‐level data from genome‐wide association studies of GCKR and GDM. Two‐step MR was used to explore the mediating effects of several metabolic factors on the association. We also applied MR to explore the associations of GCKR levels with GDM‐related outcomes. Finally, we performed a phenome‐wide association study (PheWAS) to query the potential effects of altered GCKR levels across multiple health categories.

Results

We found a significant association between elevated GCKR levels and GDM (OR = 3.466, 95% CI = 2.401–5.002, p = 3.16 × 10−11), also supported by the colocalization analysis ([Pcoloc] = 0.997). The estimates were replicated in an independent study (OR = 2.640, 95% CI = 1.983–3.513, p = 2.84 × 10−11, Pcoloc = 0.983). Elevated GCKR levels were also associated with higher risk of type 2 diabetes (OR = 2.183, 95% CI = 1.846–2.581, p = 6.53 × 10−20). Two‐step MR suggested that fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and triglycerides partly mediated the causal relationship. PheWAS found that targeting GCKR may improve renal function and glucose homeostasis but cause dyslipidemia and uric acid abnormalities.

Conclusions

This study provided novel evidence that circulating GCKR levels are causally implicated in GDM and related complications, suggesting that it may be a promising target for treatment.
Prevalence of Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)‐B*58:01 and Allopurinol‐Induced Adverse Reactions in Filipino Patients in Hawai'i: Implications for Genotyping
Authors: Terashima Rika , Medina Alejandro Jude P. , Del Mundo Hans Jesper F. , Briones Ryan Sean S. , Aquino Joseph Arman B. , Quiminiano Ellaine M. , Sin Yuh Miin , Bautista Rhea A. , Sonido Charlie Y. , Yamada Seiji
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Allopurinol, a first‐line treatment for gout and hyperuricemia, is associated with severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCAR) in individuals carrying the HLA‐B*58:01 allele. Genotyping is conditionally recommended in Han Chinese, Korean, and Thai populations with an allele prevalence of 7.4%, and in African Americans at 3.8%. The prevalence in Filipino patients has not been studied. We investigate the prevalence of HLA‐B*58:01 among Filipino patients in Hawai'i and evaluate the incidence of allopurinol‐induced adverse reactions following genotyping.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review of 312 patients who underwent HLA‐B*58:01 genotyping at a primary care clinic in Hawai'i between November 2021 and July 2024. After excluding patients with missing ethnicity data, non‐Filipino ethnicity, or prior allopurinol use, 237 Filipino patients were included in the analysis. The prevalence of the HLA‐B*58:01 allele and the incidence of allopurinol‐induced adverse reactions were calculated.

Results

Among the 237 Filipino patients, 17 (7.2%) were HLA‐B*58:01 positive. A total of 97 patients were started on allopurinol after genotyping and 1 (1.0%) developed mild cutaneous reactions, 0 (0%) developed SCAR, and 2 (2.1%) experienced gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea and diarrhea).

Conclusion

The high prevalence of HLA‐B*58:01 allele among Filipino patients in Hawai'i suggests that genotyping may be considered before initiating allopurinol treatment. Given no instances of SCAR were observed in patients who were administered allopurinol after undergoing HLA‐B*58:01 genotyping, genotyping may play a crucial role in reducing the risk of allopurinol‐induced SCAR in this population. Further studies with larger cohorts are suggested to confirm our findings and assess broader clinical utility of genotyping.
Work–family–self‐care and day drinking among women during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Stewart Susan D.
Published: February 2025

Background

The term “day drinking” is used colloquially to refer to drinking alcohol during daytime hours and has become part of the vernacular surrounding alcohol use. Anecdotal evidence is suggestive of increased day drinking among women during the COVID‐19 pandemic, but empirical studies are few. This study assessed changes in the time of day women consumed alcoholic beverages during the pandemic and investigated whether their difficulty balancing work, family, and self‐care was associated with the initiation of daytime drinking.

Methods

In June of 2020, 546 women age 25 and older completed an online survey regarding their drinking behaviors pre‐ and post‐COVID‐19, perceived stress, COVID‐19 anxiety, and degree of difficulty managing work, family, and personal care. Multivariate logistic regression models assessed associations between variables, controlling for women's sociodemographic characteristics.

Results

Women shifted to drinking earlier in the day with the onset of the COVID‐19 pandemic, with a specific increase in daytime drinking. Difficulty managing work, family, and self‐care was associated with significantly greater odds of initiating day drinking, but perceived stress and COVID‐19 anxiety were not.

Conclusions

Alcohol consumption is harmful to women's health. In addition to work and family roles, researchers should continue to explore how self‐care affects women's alcohol use, and specifically temporal patterns, especially in times of crisis.
Is there really a dictator's dilemma? Information and repression in autocracy
Authors: Gehlbach Scott , Luo Zhaotian , Shirikov Anton , Vorobyev Dmitriy
Published: February 2025

In his seminal work on the political economy of dictatorship, Ronald Wintrobe posited the existence of a “dictator's dilemma,” in which repression leaves an autocrat less secure by reducing information about discontent. We explore the nature and resolution of this dilemma with a formalization that builds on recent work in the political economy of nondemocracy. When the regime is sufficiently repressive, and the dictator's popularity correspondingly unclear to opposition as well as autocrat, the ruler faces two unattractive options: He can mobilize the repressive apparatus, even though there may be no threat to his rule, or he can refrain from mobilizing, even though the danger may be real. Semicompetitive elections can ease the dilemma through the controlled revelation of discontent. Paradoxically, the manipulation of information through such non‐repressive means can allow for more rather than less repression.
Religious authority in the urban mosque
Authors: Chaplin Chris
Published: February 2025

In Eastern Indonesia, young male Islamic activists articulate a notion of religious authority that reorients community life toward neighborhood mosques. By providing local communities with Qur'anic classes and religious services, these activists—affiliated with Indonesia's largest Salafi organization—have created a network of spaces in which they promote new religious lifeworlds grounded in the substantive relationships they build across these neighborhoods. But “being present” in the mosque pertains to more than physically existing in a space; it speaks to the processes and strategies through which activists draw from local Islamic histories, legal codes, nationalist tropes, and moral anxieties to make and remake an ethical image of Islamic belonging. Such practices reveal the relational, spatial, but also contingent nature of contemporary religious authority. Moreover, they refocus anthropological analysis onto the experiential and collective moments through which new moral worlds emerge.