bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ClonoScreen3D: a novel three-dimensional clonogenic screening platform for identification of radiosensitizers for glioblastoma
Authors: Jackson Mark R , Richards Amanda R , Oladipupo Abdul-Basit Ayoola , Chahal Sandeep K , Caragher Seamus , Chalmers Anthony J , Gomez-Roman Natividad
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a lethal brain tumour. Standard of care treatment comprising surgery, radiation and chemotherapy results in median survival rates of 12-15 months. Molecular targeted agents identified using conventional two-dimensional (2D)in vitromodels of GBM have failed to improve outcome in patients, rendering such models inadequate for therapeutic target identification. We developed a 3D GBMin vitromodel that recapitulates key GBM clinical features and responses to molecular therapies and investigated its utility for screening novel radiation-drug combinations using gold-standard clonogenic survival as readout.

Results

Patient-derived GBM cell lines were optimized for inclusion in a 96-well plate 3D clonogenic screening platform, ClonoScreen3D. Radiation responses of GBM cells in this system were highly reproducible and comparable to those observed in low-throughout 3D assays. The screen methodology provided quantification of candidate drug single agent activity (EC50) and the interaction between drug and radiation (radiation interaction ratio, RIR). The PARP inhibitors talazoparib, rucaparib and olaparib, each showed a significant interaction with radiation by ClonoScreen3D and were subsequently confirmed as true radiosensitizers by full clonogenic assay. Screening a panel of DNA damage response inhibitors revealed the expected propensity of these compounds to interact significantly with radiation (13/15 compounds). A second screen assessed a panel of compounds targeting pathways identified by transcriptomic analysis and demonstrated single agent activity and a previously unreported interaction with radiation of dinaciclib and cytarabine (RIR 1.28 and 1.90, respectively). These compounds were validated as radiosensitizers in full clonogenic assays (sensitizer enhancement ratio 1.47 and 1.35, respectively).

Conclusions

The ClonoScreen3D platform was demonstrated to be a robust method to screen for single agent and radiation-drug combination activity. Using gold-standard clonogenicity, this assay is a tool for identification of novel radiosensitizers. We anticipate this technology will accelerate identification of novel radiation-drug combinations with genuine translational value.
Decolonising the NDIS: a third space to account for First Nations' values
Authors: Nikidehaghani Mona , Pupovac Sanja
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate how embedding accounting techniques of cost and budgeting within the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) potentially perpetuates colonial practices for Australian First Nations people living in remote areas. Further, the paper aims to explore how accounting might help to integrate the unique modes of accountability First Nations people have over disability care into the NDIS funding system. Ultimately, the aim is to discern whether accounting practices can be mobilised as a means to decolonising the NDIS framework.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a qualitative methodology to analyse public hearings from the Australian Disability Royal Commission. Drawing on Bhabha's (1994) concept of the “third space”, this study investigates how accounting techniques can be used to potentially decolonise the NDIS. This study also borrows Bhabha's (1994) concept of the third space to explore the potential for decolonising the NDIS through accounting techniques.

Findings

Findings show that the accounting techniques pertaining to funding and costs embedded within the NDIS contribute to displacing and disconnecting First Nations people from their cultural practices and ways of life. Further, the analysis reveals that the NDIS funding system could help to decolonise the NDIS space if it were modified to incorporate First Nations' perspectives on accountability for disability care.

Originality/value

The case of the NDIS exposes glimpses of colonisation in contemporary Australia, where Western institutional and economic systems dominate over the structure and authority of the practice. In this paper, this study demonstrates that the accounting system used by the NDIS plays a role in marginalising First Nations people. However, accounting, as a technology of negotiation, could also be mobilised to enhance accountability for disability care outcomes and pave the way for decolonising public policies.
Navigating management control change: pathways to the future of work
Authors: Carr Michelle , Jooss Stefan
Published: October 2023

Purpose

COVID-19 has forced Big 4 firms to challenge existing management control arrangements and adapt their ways of working. Yet, we know little about how management control might be enacted in the future of the sustainable workplace. The objective of the study is to examine the patterns of management control change in the Big 4 accounting firms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting an exploratory qualitative research design, the authors draw on 42 interviews with directors and associates in the Big 4 professional services firms.

Findings

The findings reveal two pathways of management control change including alignment and displacement. The authors found that relatively minor adaptions to action and result controls were relied upon to respond to substantial cultural and personnel control changes.

Originality/value

The contributions are threefold: the authors take a temporal perspective to (1) unpack the changes to management control arrangements; (2) theorise the findings by developing a three-dimensional taxonomy of change pathways encompassing pace, scope and longevity of management control change and (3) contextualise management control arrangements in a hybrid work setting.

Highlights

COVID-19 has forced Big 4 firms to challenge existing management control arrangements.

Literature has focused on traditional, onsite work settings and largely ignored change pathways.

The authors take a temporal perspective to unpack changes to management control arrangements.

Big 4 firms adapted to hybrid work with substantial changes to personnel and cultural controls.

The authors theorise the findings by developing a three-dimensional taxonomy of change pathways.
A comprehensive analysis for classification and regression of surface points based on geodesics and machine learning algorithms
Authors: Bulut Vahide
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Feature extraction from 3D datasets is a current problem. Machine learning is an important tool for classification of complex 3D datasets. Machine learning classification techniques are widely used in various fields, such as text classification, pattern recognition, medical disease analysis, etc. The aim of this study is to apply the most popular classification and regression methods to determine the best classification and regression method based on the geodesics.

Design/methodology/approach

The feature vector is determined by the unit normal vector and the unit principal vector at each point of the 3D surface along with the point coordinates themselves. Moreover, different examples are compared according to the classification methods in terms of accuracy and the regression algorithms in terms of R-squared value.

Findings

Several surface examples are analyzed for the feature vector using classification (31 methods) and regression (23 methods) machine learning algorithms. In addition, two ensemble methods XGBoost and LightGBM are used for classification and regression. Also, the scores for each surface example are compared.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to analyze datasets based on geodesics using machine learning algorithms for classification and regression.
Collaborative governance for aviation approved training organisation: an adapted model for multi-stakeholder collaboration
Authors: Hendra Oke , Kurnianto Benny , Endrawijaya Ika
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to develop an adapted collaborative governance model for aviation human resource development in Indonesia's approved training organisations (ATO), considering the expected changes in the industry due to advanced technologies. The model, based on Ansell and Gash's approach, emphasizes multi-stakeholder collaboration to ensure workforce development aligns with industry and regulatory standards and accommodates technological advancements.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative methods, such as in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, were employed to collect and analyse data.

Findings

The results indicated that collaborative governance is a valuable tool for cultivating competent human resources and facilitating industry improvement in the face of rapid technological change.

Originality/value

The proposed model contributes significantly to the field by promoting inclusive and effective human resource development through the Centre for Aviation Human Resource Development (CAHRD), thereby preparing the Indonesian aviation industry for the impact of advanced technologies. Furthermore, this study contributes to the enhancement of Ansell and Gash's collaborative governance theoretical framework by effectively addressing its empirical gaps concerning vocational education and training challenges within Indonesia's air transportation sector.
A review on active heating for high performance cold-proof clothing
Authors: Ma Liang , Li Jun
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The present study provides a comprehensive review of the advancements in five active heating modes for cold-proof clothing as of 2021. It aims to evaluate the current state of research for each heating mode and identify their limitations. Further, the study provides insights into the optimization of intelligent temperature control algorithms and design considerations for intelligent cold-proof clothing.

Design/methodology/approach

This article presents a classification of active heating systems based on five different heating principles: electric heating system, solar heating system, phase-change material (PCM) heating system, chemical heating system and fluid/air heating system. The systems are analyzed and evaluated in terms of heating principle, research advancement, scientific challenges and application potential in the field of cold-proof clothing.

Findings

The rational utilization of active heating modes enhances the thermal efficiency of cold-proof clothing, resulting in enhanced cold-resistance and reduced volume and weight. Despite progress in the development of the five prevalent heating modes, particularly with regard to the improvement and advancement of heating materials, the current integration of heating systems with cold-proof clothing is limited to the torso and limbs, lacking consideration of the thermal physiological requirements of the human body. Additionally, the heating modes of each system tend to be uniform and lack differentiation to meet the varying cold protection needs of various body parts.

Research limitations/implications

The effective application of multiple heating modes helps the human body to maintain a constant body temperature and thermal equilibrium in a cold environment. The research of heating mode is the basis for realizing the temperature control of cold-proof clothing and provides an effective guarantee for the future development of the intelligent algorithms for temperature control of non-uniform heating of body segments.

Practical implications

The integration of multiple heating modes ensures the maintenance of a constant body temperature and thermal balance for the wearer in cold environments. The research of heating modes forms the foundation for the temperature regulation of cold-proof clothing and lays the groundwork for the development of intelligent algorithms for non-uniform heating control of different body segments.

Originality/value

The present article systematically reviews five active heating modes suitable for use in cold-proof clothing and offers guidance for the selection of heating systems in future smart cold-proof clothing. Furthermore, the findings of this research provide a basis for future research on non-uniform heating modes that are aligned with the thermal physiological needs of the human body, thus contributing to the development of cold-proof clothing that is better suited to meet the thermal needs of the human body.
Self-recovery after self-service technology failures: do motivations and self-efficacy matter?
Authors: Chiu Yen-Ting Helena , Nguyen Dung Minh , Hofer Katharina Maria
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The growth of self-service technologies (SST) in the retail sector has led to an increased prevalence of SST failures, and spurred academic debate on customer self-recovery of the failed services. This study sets out to explore why customers prefer or decline to engage in self-recovery. A framework integrating elements from self-determination theory and theory of planned behavior is developed to explore the impact of motivational factors, attitudes and self-efficacy on self-recovery intention.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the sample consisting of 297 users of retail kiosks in convenience stores.

Findings

The results revealed that intrinsic motivation and identified regulation directly affect customers' attitude and intention to engage in self-recovery. Despite an insignificant direct relationship, external regulation impacted self-recovery intention through attitude. Further, the association between intrinsic motivation and self-recovery intention is moderated by self-efficacy.

Originality/value

Much of the extant SST recovery literature has focused on company-rendered service recovery, providing little guidance to firms on how to promote self-recovery among customers. The integrated motivational-cognitive theoretical base in this study allows for a more differentiated inquiry into the factors shaping self-recovery intention, resulting in a deeper understanding of this topic. The novel insights will help retailers develop effective strategies for promoting self-recovery among users of retail kiosks.
Knowledge management as an asset for operational processes in marginal healthcare centers
Authors: Kala Kamdjoug Jean Robert , Wamba-Taguimdje Serge-Lopez , Tchoukoua Martin
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This research paper aims to explore the added value of knowledge management (KM) and its antecedents for innovation and organizational performance (OP) in marginal healthcare organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

Using insights from the resource-based view and knowledge-based theory of the firm, the model explains the effects of technology capabilities (TC) and organizational culture (OC) on the KM process, process innovation (PIN), administrative innovation (AIN) and OP. The authors used partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to analyze data collected from 168 healthcare practitioners in Cameroon using a survey.

Findings

The authors reveal that TC and OC positively impact some KM components. Knowledge sharing (KS), knowledge acquisition (KA) and responsiveness to knowledge (RK) influence PIN, while only PIN and KA influence OP. FsQCA provided several configurations that lead to high OP within healthcare centers. As a result, the results are adaptable to any healthcare center that wishes to set up one or more KM processes.

Research limitations/implications

Given that the results will help the health workforce make concerted decisions about medical care, the authors contribute significantly to the definition and optimization of KM in healthcare by implementing various processes and policies to ensure the continued existence of high-quality and outstanding healthcare systems. The KM propositions will enable healthcare centers to: (1) improve the quality of patient care through collegiality in medical practice; (2) optimize processes in the patient care chain; and (3) leverage knowledge gained though knowledge sharing among the medical team. The propositions open up avenues for future research in addition to providing practical implications for healthcare center practitioners.

Originality/value

This study sheds new empirical light on the relationships between KM antecedents and processes, innovation and OP in healthcare centers. This research is one of the few to examine the relationship between TC, OC, KM processes, innovation and OP in developing countries. This paper aims to fill this gap and inform future research concerning KM in the healthcare sector. Further, this study goes beyond testing the PLS-SEM approach's hypotheses by applying fsQCA to provide practical and comprehensive knowledge on how to increase the efficiency of a healthcare center through KM.
Does international collaboration enhance internationalization of higher education for a non-native English environment ? A comparative analysis of NBUIs, China?
Authors: Zhou Lei , Alam Gazi Mahabubul , Rasdi Roziah Mohd
Published: October 2023

Purpose

A significant number of studies suggest that both international cooperation (IC) and English proficiency (EP) greatly assist internationalization of higher education (IHE). Yet, more evidence is required to confirm their relationship. Hence, this paper intends to investigate whether any association prevails between IC and EP, and if so, how both domains facilitate IHE.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employed a qualitative approach to examine how IC and EP potentially influence each other, as well as the way they shape IHE.

Findings

The main key finding reported in this study is that IC plays a significant role in internationalization efforts, with English serving as a critical medium.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that although IC can positively influence EP and the overall level of IHE, the newly built undergraduate institutions (NBUIs) in China should be careful not to fall into the dual traps of number-crunching and income-generation instruments. NBUIs in China may consider changing their IC strategies and seek to join some authoritative or high-reputation networks in other developing countries to expand their horizons.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature on IHE by exploring the connections between IC and EP and how they affect IHE, thus providing insights into advancing institutional internationalization. It is achieved through expanding institutions' IC or joining international networks while overcoming linguistic barriers.
Impact of private tutoring for university admission and subsequently on students' academic results
Authors: Alam Gazi Mahabubul , Forhad Md. Abdur Rahman
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Education can be classified into formal and informal sectors—the first category as a regular schooling system and the latter category as private tutoring. After completing secondary education, students in many countries receive education from private tutoring to get admission into the university. This study examines the effect of private tutoring on university admission and subsequent students' academic achievement at the university level.

Design/methodology/approach

Using survey data from Bangladesh as a case study, this study employs a two-stage least squares (2SLS) methodology.

Findings

Considering that coaching centers offer services such as private tutoring, this study finds that an informal education for admission greatly helps academic achievement. Students who benefit from informal schooling are more likely to achieve higher grades in subsequent programs.

Originality/value

This study strongly suggests that formal education at the secondary school level is unable to meet the academic expectations that are demanded at the tertiary level. This forces the development of private tutoring, which supports the students from more financially well-off families to perform well at the cost of educational disparity.
The Weider brothers and the advertising of dietary supplements – commercialisation of Scandinavian fitness culture in the 1950s
Authors: Pihl Skoog Emma
Published: October 2023

Purpose

By studying marketing strategies of the global Weider Nutrition International Group, this study aims to analyse how the industry surrounding fitness equipment and dietary supplements interacted with fitness culture through marketing, advertising and consumption in 1950s Scandinavia. The emphasis is on how the Weider Group established their position as a world leader in sports nutrition through mail order partnerships and advertising using bodies and body ideals in their campaigns.

Design/methodology/approach

The Weider Group’s marketing campaigns are studied through close reading of text and images in Scandinavian weightlifting and bodybuilding magazines in the 1950s, guided by a theoretical understanding of the body as a constant and ongoing project.

Findings

This study deepens the historical knowledge of market-driven aspects of sport and exercise. The market for nutrition and fitness products was internationalised in the 1950s. The study shows that cooperation between commercial and civic organisations played a major role in the enterprise of selling fitness and nutrition products.

Originality/value

This paper shows that in marketing the products, the advertisements – which appealed to both men and women – not only struck a tone of intimacy and desire but also cultivated a sense of insecurity and inadequacy, as well as individuals’ responsibility for maintaining their own bodies. The latter was reflected in young men’s letters to magazines in which Weider’s products and training programmes were praised. For women, this opened up a previously male-dominated gym environment.
Does digital transformation promote labor structure optimization in manufacturing enterprises? An analysis of China's pilot policy using time-varying DID model
Authors: Tian Ying , Qi Ke
Published: October 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of China's “Manufacturing and Internet Integration Development Pilot Demonstration Project” (MIP) policy on the digital transformation (DT) and labor structure optimization (LSU) of manufacturing enterprises, reveal the relationship between DT and LSU at the micro level and investigate the mechanism between them.

Design/methodology/approach

This study employs MIP as a quasi-natural experiment and develops a time-varying difference-in-difference (DID) model based on a sample of 2,445 Chinese A-share listed manufacturing enterprises in the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets from 2013 to 2021.

Findings

The implementation of MIP significantly increases DT by 0.4366 and optimizes LSU by 0.0507. By enhancing the two mediated variables of organizational learning inputs (SI) and employees' personal digital cognition (PDC), DT can optimize the LSU of pilot enterprises by 0.035 and 0.034, according to the results of the mechanism analysis. The study also reveals that the impact of MIP on LSU is highly heterogeneous. With effects of 0.0691 and 0.0632, the optimization effect is more pronounced in state-owned firms and firms with low ownership concentration, respectively.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates the dual effects of the MIP pilot on DT and LSU. In addition, this study pioneers research on the significance of optimizing the labor structure through SI and PDC on the basis of DT, which provides an empirical foundation for the Chinese Government to expand the scope of MIP pilots and revise policy content, as well as for manufacturing enterprises to upgrade the labor structure.
Existence as a web of problem-solving systems
Authors: Korn Janos
Published: October 2023

Purpose

Problem-solving, systems thinking and design thinking are disciplines practiced by all human beings and is also innate in other living objects with limited use of symbolic structures. They are necessary to achieve the goals and survive. Interpretation of problem-solving as a change in equilibrium makes it applicable throughout the inanimate world. The aim is to describe the proposed empirical systems theory that integrates problem-solving and systems thinking through design thinking.

Design/methodology/approach

A brief historical background describes why comprehensive empirical systems theory has not been attempted before except as a restricted version in engineering systems. The methodology of the general theory follows that of conventional science, but with systemic content. Interference by required mental or physical product/systems changes states which is subject to discussion, creativity, innovation and inspiration accomplished by iteration as necessary.

Findings

A problem-solving structure has been created, which is implemented in a methodical way to aid the innate ability of individuals and organisations, and is open to modifications and the use of quantitative methods. Processed natural language allows for implementation at the operational level.

Originality/value

The proposed systems theory is an empirical theory that uses the structural properties of parts of the world. The integration makes “systems” the driver of change of state and offers fundamental concepts. The implementation shown in Figure 2 is methodical and can be applied by individuals and organisations subject to peer review and development. The method clarifies the roles of product/artifact and systems designers.
Online grocery shopping intentions in the post COVID-19 context: a case of millennial generations in Bangladesh
Authors: Mondal Shekhar , Hasan Abdulla Al-Towfiq
Published: October 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore factors and their impacts influencing online grocery shopping intentions among customers in the post COVID-19 situation. Moreover, the study aims at evaluating the mediating roles of shopping habits during COVID-19 between perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and post COVID-19 online grocery shopping intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a review of the literature and collection of 401 useable valid responses, the study was conducted through structured questionnaires applying personal interview technique. The subsequent analysis was conducted through partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using Smart PLS 3.3.3.

Findings

The study findings revealed that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and shopping habits during COVID-19 have a significant influence on post COVID-19 online grocery shopping intentions. Also, the study has uncovered that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use significantly influence shopping habits during COVID-19 among customers. Furthermore, the current study has revealed that hopping habit during COVID-19 significantly mediates the relationship between perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and post COVID-19 online grocery shopping intentions.

Practical implications

The study findings have provided practical suggestions of developing and improving technological platforms to attract new customers for online grocery shopping. Further, the study suggests that online grocery retailers should apply adjusted pricing strategies using coupons and discount offers.

Originality/value

This paper investigates factors and its impacts on online grocery shopping intentions in post COVID-19 context. Therefore, the study uncovers the factors that add value to understanding customers' post COVID-19 online grocery shopping intentions by integrating perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and shopping habits during COVID-19.
Legitimating innovation through category positioning: a case study of The Hundred cricket competition
Authors: Read Daniel
Published: October 2023

Purpose

In response to increasing competition for consumer attention, sport governing bodies have innovated short-format, action-oriented versions of traditional sports to attract new fans. This article explores how sport governing bodies (SGBs) manage the need for innovations to both conform to existing stakeholder expectations whilst offering novel benefits in comparison to competition (i.e. legitimate distinctiveness).

Design/methodology/approach

Created by the English Cricket Board (ECB), The Hundred competition was used as a case study to explore the conformity-differentiation tension through a legitimacy lens using document and media analysis.

Findings

Seven themes were created to explain how the ECB managed legitimacy tensions: rule modification, team creation, scheduling, game-day experience, broadcasting, gender equity and sponsorship. In each theme, differentiation and conformity were traded-off by the ECB to prioritise pragmatic legitimacy with broadcasters and sponsors.

Practical implications

For sport management professionals, the Hundred demonstrates the commercial value of differentiating new sporting events from competitors via hybrid broadcasting partnerships, embedded gender equity and designing game-day experiences that attract hard-to-reach consumer demographics.

Originality/value

SGBs must trade-off legitimacy between sources when innovating to survive, and when faced with conflicting expectations, commercial imperatives determined whether to conform or differentiate.
Two cases of infancy associated eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (I‐EPF) comparing the profile of infiltrating cells with classic EPF by immunohistochemical study
Authors: Takei Shingo , Hayashi Ryota , Tomii Koichi , Deguchi Tokiko , Fujikawa Hiroki , Shinkuma Satoru , Abe Riichiro
Published: October 2023

Infancy associated eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (I‐EPF) is a clinical variant of EPF that develops in childhood. Previous studies have suggested that I‐EPF exhibits clinical and histological differences distinct from other variants, including classic EPF. Herein, we report two patients with I‐EPF treated with topical indomethacin. These two cases exhibited less perifollicular and more perivascular eosinophilic infiltration, which is different in distribution from that of classic EPF. Immunohistochemical study demonstrated that the infiltrating mononuclear cells were CD4‐dominant T cells in classic EPF and I‐EPF, whereas the number of CD68‐positive cells was significantly higher in classic EPF than in I‐EPF. Immunohistochemical staining was also performed for eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (HPGDS), which has been reported to induce eosinophils and is a therapeutic target of indomethacin in classic EPF. HPGDS‐positive cells were also observed in I‐EPF, which may explain the effectiveness of topical indomethacin. Although clinical and histopathological features of I‐EPF are different from other variants, the arachidonic acid pathway could be involved in eosinophil infiltration, not only in classic EPF but also in I‐EPF.
The Effect of the Earned Income Tax Credit on Physical and Mental health—Results from the Atlanta Paycheck Plus Experiment
Authors: MUENNIG PETER , BELSKY DANIEL W. , MALINSKY DANIEL , NGUYEN KIEU‐GIANG , ROSEN ZOHN , ALLEN HEIDI
Published: October 2023

Policy Points

The Paycheck Plus randomized controlled trial tested a fourfold increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for single adults without dependent children over 3 years in New York and Atlanta.

In New York, the intervention improved economic, mental, and physical health outcomes. In Atlanta, it had no economic benefit or impact on physical health and may have worsened mental health.

In Atlanta, tax filing and bonus receipt were lower than in the New York arm of the trial, which may explain the lack of economic benefits. Lower mental health scores in the treatment group were driven by disadvantaged men, and the study sample was in good mental health.

Context

The Paycheck Plus experiment examined the effects of an enhanced Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for single adults on economic and health outcomes in Atlanta, GA and New York City (NYC). The NYC study was completed two years prior to the Atlanta study and found mental and physical benefits for the subgroups that responded best to the economic incentives provided. In this article, we present the findings from the Atlanta study, in which the uptake of the treatment (tax filings and EITC bonus) were lower and economic and health benefits were not observed.

Methods

Paycheck Plus Atlanta was an unblinded randomized controlled trial that assigned n = 3,971 participants to either the standard federal EITC (control group) or an EITC supplement of up to $2,000 (treatment group) for three tax years (2017–2019). Administrative data on employment and earnings were obtained from the Georgia Department of Labor and survey data were used to examine validated measures of health and well‐being.

Findings

In Atlanta, the treatment group had significantly higher earnings in the first project year but did not have significantly higher cumulative earnings than the control group overall (mean difference = $1,812, 95% CI = −150, 3,774, p = 0.07). The treatment group also had significantly lower scores on two measures of mental health after the intervention was complete: the Patient Health Questionnaire 8 (mean difference = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.06, 0.32, p = 0.005) and the Kessler 6 (mean difference = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.03, 0.27, p = 0.012). Secondary analyses suggested these results were driven by disadvantaged men, but the study sample was in good mental health.

Conclusions

The EITC experiment in Atlanta was not associated with gains in earnings or improvements in physical or mental health.
The effect of evidence in crisis learning: Based on a perspective integration framework
Authors: Wang Bing , Li Dinglin , Wang Yuqing
Published: October 2023

Crisis learning is a multifaceted subject, and the integration of research perspectives is an important lens for a deeper understanding of the cognitive constructs of crisis learning, especially at the ‘input’ side of information. This study adopts a ‘structure‐process’ analytical paradigm, conducted by integrating safety science and political/social perspectives on crisis learning through the lens of ‘evidence’ and introducing learning theories to develop a framework. The paper utilizes the developed framework and comparative analysis to examine the role and reflection of evidence in crisis learning. The framework illustrates that with evidence, people conceptualize event attributes and meanings, infer event patterns and details and correlate event experiences and knowledge, reflecting the process of learning from surface to depth. The comparative analysis of the cases reveals that people follow the evidence to make comparisons of events and complete cognitive constructs, as demonstrated by the evidence effects of scenario determination, analogical reasoning and responsibility attribution. The evidence effect reflects a cognitive genesis perspective that provides an alternative lens through which to study the learning process. It portrays a shift from surface learning to deep learning, with the ultimate goal of moving beyond the events themselves and toward constructing a rationale of crisis learning.
Portion size matters: Carrion ecology lessons for medicolegal death investigations—A study in Cape Town, South Africa
Authors: Spies Maximilian J. , Finaughty Devin A. , Gibbon Victoria E.
Published: October 2023

Forensic taphonomic studies are regionally specific and improve time since death estimates for medico‐legal casework. Within forensic taphonomy and carrion ecology, vertebrate scavengers are under‐researched with many studies conducted using multiple, unclothed carcasses. This is a forensically unrealistic experimental design choice with unknown impact. The effect of variation in carrion biomass on the decomposition ecosystem, particularly where vertebrate scavengers are concerned, requires clarification. To assess the effect of carrion biomass load on vertebrate scavenging and decomposition rate, seasonal baseline data for single, clothed ~60 kg porcine carcasses were compared to clothed multiple‐carcass deployments, in a forensically relevant habitat of Cape Town, South Africa. Decomposition was tracked via weight loss and bloat progression and scavenging activity via motion‐activated cameras. The single carcasses decayed more quickly, particularly during the cooler, wetter winter, strongly correlated with concentrated Cape gray mongoose (Galerella pulverulenta) scavenging activity. On average and across seasons, the single carcasses lost 68% of their mass by day 32 (567 accumulated degree days [ADD]), compared to 80 days (1477 ADD) for multi‐carcass deployments. The single carcasses experienced substantially more scavenging activity, with longer visits by single and multiple mongooses, totaling 53 h on average compared to 20 h for the multi‐carcass deployments. These differences in scavenging activity and decay rate demonstrate the impact of carrion biomass load on decomposition for forensic taphonomy research. These findings need corroboration. However, forensic realism requires consideration in taphonomic study design. Longitudinally examining many single carcasses may produce more forensically accurate, locally appropriate, and usable results.
Review article: Scoping review of the characteristics and outcomes of adults presenting to the emergency department during heatwaves
Authors: Wu Wendy Jingyi , Hutton Jennie , Zordan Rachel , Ranse Jamie , Crilly Julia , Tutticci Naomi , English Timothy , Currie Jane
Published: October 2023

As a result of climate change heatwaves are expected to increase in frequency and intensity and will have detrimental impacts on human health globally. EDs are often the critical point of care for acute heat illnesses and other conditions associated with heat exposure. Existing literature has focused on heatwave‐related hospitalisation and mortality. This scoping review aimed to identify, evaluate and summarise current literature regarding patient characteristics and outcomes of ED admissions from heatwaves. A scoping review of the literature was conducted using six databases: Medline, EMBASE, EMCARE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Scopus, using MeSH terms and keywords related to ‘heatwave’ and ‘Emergency Department’. Articles were included if they were: published in English from January 2000 to August 2021, related to ED, and examined high temperature periods consistent with heatwave criteria. Articles were appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Thirty‐one studies were included, mostly from the United States, Australia, and France. The study designs include retrospective case analysis, case–control, and time‐series analysis. Eight studies examined known heatwaves, 21 used different criteria to identify heatwave occurrence, and two focused on heat‐related illness. The selected articles display a moderate‐high quality on MMAT. ED admissions for both heat‐related illnesses and other conditions increased during heatwaves, with up to 18.5 times risk increase. The risk was elevated for all population groups, and substantially in the elderly, male patients with certain comorbidities, medications, or lower socioeconomic status. Outcomes including hospitalisation and mortality rates after ED admissions showed positive associations with heatwaves. The heatwaves resulting from climate change will place increasing demands on EDs providing care for increasingly susceptible populations. Significant public heatwave planning across multiple sectors is required to reduce the risk of overwhelming EDs with these patients.
Prokaryote communities associated with different types of tissue formed and substrates inhabited by Serpula lacrymans
Authors: Embacher Julia , Zeilinger Susanne , Kirchmair Martin , Neuhauser Sigrid
Published: October 2023

The basidiomycete Serpula lacrymans is responsible for major timber devastation in houses. Basidiomycetes are known to harbour a diverse but poorly understood microbial community of bacteria, archaea, yeasts and filamentous fungi. In this study, we used amplicon‐sequencing to analyse the abundance and composition of prokaryotic communities associated with fruiting bodies of S. lacrymans and compared them to communities of surrounding material to access the ‘background’ community structure. Our findings indicate that bacterial genera cluster depended on sample type and that the main driver for microbial diversity is specimen, followed by sample origin. The most abundant bacterial phylum identified in the fruiting bodies was Pseudomonadota, followed by Actinomycetota and Bacteroidota. The prokaryote community of the mycelium was dominated by Actinomycetota, Halobacterota and Pseudomonadota. Actinomycetota was the most abundant phylum in both environment samples (infested timber and underground scree), followed by Bacillota in wood and Pseudomonadota in underground samples. Nocardioides, Pseudomonas, Pseudonochardia, Streptomyces and Rubrobacter spp. were among others found to comprise the core microbiome of S. lacrymans basidiocarps. This research contributes to the understanding of the holobiont S. lacrymans and gives hints to potential bacterial phyla important for its development and lifestyle.
rphylopic: An R package for fetching, transforming, and visualising PhyloPic silhouettes
Authors: Gearty William , Jones Lewis A.
Published: October 2023

Effective data visualisation is vital for data exploration, analysis and communication in research. In ecology and evolutionary biology, data are often associated with various taxonomic entities. Graphics of organisms associated with these taxa are valuable for framing results within a broader biological context. However, acquiring and using such resources can be challenging due to availability and licensing constraints. The PhyloPic database solves many of these issues by making organism silhouettes freely available. Tools that integrate this database with existing research workflows are needed to remove hurdles associated with data visualisation in the biological sciences.

Here, we introduce rphylopic, an R package for fetching, transforming and visualising silhouettes of organisms from the PhyloPic database. In addition to making over 8000 organism silhouettes available within the R programming language, rphylopic empowers users to modify the appearance of these silhouettes for ultimate customisability when coding production–quality visualisations in both base R and ggplot2 workflows.

In this work, we provide details about how the package can be installed, its implementation and potential use cases. For the latter, we showcase three examples across the ecology and evolutionary biology spectrum.

Our hope is that rphylopic will make it easier for biologists to develop more accessible and engaging data visualisations by making external resources readily accessible, customisable and usable within R. In turn, by integrating into existing workflows, rphylopic helps to ensure that science is reproducible and accessible.
PoolDilutionR: An R package for easy optimization of isotope pool dilution calculations
Authors: Morris Kendalynn A. , Bond‐Lamberty Ben P. , Day Donnie J. , Patel Kaizad F. , Pennington Stephanie C. , Ward Nicholas D. , von Fischer Joseph C.
Published: October 2023

Isotopic pool dilution is a powerful approach to quantify gross biogeochemical transformation rates, but remains seldom used despite its potential.

To facilitate broader implementation of pool dilution methods, we present a user‐friendly R package that optimizes gross production and consumption rates (and optionally fractionation constants as well) based on standard pool dilution time series data.

This package features extensive documentation and example analyses, and is easily integrated into analytical pipelines.

With this open‐source tool, the biogeochemistry community will be able to readily apply isotope pool dilution to a wide range of processes.
Prevalence of tree nut allergy in Europe: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Spolidoro Giulia C. I. , Lisik Daniil , Nyassi Sungkutu , Ioannidou Athina , Ali Mohamed Mustafa , Amera Yohannes Tesfaye , Rovner Graciela , Khaleva Ekaterina , Venter Carina , van Ree Ronald , Worm Margitta , Vlieg‐Boerstra Berber , Sheikh Aziz , Muraro Antonella , Roberts Graham , Nwaru Bright I.
Published: October 2023

In 2014, the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) published the first systematic review that summarized the prevalence of food allergy (FA) and food sensitization in Europe for studies published 2000–2012. However, only summary estimates for tree nut allergy (TNA) were feasible in that work. In the current update of that systematic review, we summarized the prevalence of tree nut allergy/sensitization to individual tree nuts. Six databases were searched for relevant papers published 2012–2021 and 17 eligible studies were added to the 15 studies already identified between 2000 and 2012, giving a total of 32 studies. Of the investigated tree nuts, meta‐analysis was possible for hazelnut, walnut, almond, and in few cases, for cashew, and Brazil nut. The lifetime self‐reported prevalence was 0.8% (95% CI 0.5–1.1) for hazelnut and 0.4% (0.2–0.9) for walnut. The point self‐reported prevalence was 4.0% (2.9–5.2) for hazelnut, 3.4% (2.0–4.9) for Brazil nut, 2.0% (1.1–2.9) for almond, and 1.8% (1.1–2.5) for walnut. Point prevalence of food challenge‐confirmed TNA was 0.04% (0.0–0.1) for hazelnut and 0.02% (0.01–0.1) for walnut. Due to paucity of data, we could not identify any meaningful and consistent differences across age groups and European regions.
Blood CD62Llow inflammatory eosinophils are related to the severity of asthma and reduced by mepolizumab
Authors: Vultaggio Alessandra , Accinno Matteo , Vivarelli Emanuele , Mecheri Valentina , Maggiore Giandomenico , Cosmi Lorenzo , Parronchi Paola , Rossi Olivero , Maggi Enrico , Gallo Oreste , Matucci Andrea
Published: October 2023

Background

Eosinophils have been divided into different subpopulations with distinct phenotypes based on CD62L expression. No data are available regarding the correlation between eosinophils subphenotypes and clinical severity of asthma, as well as the effect of anti‐IL‐5 therapy on these cells. The study investigates the correlation between blood CD62Llow inflammatory eosinophils (iEos) and clinical severity of severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA) and evaluates the impact of mepolizumab on iEos.

Methods

112 patients were screened and were divided in two groups: biological‐naive (n = 51) and biological‐treated patients (n = 61). The Biological‐naive patients were analyzed before treatment (Group A) and 19 out of 51 patients, were longitudinally analyzed before and after treatment with mepolizumab 100 mg s.c/4 weeks (Group B); 32 patients were excluded because they were being treated with other biological therapies. Blood eosinophils were analyzed by FACS and correlated with clinical scores. In vitro effect of IL‐5 and mepolizumab on CD62L expression was assessed.

Results

A significant correlation between blood CD62Llow cells and clinical scores of asthma and nasal polyps, as well as the number of asthma exacerbations in the last year was shown in untreated patients. In longitudinally studied patients we observed a marked reduction of CD62Llow cells paralleled by an increase in the proportion of CD62Lbright cells, associated with clinical improvement of asthma control. In vitro, CD62L expression on eosinophils is modulated by IL‐5 and anti‐IL‐5.

Conclusion

A positive correlation between CD62Llow iEos and the baseline clinical features of SEA with CRSwNP was shown. Furthermore mepolizumab restores the healthy balance among eosinophils sub‐phenotypes in SEA patients.