bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unmasking user vulnerability: investigating the barriers to overcoming dark patterns in e-commerce using TISM and MICMAC analysis
Authors: Singh Vibhav , Vishvakarma Niraj Kumar , Kumar Vinod
Published: June 2024

Purpose

E-commerce companies use dark patterns to manipulate customer decisions to survive in the crowded online market and make profit. Although some online customers are aware of the dark patterns, they cannot overcome such manipulations. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify and model the barriers to overcoming dark patterns using total interpretive structural modeling (TISM).

Design/methodology/approach

Barriers to overcoming dark patterns were identified from the extant literature and were validated by a panel of 18 domain experts. In the modeling phase, TISM technique was used to identify the relationships between the barriers and assign priority to the barriers. Finally, the barriers were plotted and classified into three categories.

Findings

User unawareness, trust in brands and normalization of aggressive marketing were found to be the highest priority barriers. Whereas, designer bias, user fatigue, short-term user benefits and design complexity were identified as the most challenging barriers because they have least dependence over the other barriers.

Research limitations/implications

Because TISM results are based on the opinion of domain experts, other statistical techniques could be applied for validation.

Practical implications

This study would educate online customers, while assisting online user communities and regulatory bodies to devise strategies to overcome dark patterns. Additionally, business managers could use the study’s findings to encourage designers to embrace ethical design methods as a competitive advantage.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the research as it is first of its kind to examine the link between dark pattern barriers.
Implementation of Islamic values in waqf governance: a systematic literature review
Authors: Ramdani Ramdani , Widiastuti Tika , Mawardi Imron
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The development of waqf is growing rapidly. To maintain progress of waqf per se sharia, Muslim scholars try to present Islamic values (IVs) in activities and operations of waqf institutions. To find out implementation of IVs in waqf institutions, previous research was carried out as a guide for future research; this study aims to systematically review the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

This study draws on the implementation of IV in waqf institutions. Through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis for Protocol approach, 327 articles were collected, which were then extracted to gain lessons from various case studies related to problems in waqf institutions.

Findings

This study illustrates tawheed, justice, accountability, trust, mutual consultation, Allah consciousness, enjoin virtue and avoiding evil and objectives of shariah in waqf governance.

Research limitations/implications

The materials used in the systematic literature review were retrieved from few databases. The use of more academic databases will be better and more diverse, in addition to the repertoire of knowledge related to management and strategies at waqf institutions.

Practical implications

The identified values provide a framework for practitioners, policymakers and researchers to guide their efforts in developing and governing waqf institutions in accordance with Islamic principles.

Originality/value

The findings provide deep insights into the current state of IV in waqf institution in literature. This paper highlights many gaps in the literature and suggests directions for future studies to advance the understanding of implementation of IV. This study will help researchers to identify the new dimensions of research and contribute to the literature.
ChatGPT in supply chains: exploring potential applications, benefits and challenges
Authors: Haddud Abubaker
Published: June 2024

Purpose

While ChatGPT is gaining popularity, its potential role in supply chains (SCs) remains unexplored. This study explores the potential applications, benefits and challenges of using ChatGPT as a tool in SCs.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were gathered through an online survey involving 116 respondents from the academic and industrial sectors who have knowledge of ChatGPT and SC management. These participants were affiliated with the Decision Science Institute (DSI) in the USA and contributed to the published DSI conference proceedings from 2019 to 2022. The survey is structured in three main sections: (1) general information (5 background questions), (2) ChatGPT's potential applications and benefits in SCs (15 pre-determined questions) and (3) potential challenges with using ChatGPT in SCs (5 pre-determined questions). The collected data underwent analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics software.

Findings

ChatGPT can potentially benefit SC operations in 15 areas. Eight potential benefits received more support than the rest, including enhanced process efficiency, cost reduction, providing sustainability reports, better demand forecasting, improved data analysis, streamlined supplier communication, streamlined customer communication, supported promotional activities and enhanced customer satisfaction, but all were supported. Also, the study identified some challenges and hurdles currently impacting the use of ChatGPT in the SC, including that ChatGPT cannot replace experts, it is not an immediate game changer, its uses may lack accuracy, and ChatGPT may take time to reach maturity.

Originality/value

The study is the first to offer empirically grounded evidence of ChatGPT's potential in SCs. The research enhances academic literature by deepening our comprehension of the potential applications of ChatGPT within SCs. Therefore, the study makes an invaluable contribution to the extant literature on ChatGPT in SCs. It can benefit manufacturers, suppliers, logistics providers and other types of businesses through more efficient procurement practices, supplier management, operations and inventory management, logistics practices and customer relationships. Future research may explore how and why ChatGPT is used in SCs.
Estimating the elastic modulus of concrete under moderately elevated temperatures via impulse excitation technique
Authors: Coelho Tulio , Diniz Sofia Maria Carrato , Rodrigues Francisco
Published: June 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the temperature-dependency of the Young’s and shear moduli of concrete after exposure to moderately elevated temperatures using the non-destructive impulse excitation technique (IET).

Design/methodology/approach

The study involved heating the concrete up to 225 °C and measuring the dynamic Young’s and shear moduli using the non-destructive technique of impulse excitation, which measures the natural vibration frequency from a mechanical impulse received by an acoustic sensor. The effects of temperature on the dynamic Young’s and shear moduli were analysed and the importance of the spatial variability of the measured values was also verified.

Findings

The study found that even moderately elevated temperatures (below 225 °C) resulted in a significant permanent reduction in the Young’s modulus of concrete (reduction in the range of 23%–36% for the maximum temperature considered in this research) as well as a modest and permanent reduction in the shear modulus of around 6%. It was also observed that spatial variability of the mechanical properties of concrete plays an important role in the measured values; higher dispersion of the results was found for the values of the Young’s and shear moduli of concrete measured along the height of the beam. The non-destructive test method used in this study was found to be extremely useful in the investigation of heat-related damage in concrete structures for its ease of use, low time consumption and accuracy. The results were consistent with the published literature.

Originality/value

This study provides important insights into the temperature-dependent behaviour of the dynamic Young’s and shear moduli of concrete and highlights the significance of proper consideration of the spatial variability of the measured values. The use of a non-destructive test method for continuous acoustic testing during heating and cooling proved to be effective, and the findings contribute to the fields of materials science and civil engineering in understanding the effects of elevated temperatures on concrete properties. The findings confirm that IET can be easily used to gather important information in the condition assessment and rehabilitation of concrete structures after a fire event. Further studies to foster the application of this technique to real structures are suggested.
Simon’s scissors: meta-heuristics for decision-makers
Authors: Marewski Julian N. , Katsikopoulos Konstantinos V. , Guercini Simone
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Are there smart ways to find heuristics? What are the common principles behind heuristics? We propose an integrative definition of heuristics, based on insights that apply to all heuristics, and put forward meta-heuristics for discovering heuristics.

Design/methodology/approach

We employ Herbert Simon’s metaphor that human behavior is shaped by the scissors of the mind and its environment. We present heuristics from different domains and multiple sources, including scholarly literature, practitioner-reports and ancient texts.

Findings

Heuristics are simple, actionable principles for behavior that can take different forms, including that of computational algorithms and qualitative rules-of-thumb, cast into proverbs or folk-wisdom. We introduce heuristics for tasks ranging from management to writing and warfare. We report 13 meta-heuristics for discovering new heuristics and identify four principles behind them and all other heuristics: Those principles concern the (1) plurality, (2) correspondence, (3) connectedness of heuristics and environments and (4) the interdisciplinary nature of the scissors’ blades with respect to research fields and methodology.

Originality/value

We take a fresh look at Simon’s scissors-metaphor and employ it to derive an integrative perspective that includes a study of meta-heuristics.
Geography, creative workforce and access to venture capital
Authors: Goktan Mehmet Sinan , Ucar Erdem
Published: June 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate how proximity to metropolitan areas and local creative talent impact a company’s access to venture capital (VC). We analyze the interplay between these factors and test our hypotheses using USA county data.

Design/methodology/approach

This empirical study uses multivariate regression analyses to analyze VC investment distribution across the USA at the county level between the years 1990–2011.

Findings

Our findings suggest that an increase in the local creative workforce correlates with higher levels of VC funding, regardless of metro location, but has a more significant impact in metro areas, indicating the complementary nature of these factors. Furthermore, the tech industry benefits more from the local creative workforce and is less sensitive to geographic location. Our results suggest that non-metro locations with a rich local creative culture can be as effective in attracting VC as metro locations with a mediocre local creative culture. This study contributes to our understanding of the optimal geographic location for companies seeking VC.

Research limitations/implications

One of the limitations of our research is the research timeline. Since “creative class” was not measured by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) after 2011, we cannot analyze the recent effects of creative class on VC. However, given the fact that technology-related industries increasingly dominated the VC industry in recent years, our results on tech-related industries can shed light on the future expectations of the creative class in the VC industry moving forward.

Practical implications

Some companies might find it advantageous to locate outside metro areas where the creative workforce is more abundant and accessible. Our results support this trend by demonstrating that companies must consider the tradeoff between these two factors and recognize that locating in metro areas may not always be the optimal choice for every company. A tradeoff may exist between location and the cost of accessing creative talent.

Social implications

Our results suggest that non-metro locations with a rich local creative culture can be as effective in attracting VC as metro locations with a mediocre local creative culture.

Originality/value

The existing literature emphasizes the importance of studying various factors that can help distribute VC and entrepreneurial activities across the country instead of just being concentrated in specific areas like metro regions. Although previous studies have examined broader institutional and country-level factors, local creative culture has not been considered in the context of its impact on the geographical distribution of VC. Our research highlights creative culture as a new local factor that affects VC distribution among USA counties.
The mental health effects of whistleblowing: reflections on working with whistleblowers
Authors: MacLennan Nigel
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This study aims to delve into the complex relationship between whistleblowing and mental health. It explores the various psychological burdens and costs associated with reporting wrongdoing, and the factors that exacerbate these burdens.

Design/methodology/approach

A collation of experiences and shared observations drawn from working with many whistleblowers across several industries.

Findings

The damage done, by the wrongdoers who retaliate against heroes of integrity (aka, whistleblowers), in most cases, destroys the lives and mental health of the person who does their civic, moral or legal duty, to address the illegalities they found. The State does not protect those who protect the State from harm done to the State. In the UK, the State, by its lack of support, further damages heroes of integrity, and witnessing that may encourage future potential whistleblowers to stay silent, thus encouraging more wrongdoing, which harms the State.

Research limitations/implications

The pattern of attacks on whistleblowers by wrongdoers is highly predictable, as are the mental health consequences that follow. More research is needed to identify the causal chain that directly links the pattern of whistleblower retaliation to the devastating mental health harm that follows.

Practical implications

The mental health and reputational harm done to whistleblowers by the retaliation they suffer, in the vast majority of cases, both removes them from making a contribution to the economy and renders them dependent on the State, for life. The harm done to whistleblowers by the wrongdoers, with no viable means of legal redress being available for whistleblowers, sends a chilling signal to anyone who would seek to expose organisational wrongdoing.

Social implications

If a society asks its citizens to comply with the law and imposes a moral, ethical and even legal duty on its citizens to address any wrongdoing they witness and yet does not protect those citizens from retaliation by the wrongdoers, then that society cannot expect citizens to do the right thing. That is evidenced by the fact that most people choose silent complicity when they encounter wrongdoing.

Originality/value

Until whistleblowing law protects right-doers from wrongdoers, those who are contemplating protecting society from organisational crimes would be well advised to join the vast ranks of the silently complicit rather than have their lives destroyed.
Double-edged sword at work: impacts of guanxi human resource management on employee innovative behavior
Authors: Ren Shuang , Wang Zhining , Usman Muhammad , Chadee Doren
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This paper develops and tests a theoretical framework to explain the effect of guanxi human resource management (HRM), a unique Chinese cultural phenomenon, on employee innovative behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

We draw from a sample of 398 employees in 81 teams and test the moderated mediation model using multi-level modeling.

Findings

The results show that guanxi HRM can be perceived by employees as being simultaneously an unethical hindrance that stifles innovative behavior and a strategic challenge that is beneficial for innovative behavior. In addition, the results show that these indirect effects are contingent upon the strength of guanxi HRM.

Originality/value

The study advances our understanding of the mechanism and boundary condition underlying the double-edged nature of guanxi HRM practices.
I will see you in the summer: assessing the cognitive impact of social media on employee engagement
Authors: Bilderback Stephanie
Published: June 2024

Purpose

This paper explores the cognitive impacts of social media on employees in workplace environments, focusing on how digital interactions disrupt cognitive functions and employee engagement. It bridges theoretical models of cognitive psychology with practical human resource (HR) strategies to mitigate these effects.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology includes a review of relevant cognitive and psychological theories – namely cognitive load theory (Sweller, 1988), distraction-conflict theory (Baron, 1986), and engagement theory (Schaufeli et al., 2002). The discussion extends to practical interventions such as policy adjustments, employee training and technological solutions, assessing their application within organizational contexts to address social media challenges.

Findings

The research findings have significant practical implications. The author reveals that continuous social media notifications can lead to distraction conflicts and decreased employee engagement, impacting cognitive load. Effective HR interventions, such as clear guidelines, digital detox initiatives and technology-based social media access control, can enhance focus and productivity, improving workplace outcomes.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to discussions on social media’s role in workplace dynamics by combining cognitive psychological theories with practical HR applications. It presents a structured approach to understanding and managing digital distractions, offering a new framework for organizations aiming to balance technological advancements with employee well-being.
Untangling the complex food webs of tropical rainforest streams
Authors: Saito Victor S. , Kratina Pavel , Barbosa Gedimar , Ferreira Fabio Cop , Leal Jean Barbosa , Zemelka Gabriela , Sarmento Hugo , Perkins Daniel M.
Published: June 2024

Food webs depict the tangled web of trophic interactions associated with the functioning of an ecosystem. Understanding the mechanisms providing stability to these food webs is therefore vital for conservation efforts and the management of natural systems.

Here, we first characterised a tropical stream meta‐food web and five individual food webs using a Bayesian Hierarchical approach unifying three sources of information (gut content analysis, literature compilation and stable isotope data). With data on population‐level biomass and individually measured body mass, we applied a bioenergetic model and assessed food web stability using a Lotka–Volterra system of equations. We then assessed the resilience of the system to individual species extinctions using simulations and investigated the network patterns associated with systems with higher stability.

The model resulted in a stable meta‐food web with 307 links among the 61 components. At the regional scale, 70% of the total energy flow occurred through a set of 10 taxa with large variation in body masses. The remaining 30% of total energy flow relied on 48 different taxa, supporting a significant dependency on a diverse community. The meta‐food web was stable against individual species extinctions, with a higher resilience in food webs harbouring omnivorous fish species able to connect multiple food web compartments via weak, non‐specialised interactions. Moreover, these fish species contributed largely to the spatial variation among individual food webs, suggesting that these species could operate as mobile predators connecting different streams and stabilising variability at the regional scale.

Our results outline two key mechanisms of food web stability operating in tropical streams: (i) the diversity of species and body masses buffering against random and size‐dependent disturbances and (ii) high regional diversity and weak omnivorous interactions of predators buffering against local stochastic variation in species composition. These mechanisms rely on high local and regional biodiversity in tropical streams, which is known to be strongly affected by human impacts. Therefore, an urgent challenge is to understand how the ongoing systematic loss of diversity jeopardises the stability of stream food webs in human‐impacted landscapes.
Boosting efficiency of mussel spat collection for ecological sustainability: Identifying critical drivers and informing management
Authors: Zhao Zhiyuan , Capelle Jacob J. , de Smit Jaco C. , Gerkema Theo , van de Koppel Johan , Yuan Lin , Bouma Tjeerd J.
Published: June 2024

The long‐term sustainability of natural and bottom‐cultured mussel beds relies on the availability of spat (i.e. juvenile mussels). Traditional spat collection methods, which disrupt the donor population and its habitat, have prompted the adoption of suspended mussel spat collectors (SMCs) as an ecologically sustainable alternative. However, practical experience has demonstrated that SMC efficiency is subject to significant spatiotemporal variability, with the underlying biotic and abiotic drivers remaining unresolved.

Based on 11‐year SMC practices in the Dutch Wadden Sea, we first validated, through field experiments, the inference that larval abundance and settlement rate in seawater are the primary determinants of SMC efficiency. Secondly, we screened the key factors driving variation in SMC efficiency using an integrated dataset that includes both management options (i.e. user‐defined factors, like SMC types) and environmental conditions (i.e. site‐specific factors, such as hydrodynamics). Lastly, we developed a predictive model to explore the sensitivity of SMC efficiency to these key factors.

The efficiency of SMCs was not affected by larval abundance and settlement rate, but rather regulated by management options and environmental conditions, with the key factors identified as SMC type, substrate size, mean wave height and starfish abundance.

Rope‐based SMCs outperform net‐based SMCs in terms of harvest efficiency. Both types of SMCs exhibit consistent sensitivity to environmental conditions, with harvest efficiency higher in areas with lower mean wave height and fewer starfish. Increasing substrate size (i.e. rope length and net area) in these areas has the potential to further improve SMC efficiency.

Synthesis and applications: Our study highlights the importance of environmental conditions over life cycle‐related factors in regulating SMC efficiency. This offers optimistic prospects for investment in larger‐scale deployment of SMCs and maximizing efficiency through site suitability assessments beforehand. The predictive model we developed can provide information for this purpose. Furthermore, strategically adjusting management options would further optimize SMC efficiency, but it is necessary to balance the associated benefits and costs. Overall, our study underscores the predictability and controllability of SMC efficiency and informs management to maximize sustainable spat supply in both mussel culture and restoration.
Immigration and Asylum Policy after Brexit: An Introduction
Authors: Hampshire James
Published: June 2024

This special collection examines how immigration and asylum policies have evolved since Britain left the European Union. The referendum was won on the promise of ‘taking back control’, yet, since Brexit, immigration has increased to record levels and the nationalities of people coming to the UK have become more diverse. The increase in immigration was driven by a liberalisation of work and study visas and the creation of new humanitarian schemes. Although some aspects of immigration policy have evolved in a liberal direction, others have become increasingly restrictive. The Conservative government has pursued a draconian agenda on asylum, borders and irregular migration, including a scheme to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda, and legislation that effectively abolishes the right to seek asylum in the UK. This introduction argues that recent immigration and asylum policies reflect the ambivalent, unstable and unresolved meanings of Brexit itself.
Experiences and Interest in Value‐Based Payment Arrangements for Medical Products Among Medicaid Agencies: An Exploratory Analysis
Authors: BHUIYAN KHAN BEENA , GEMME VICTORIA , CHUPP ETHAN , HIGGINS APARNA , SORENSON CORINNA
Published: June 2024

Policy Points

State Medicaid experience with value‐based payment (VBP) arrangements for medical products is still relatively limited, and states face a number of challenges in designing and implementing such arrangements, particularly because of the resource‐intensive nature of arrangements and data needed to support measurement of desired outcomes.

A number of success factors and opportunities to support VBP arrangement efforts were identified through this study, including leveraging established venues or processes for collaboration with manufacturers, engaging external and internal partners in VBP efforts to bolster capabilities, acquiring access to new data sources, and utilizing annual renegotiation of contracts to allow for adjustments.

Context

To date, uptake of value‐based payment (VBP) arrangements for medical products and knowledge of their design and impact have been mainly concentrated among private payers. Interest and activity are expanding to Medicaid; however, their experiences and approaches to VBP arrangements for medical products are not well characterized.

Methods

This study sought to characterize the use of VBP arrangements for medical products among state Medicaid agencies through the use of a two‐staged, mixed‐methods approach. A survey and semistructured interviews were conducted to gain an understanding of state experiences with VBP arrangements for medical products. The survey and interviews were directed at senior leaders from nine states through the survey, with respondents from seven of these states additionally participating in the semistructured interviews.

Findings

Although experience with VBP arrangements for medical products among states varied, there were similarities across their motivations and general processes or phases employed in their design and implementation. States collectively identified a number of significant challenges to VBP arrangements, such as manufacturer engagement, outcomes measurement, and the time, expertise, and resources required to design and implement them. We outline a range of strategies to help address these gaps and make it easier for states to pursue VBP arrangements, including more direct engagement from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, state‐to‐state peer learning and collaboration, data infrastructure and sharing, and additional research to inform fit‐for‐purpose VBP arrangement approaches.

Conclusions

Findings from this study suggest that it may be easier for states to pursue VBP arrangements for medical products if there is greater clarity on processes employed that support design and implementation as well as effective strategies to address common challenges associated with contract negotiations. As states gain more experience, it will be important to monitor the design and implementation of common VBP arrangements to assess impact on the Medicaid program and the populations it serves.
New insights into dairy management and the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis: The shift from single nutrient to dairy matrix effects—A review
Authors: Wang Kaili , Zhao Xu , Yang Sijia , Qi Xiaoxi , Li Aili , Yu Wei
Published: June 2024

Dairy is recognized as a good source of calcium, which is important for preventing osteoporosis. However, the relationship between milk and bone health is more complex than just calcium supplementation. It is unwise to focus solely on observing the effects of a single nutrient. Lactose, proteins, and vitamins in milk, as well as fatty acids, oligosaccharides, and exosomes, all work together with calcium to enhance its bioavailability and utilization efficiency through various mechanisms. We evaluate the roles of dairy nutrients and active ingredients in maintaining bone homeostasis from the perspective of the dairy matrix effects. Special attention is given to threshold effects, synergistic effects, and associations with the gut–bone axis. We also summarize the associations between probiotic/prebiotic milk, low‐fat/high‐fat milk, lactose‐free milk, and fortified milk with a reduced risk of osteoporosis and discuss the potential benefits and controversies of these dairy products. Moreover, we examine the role of dairy products in increasing peak bone mass during adolescence and reducing bone loss in old age. It provides a theoretical reference for the use of dairy products in the accurate prevention and management of osteoporosis and related chronic diseases and offers personalized dietary recommendations for bone health in different populations.
Review on emerging applications of nanobiosensor in food safety
Authors: Guruprasath N. , Sankarganesh P. , Adeyeye S. A. O. , Babu A. Surendra , Parthasarathy V.
Published: June 2024

Nanosensors have become an indispensable tool in the food sector due to their specificity and sensitivity. The biosensor consists of a transducer coupled with a biorecognition component to transform biological signal into digital signal. Nanobiosensors have been widely used for sensing toxic chemicals such as pesticide residues and pathogenic microbes owing to their accurate sensitivity in an affordable manner, which gives more hope to the food industry on their applications. It employs nanocarriers to bind to impurities and pollutants, as well as food‐borne microorganisms and their resulting toxins, such as mycotoxins. This modern technology ensures food safety in food processing industries. Nowadays, nanoparticle‐immobilized sensors act as spot indicators to improve smart food packing technology. Certain types of nanobiosensors are deployed to monitor food product manufacture till packaging and to check the freshness of the product till spoilage identification. They are mainly using enzyme catalysts, which are highly sensitive to extreme environmental conditions. As a result, there is a greater evaluation requirement in nanosensor technology to adopt any temperature, pH, or other difficult parameters. Its stability, while in contact with food substrates, is another criterion that needs to be regularized. Within this framework, this review delves into the latest developments in nanobiosensors and the obstacles encountered during their use across different food industries.
Sea cucumber significance: Drying techniques and India's comprehensive status
Authors: Harini Ravi , Natarajan Venkatachalapathy , Sunil C. K.
Published: June 2024

Sea cucumbers, members of the echinoderm class Holothuroidea, are marine invertebrates with ecological significance and substantial commercial value. With approximately 1700 species, these organisms contribute to marine ecosystems through nutrient cycling and face various threats, including overfishing and habitat loss. Despite their importance, they are extensively exploited for diverse applications, from seafood to pharmaceuticals. This study investigates sea cucumbers' nutritional profile and bioactive elements, emphasizing their role as sources of essential compounds with potential health benefits. The demand for sea cucumbers, especially in dried form, is significant, prompting exploration into various drying techniques. Examining the global trade in sea cucumbers highlights their economic importance and the conservation challenges they face. Conservation efforts, such as awareness campaigns and international collaboration, are evaluated as essential steps in combating illicit trade and promoting the sustainable stewardship of sea cucumber populations.

Practical Application

Around 1700 species of sea cucumbers were identified as vital ecological scavengers in the Holothuroidea class. High commercial value due to their health benefits, particularly their demonstrated inhibitory effect against various types of cancer. “Beche‐de‐mer” holds a 90% market share and is regarded as a luxury food item in Southeast Asian countries. Due to overexploitation, the species is classified as Schedule I under the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA) in India, prompting the implementation of a blanket ban on their harvesting to ensure its conservation.
HPLC‐QQQ‐MS/MS‐based authentication and determination of free and bound sialic acids content in human, bovine, sheep, goat milk, and infant formula
Authors: Chen Qingyan , Mueed Abdul , Zhu Liuying , Deng Zeyuan , Peng Han , Li Hongyan , Zhang Bing
Published: June 2024

An accurate method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of lipid‐bound (LB), protein‐bound (PB), oligosaccharides‐bound, and free sialic acids in milk was developed by using high‐performance liquid chromatography ‐triple quadrupole‐tandem mass spectrometer. The profile of free and bound sialic acids in milk (human, bovine, goat, and sheep) and infant formula (IF) was examined in the present study. Human milk contains only N‐acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) and was mainly present in the form of oligosaccharide‐bound. The content of total Neu5Ac (T‐Neu5Ac), free and bound Neu5Ac in human milk decreased with the prolongation of lactation. The most intriguing finding was the increase in the proportion of PB and LB sialic acids. The sialic acids in bovine and sheep milk were mainly PB and oligosaccharides‐bound Neu5Ac. T‐Neu5Ac in goat milk (GM) was 67.44–89.72 µg/mL and was mainly PB Neu5Ac, but total N‐glycolylneuraminic acid (T‐Neu5Gc) content of GM can be as high as 100.01 µg/mL. The concentration of T‐Neu5Gc in sheep and GM was significantly higher than that of bovine milk (BM). T‐Neu5Gc content of GM ‐based IF was 264.86 µg/g, whereas T‐Neu5Gc content of BM ‐based IF was less (2.26–17.01 µg/g). Additionally, our results found that there were also sialic acids in IF ingredients, which were mainly bound with protein and oligosaccharides, primarily derived from desalted whey powder and whey protein concentrate.
Fermented goat milk by selenium‐enriched Lactobacillus paracasei alleviates depressive psychological disturbance
Authors: Sun Yuhan , Zhao Hongfan , Chang Mengjia , Yue Tianli , Yuan Yahong , Shi Yiheng
Published: June 2024

Depression is a prevalent psychiatric disease with the characteristic of persistently gloomy mood. The treatment of depression with traditional therapeutic medications suffers from low efficacy and adverse side effects due to the extremely unpredictable courses and uneven responses to treatment. The goal of this paper was to investigate the preparation of selenium‐enriched fermented goat milk and the potential mechanism of its intervention on the chronic unpredictable stress‐induced depression mice model. The results showed that Se‐Lactobacillus paracasei 20241 (Se‐20241) significantly alleviated depressive behavior, reversed the upregulation of inflammatory factors, and attenuated glucocorticoid resistance. Meanwhile, the results showed a modulatory function on oxidative stress dysfunction in the liver, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. The change in abundance of Ileibacterium, Muribaculaceae, Turicibacter, Dubosiella, and Bifidobacterium was also modified. These results provided the theoretical groundwork for the development of psychoactive probiotic supplements for depressed patients and clarified the probable mechanism of Se‐20241 for antidepressant impact on the CUMS model.
Germany: Political Developments and Data in 2023
Authors: ANGENENDT MICHAEL , KINSKI LUCY
Published: June 2024

After a focus on global challenges, in the year 2023, domestic politics took centre stage in Germany. Notably, there was a rise in internal tensions within the ‘traffic light coalition’, especially regarding fiscal policy issues: The Free Democrats’/Freie Demokratische Partei (FDP) austerity clashed with the Social Democrats’/Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschland (SPD) and the Alliance 90/Greens'/Bündnis 90/Die Grünen willingness to take on more debt for economic challenges. A key event was the Federal Constitutional Court's ruling that prohibited the reallocation of COVID‐19 relief funds to the Climate and Transformation Fund, exposing budgetary constraints and repercussions on economic policy more broadly. The so‐called Heating Act and debates on Child Basic Security were also important. The Alternative for Germany/Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) achieved notable electoral victories, while the Left Party's/Die Linke future is more uncertain than ever, having lost its parliamentary group status in the Bundestag due to a split. Regional elections were held in Berlin, Bremen, Bavaria and Hesse, contributing to this year's political dynamics.
Win by defence: The impact of defensive trademarks on corporate innovation
Authors: Li Xuechao , Wu Dejun , Wu Yucheng
Published: June 2024

Using a sample of listed Chinese companies from 2012 to 2020, we investigate the impact of registration of defensive trademarks on corporate innovation. We find that firms with a higher number of defensive trademarks engage in less innovation. The mechanism tests show that defensive trademarks reduce innovation by increasing firm market share, and further tests show that the negative effect is more pronounced for firms with resource constraints and state‐owned enterprises. Our findings indicate a substitutive effect of defensive trademarks on corporate innovation, which is a win‐by‐defence strategy adopted by firms in market share competition.
Bilateral mandible fractures in the paediatric patient in a case of peer‐to‐peer violence: a case report and literature review
Authors: Dal Santo KL
Published: June 2024

Mandible fractures are relatively uncommon despite the mandible being the most commonly fractured facial bone in the paediatric population. The aetiology of mandible fractures can be categorized as intentional (e.g. as a result of assault, peer‐to‐peer violence, family violence) or non‐intentional (e.g. as a result of falls, motor vehicle crashes, sporting incidents). Peer‐to‐peer violence affects up to a third of male school aged children in Australia. This case report details the case of a paediatric patient with bilateral mandibular fractures who presented to a general dental practice after an episode of peer‐to‐peer violence. Clinical examination, radiographic findings and treatment are reported. This paper explores the experience and impact of peer‐to‐peer physical violence on the individual and his family. A review of the relevant literature is presented. © 2024 Australian Dental Association.
Patient demographic characteristics and risk factors associated with sun protection behaviours in specialist melanoma clinics
Authors: Smith Juliet , Espinoza David , Smit Amelia K. , Gallo Bruna , Smith Andrea L. , Lo Serigne N. , Guitera Pascale , Martin Linda K. , Cust Anne E.
Published: June 2024

Objective

We investigated the association between sun protection behaviours and demographic and melanoma risk characteristics of patients attending Australian melanoma specialist clinics. This may assist in targeting and tailoring melanoma prevention patient education for people at high‐risk and specific population subgroups.

Methods

A cross‐sectional analysis of questionnaire data collected from participants attending the dermatology clinics at two major melanoma centres in Sydney, Australia between February 2021 and September 2023. The primary outcome was Sun Protection Habits (SPH) index (a summary score measured as habitual past month use of sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, a shirt with sleeves that covers the shoulders, limiting midday sun exposure and seeking shade, using a Likert scale). The primary analysis considered the SPH index and its component items scored as continuous.

Results

Data from 883 people were analysed. Factors associated with less frequent sun protection behaviours overall included male gender, no personal history of melanoma, lower perceived risk, lower calculated 10‐year risk of developing melanoma, and no private health insurance. People aged >61 years reported lower use of sunscreen but higher use of hats and sleeved‐shirts compared with people in the younger age group. There was no difference in overall sun protection behaviours according to family history of melanoma, country of birth or by lifetime melanoma risk among people without a personal history of melanoma.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the potential for targeting high‐risk individuals with less frequent use of sun protection for patient education, public health messaging and ultimately improving sun protection behaviours.
Calling names: Humoring caste and caste‐ing humor
Authors: Joshi Bhoomika
Published: June 2024

What is the role of humor in obfuscating social hierarchy? This article describes how caste prejudices among male taxi drivers in Uttarakhand in the Indian Himalayas are enacted through the humor of calling each other “funny” names. Such humor is directed toward Dalit drivers whose proper first names are replaced by “funny” names that caricature their personal attributes as an index of their “lower‐caste” identity without addressing it directly. Given the conditions of social change in the practice of caste across India, calling such names provides the “upper‐caste” drivers grounds for the disavowability of addressing caste. Calling Dalit drivers funny first names at the taxi stand eschews addressing directly the collective lower‐caste identity indexed in their last names even as the humor so enacted becomes the premise for identifying their caste identity. It exceeds and bypasses legalized notions of caste atrocity by distorting personal attributes into humorous name‐calling that is indexically removed from the denigration of collective caste identity that can be disavowed. This article offers an ethnography of humor to understand how humorous sociability becomes the means for addressing lower‐caste identity while simultaneously providing the grounds for its obfuscation and disavowal.
Increased adiposity in juvenile idiopathic arthritis – A comparison of the bioelectrical impedance analysis and dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry for the assessment of body composition
Authors: Räsänen Kati , Soisalo Katja , Markula‐Patjas Kati , Kantanen Saija , Sipilä Kalle , Lakka Timo A. , Valve‐Dietz Anna‐Kaisa , Piippo‐Savolainen Eija , Arikoski Pekka
Published: June 2024

Aim

Higher adiposity and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases have been reported in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), but body composition measurements have produced inconsistent results. This controlled cross‐sectional study assessed body composition with two methods to evaluate adiposity in children with JIA.

Methods

We measured body composition by dual‐ energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) from 79 JIA‐patients in two Finish university hospitals in 2017–2019. Their age‐ and sex‐matched controls (n = 79) were selected from the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children‐ study and through National Registry.

Results

Body fat percentage measured by BIA was higher (mean, SD) in patients compared to controls (23.1 ± 9.3% vs. 20.1 ± 7.5%, p = 0.047). Also, using DXA, there was a tendency of higher body fat percentage in patients (27.1 ± 9.1% vs. 24.6 ± 8.6, p = 0.106). BIA and DXA showed strong correlation (r from 0.810 to 0.977) in all body composition variables.

Conclusion

Increased adiposity was observed in patients with JIA. Evaluation of body composition should be included in the multidisciplinary care of JIA to reduce the possible risk of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. BIA could be a useful tool for assessing body composition due to its clinical availability and safety.
Spillover effects of Japanese firms and the role of absorptive capacity in Vietnam
Authors: Hoang Duong Vu , Phi Vinh Tuong
Published: June 2024

The paper examines the role of the absorptive capacity of Vietnamese manufacturing firms in facilitating the link from Japanese spillovers to the productivity of local firms in the manufacturing sector. By using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) and threshold regression model with dynamic panel data from 2005 to 2018, the paper finds the following points. Firstly, the appearance and operation of Japanese firms can bring the positive horizontal labour effect and backward competition effect but it also brings the negative backward labour effect. Secondly, the absorptive capacity of domestic firms can help reduce the negative spillover effects and increase the positive spillover effects. Finally, if domestic firms cannot reach a threshold of absorptive capacity, they will suffer from Japanese spillovers while if they meet the threshold of absorptive capacity, they can enjoy the externalities from the operation and cooperation with Japanese firms.
In‐depth study of a speiss/matte sample from Castillo de Huarmey, North Coast of Peru, and its implications for the pre‐Columbian production of arsenic bronze in the Central Andes
Authors: Warchulski Rafał , Kałaska Maciej , Rizzuto Branden Cesare , Sierpień Paula , Pisarek Marcin , Kaproń Grzegorz , Marciniak‐Maliszewska Beata , Jokubauskas Petras , Kotowski Jakub , Środek Dorota , Przadka‐Giersz Patrycja , Giersz Miłosz
Published: June 2024

This study aims to characterize the phase composition and chemistry of the speiss/matte sample from the Metallurgist's Burial at Castillo de Huarmey and to use the information derived from these analyses to infer the temperatures, furnace conditions, and ores associated with the smelting processes, which created the speiss/matte sample. For this purpose, a number of geochemical analyses were performed on the spies/matte fragment: analysis of the general chemical composition (handheld X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry [hhXRF], X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy [XPS]), analysis of the chemical composition in the micro area (field emission scanning electron microscope with an energy dispersive spectroscopy detector [FE‐SEM‐EDS], field emission electron probe microanalysis [FE‐EPMA]), analysis of the mineral composition (X‐ray diffraction [XRD]), and analysis of the phase composition (Raman spectroscopy). Chemical and mineralogical analyses of the speiss/matte specimen determined that the specimen is composed of distinct arsenide, arsenate, sulfide, and glass phases. During the smelting process, the charge material consisted mainly of Cu, Fe, and As sulfides. Arsenopyrite is the most likely candidate as the mineral source of arsenic. In addition, temperatures of at least 1200°C were achieved during the smelting process, with smelting occurring over a relatively short timeframe given that effective density separation of speiss and matte phases was not achieved.