bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effects of emotional self-regulation, ethical evaluations and judgments on customer food waste reduction behaviors in restaurants
Authors: Nguyen Thi Phuong Linh
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aimed to (1) examine the impact of restaurant customers’ emotional self-regulation on ethical evaluations and judgments on their food waste reduction behaviors and (2) explore the influence of ethical judgments and evaluations on food waste reduction behaviors in restaurants.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through a face-to-face survey at 20 restaurants in three major cities in Vietnam, namely Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Responses from 870 restaurant customers were used to analyze the data. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to examine the path effects.

Findings

Based on the model of Hunt and Vitell (1986), this study incorporates the role assessment of emotional self-regulation, deontological and teleological evaluation into the research model to examine consumers’ ethical judgments and ethical behaviors as food waste reduction behaviors. All hypotheses were accepted with the study’s data. From there, the author makes some implications for state management agencies and businesses in promoting consumers’ food waste reduction behaviors.

Practical implications

Several recommendations should be made based on the results of the study. First, there is a need for guidelines for people to regulate emotions to match ethical consumption decisions, such as increasing the amount of study time for subjects on ethics and emotion management, teaching and promoting ethical values and standards as well as discussing ethical perspectives on food waste. Second, governments and businesses need to promote communication about the consequences of food waste on television, radio, newspapers and social networks, should have anti-food waste posters and should even popularize charging for cases of ordering or taking food that is beyond personal needs.

Originality/value

First, this is believed to be the first study to investigate the role of emotions on ethical consumption decisions in general and food waste reduction in particular. Second, this study is one of the few studies that examine the influence of deontological evaluation, teleological evaluation and ethical judgments on food waste reduction behaviors (reduce, reuse and recycle). Finally, this is one of the few studies that comprehensively examines food waste reduction behaviors, including reduce, reuse and recycle.
Agility and internal integration as a catalyst to the organizational recovery in SMEs: the mediating role of resilience
Authors: Loh Kok Beng , Tan Cheng Ling
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This research aims to determine if agility and internal integration constitute direct antecedents to resilience and organizational recovery in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) manufacturing. This study is based on the resource-based view in developing the framework. The literature-based review is drawn up to link internal integration and agile and resilient practices to its recovery.

Design/methodology/approach

The study proposes a random sampling technique to draw the samples from Malaysian SME manufacturing firms. A total of 110 samples were collected and analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling.

Findings

The results confirmed that agility and internal integration positively affect resilient directly and indirectly. A higher level of agility, internal integration and resilience also improves organizational recovery.

Originality/value

The study underlines that organizational strategies should be designed with resilience as agility and internal integration alone are inadequate for organizations to attain recovery and competitive advantage. The results are practical since the proposed structural model employs empirical data.
Building organizational agility through digital transformation: a configurational approach in SMEs
Authors: Pelletier Claudia , L'Écuyer François , Raymond Louis
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study adopts a capability-based view to investigate the attainment of organizational agility in manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It first explores how these firms mobilize different types of operational and dynamic information technology (IT) capabilities to achieve a high level of agility through their digital transformation. In return, it also reveals opposite paths, i.e. those leading to its absence.

Design/methodology/approach

The research method involves a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) of 65 Canadian manufacturing SMEs. Through necessity and sufficiency condition analysis procedures, this approach emphasizes the complexity of the digital transformation processes by revealing different sets (i.e. configurations) of what enable, or inhibit, organizational agility in these firms.

Findings

The findings indicate that manufacturing SMEs need to align at least one dynamic IT capability (sensing, learning, coordinating or integrating) and one operational IT capability (IT management, IT infrastructure or e-business) to be highly agile. In contrast, other findings indicate that there are suboptimal combinations of IT capabilities, which result in an absence of agility.

Originality/value

This study offers a deeper understanding of the complex interaction of IT capabilities in SMEs seeking greater agility in their business activities. Its contributions provide insights on the mobilization of a range of capabilities, both complementary and interdependent, to respond to changing conditions in their internal and external environments. These actionable findings can help various actors in the digital development of SMEs to design and implement effective IT strategies and public policies.
The phantom information booth: migrant and sedentary tertiary students’ tactics in the face of suspect information on social media
Authors: Bahl Rashika , McKay Dana , Chang Shanton , Buchanan George , Cheong Marc
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The problem of misinformation is one that has been well-explored in the literature. While researchers often study tertiary student behaviors, they do not distinguish between student groups – such as those who have lived in a country their whole lives versus those who moved to the country. Further, literature tends to focus broadly on misinformation, and malinformation is an understudied area. The study aims to address these gaps.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was gathered using a survey instrument deployed as part of a larger study. Students were presented with two posts: one containing malinformation and one containing misinformation. They were asked how they would evaluate the posts. There were 193 respondents. Responses were analyzed using general inductive analysis. In completing the analysis, we differentiated between migrant and sedentary student groups.

Findings

Findings indicate that there are qualitative differences in how different groups evaluate suspect information and qualitative differences in how students approach misinformation and malinformation. Students are more accepting of malinformation than misinformation. Migrant students are less prone to making trust/distrust decisions and instead more prone to ambivalence. They are also more likely to seek out additional information in the face of misinformation compared to sedentary counterparts.

Originality/value

Findings enhance our understanding of differences in migrant and sedentary students’ experiences with suspect information and provide insights on malinformation experiences which is an underexplored area of research.
Investigating the influence of dual narcissism on entrepreneurial intention with psychological empowerment
Authors: Chugh Akriti , Gera Shikha , Mozumder Saleh Ahmed , Perumandla Swamy , Bhattacharyya Som Sekhar
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this research study is to recognize the significance of entrepreneurial psychology. This was achieved by assessing the relationship between the dark personality traits and entrepreneurial intention (EI). This study examined the interrelationship between dual narcissism traits and EI. The authors specifically focused on Narcissistic Admiration (NA) and Narcissistic Rivalry (NR), with particular emphasis on the mediating role of Psychological Empowerment (PE).

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a descriptive quantitative research approach to investigate the research model and to test the hypothesis. Data collection involved administering structured questionnaires with nonprobability sampling to obtain data from 340 incubated entrepreneurs. Researchers used partial least squares structured equation modeling for data analysis.

Findings

The study findings indicated that NA had a significant impact on both PE and EI, whereas NR substantially impacted PE but not on EI. Furthermore, the results revealed that PE served as a partial mediator between NA and EI, whereas PE acted as a full mediator between NR and EI.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributed to the literature on EI. This study examined the theoretical interrelationship between dual narcissism, specifically NA and NR, with EI while emphasizing the mediating role of PE.

Practical implications

As an emerging nation, India requires more entrepreneurs and more examples of successful entrepreneurship. This study insights would help entrepreneurs to manage their entrepreneurial ventures better. This would be realized by entrepreneurs with better comprehension of NA, NR and PE, which would finally enable the achievement of higher levels of EI.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study was one of the first empirical investigations that distinguished between the two aspects of narcissistic personality: admiration and rivalry. This demonstrated the differential impact on EI. This study made a valuable addition to the theoretical domain of entrepreneurial psychology. This was achieved by highlighting the important role of PE in the association between dual narcissism and the intent of potential entrepreneurs.
Determinants of market capitalization of listed firms: evidence from an emerging country
Authors: Phan Dinh Nguyen , To Thi Nhat Minh
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study investigates the determinants of the market capitalization of listed companies through evidence from an emerging country.

Design/methodology/approach

This research employs the system generalized method of moments for a dataset of 7,608 observations from 687 Vietnamese listed firms.

Findings

Our findings show that both external and internal factors affect market capitalization. Intellectual capital, sales growth, profit, leverage and crises are positively linked to market capitalization; meanwhile, foreign direct investment, inflation and gross domestic product negatively affect market capitalization. The negative effect of macrofactors reflects the fact that the macroeconomic environment can deteriorate investment values and then market capitalization. This implies that macroeconomic stability is very crucial for firms and financial stability. The COVID-19 and financial crisis have a moderating influence on market capitalization through sales growth, profitability and leverage. Unlike previous studies, we find that intellectual capital plays a very essential role regardless of whether there is a crisis or not. Therefore, firms should focus on intellectual capital to grow market capitalization sustainably.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature of market capitalization by investigating the determinants of market capitalization with a joint assessment of the financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, which have not yet been considered together in previous studies. It enriches the literature by investigating the moderating effect of COVID-19 and financial crisis on the relationships between some key determinants and market capitalization. Unlike previous studies, our study highlights the essential role of intellectual capital in enhancing market capitalization regardless of whether there is a crisis.
Academic self-initiated expatriates’ management in host transnational higher education institutions: motivations, perceived challenges and work performance
Authors: Tran Nguyen Hai Ngan , Amado Carla Alexandra da Encarnação Filipe , Santos Sérgio Pereira dos
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aims to enhance sustainable global human capital management in transnational higher education (TNHE) by exploring the motivations of academic self-initiated expatriates (ASIEs) and the incentives for host institutions to attract international talent. Grounded in the international adjustment framework and the ability, motivation and opportunity (AMO) framework, it addresses the underexplored management of ASIEs within TNHE contexts, identifying factors that enhance their adjustment, motivation and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a qualitative research approach, the study employed predefined theoretical frameworks to conduct 22 in-depth interviews with both host institution managers and ASIEs in 11 TNHE programmes across Vietnam.

Findings

The study reveals significant gender imbalances among ASIEs, with most originating from non-English-speaking countries. Visa and work permit acquisition challenges are prominent for both ASIEs and host institutions. Although ASIEs’ qualifications are highly valued, adaptability proves to be a more decisive criterion for selection. Most participants reported job satisfaction; however, notable differences emerged regarding motivations, salary expectations, retention preferences, performance management and determinants of success in expatriate roles.

Originality/value

This study contributes to TNHE literature by providing tailored recommendations for sustaining ASIEs’ management practices. By extending the AMO framework to TNHE, this research offers actionable insights into the role of culturally tailored motivation- and opportunity-enhancing practices that can help mitigate ASIEs’ adaptation challenges. The findings underscore the need for targeted human resource management (HRM) policies that address the specific needs of ASIEs, aiming to strengthen ASIEs’ retention and institutional alignment.
Chatbot dynamics: trust, social presence and customer satisfaction in AI-driven services
Authors: Al-Oraini Badrea Saleh
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study investigated the factors that influence customer satisfaction with AI-driven services by focusing on chatbot agents. The conceptual model included psychological and social factors, such as trust, perceived social presence, competence perception, social-oriented communication style, warmth perception, subjective norms and attachment anxiety.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative methodology was employed utilising a survey conducted among 525 consumers who interacted with chatbot services. The data were analysed using structural equation modelling (Smart-PLS 4.0) to test the proposed hypotheses.

Findings

The study revealed that social-oriented communication, perceptions of competence and warmth, trust and subjective norms significantly enhanced customer satisfaction with chatbots. Trust was critical in fostering satisfaction, whereas perceived social presence and attachment anxiety had minimal impact. The findings suggest that despite the emphasis on social presence, its influence on satisfaction may depend on contextual factors that were not captured in this study.

Originality/value

This study extended the Technology Acceptance Model and Stereotype Content Model by integrating factors such as perceived social presence, trust, competence perception, social-oriented communication style, warmth perception, subjective norm and attachment anxiety. Challenging conventional assumptions on the role of social presence and attachment anxiety, the study provides new insights into the complex dynamics of human–chatbot interactions, offering practical implications for improving chatbot design and enhancing user experience that emphasise the importance of trust, competence and social-oriented communication in customer satisfaction.
Employing digital twin technology in the pursuit to avert sustainable marketing myopia
Authors: Nyquist Anna-Maria , Farshid Mana , Brown Terrence
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study investigates the relationship between entrepreneurial marketing and digital twin technology in sustainable marketing, focusing on overcoming sustainable marketing myopia. It aims to determine how combining these approaches can help businesses avoid the pitfalls associated with short-sighted sustainability practices.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses an interview methodology focused on the Swedish market to analyse the dynamics of entrepreneurial marketing, characterised by innovation and a strong focus on customer needs. It specifically examines how such marketing strategies serve as a defence against short-sighted or myopic sustainable marketing practices.

Findings

The study demonstrates that integrating entrepreneurial marketing with digital twin technology can effectively prevent sustainable marketing myopia. This approach helps businesses maintain authentic sustainability claims, comply with data privacy laws and navigate customer-centric models. The findings highlight the advantages of merging entrepreneurial marketing with advanced technologies, promoting sustainable marketing, ensuring long-term industrial success and enhancing transparency and accuracy.

Originality/value

This research offers unique insights for firms, arguing that merging entrepreneurial marketing with digital twin technology is crucial for enhancing sustainable marketing while sustainable marketing myopia and ensuring long-term success. It underscores the need to balance customer-centric, credible sustainable claims with privacy standards, providing a nuanced approach in the digital era. Additionally, it contributes a range of conceptual and practical propositions to the field.
A systematic literature review of artificial intelligence (AI) in coaching: insights for future research and product development
Authors: Passmore Jonathan , Olafsson Bergsveinn , Tee David
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to dramatically change the human approaches to work, and specifically to learning and development. While AI coaching can reduce costs and increase accessibility, it also presents both opportunities and threats to human coaches. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed research on the use of AI in coaching.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review (SLR) method was used to search eight databases for articles produced up to March 2024. Data extraction was conducted, with Quality Assessment undertaken independently, in parallel, using two researchers and a third arbiter. The ROBINS-I tool was used to assess the risk of bias in the included studies. A narrative synthesis of a total of 16 quantitative, qualitative or mixed-method studies covering n = 2312.

Findings

The SLR identified four key themes: Research design and AI integration, AI usefulness in coaching, impact of AI coaching and ethical considerations. The findings suggest that AI coaches can be effective, accepted, useful and match human coaches in competence for specific tasks.

Practical implications

AI coaching is a growing area of practice and research. This paper brings together the literature and identifies future research priorities and potential next steps in AI coach development.

Originality/value

The paper uses clinical research SLR methods applying these robust processes to the field of organisational research, to set a new standard through the use of a pre-determined research protocol, quality assessment and ROB, well providing a comprehensive literature review of AI coaching.
The network architecture and phylogeographic drivers of interactions between rodents and seed plants at continental scales
Authors: Zhang Yongjun , Holyoak Marcel , Zhang Zhibin , Liu Rui , Hao Xiyang , Chen Jiani , Yan Chuan
Published: February 2025

Rodents are known to interact with seed plants in three different ways, including predation in situ, scatter hoarding and larder hoarding of seeds. These behaviours span a spectrum from mutualistic seed dispersal to predation, and they are related to species' and environmental characteristics.

We used interaction networks to evaluate the structure and drivers of rodent–seed plant interactions, including geography, phylogeny and traits at continental scales.

We constructed five aggregated networks, each representing a continent and containing three subnetworks defined by foraging behaviours, tested questions about their network structures and analysed the driving signals shaping rodent–seed plant interactions at network and species levels.

Rodent–seed plant networks varied across continents. We found most rodents exhibited a significant propensity for one foraging behaviour and detected significant modular structures in both aggregated networks and subnetworks. We detected significant co‐phylogenetic signals between rodents and seed plants. Distance matrix‐based regressions on interaction and module dissimilarity of rodents suggest geographical and phylogenetic forces are important in the assembly of rodent–seed plant networks. In addition, multiple species traits correlated with the roles of rodents within aggregated networks; however, the specific traits associated with these roles varied among interaction types.

Our results highlight that geography and phylogenetics are dominant in structuring the architecture of rodent–seed plant networks at continental scales and reveal challenges regarding spatial and taxa coverage in rodent–seed plant interactions.
TBA trading and security issuance in the agency MBS market
Authors: An Yu , Li Wei , Song Zhaogang
Published: February 2025

In addition to the standard individual‐security‐based specified pool (SP) contract, agency mortgage‐backed securities (MBS) are actively traded via the to‐be‐announced (TBA) contract that sets a uniform price for a cohort of heterogeneous securities. We provide empirical support for the economic impact of TBA trading on MBS issuers' security design: issuers pick low‐quality loans and pool them together into few TBA MBS. We then conduct a quantitative analysis and show that TBA‐trading‐induced strategic MBS design increases issuers' selling revenue by about 55% of the SP transaction costs. Finally, we show that smaller issuers are less able to package low‐quality loans separately from high‐quality ones and hence benefit less from TBA trading.
A comprehensive review of recombinant technology in the food industry: Exploring expression systems, application, and future challenges
Authors: Liu Ming , Xiao Ran , Li Xiaolin , Zhao Yingyu , Huang Jihong
Published: February 2025

Biotechnology has significantly advanced the production of recombinant proteins (RPs). This review examines the latest advancements in protein production technologies, including CRISPR, genetic engineering, vector integration, and fermentation, and their implications for the food industry. This review delineates the merits and shortcomings of prevailing host systems for RP production, underscoring molecular and process strategies pivotal for amplifying yields and purity. It traverses the spectrum of RP applications, challenges, and burgeoning trends, highlighting the imperative of employing robust hosts and cutting‐edge genetic engineering to secure high‐quality, high‐yield outputs while circumventing protein aggregation and ensuring correct folding for enhanced activity. Recombinant technology has paved the way for the food industry to produce alternative proteins like leghemoglobin and cytokines, along with enzyme preparations such as proteases and lipases, and to modify microbial pathways for synthesizing beneficial compounds, including pigments, terpenes, flavonoids, and functional sugars. However, scaling microbial production to industrial scales presents economic, efficiency, and environmental challenges that demand innovative solutions, including high‐throughput screening and CRISPR/Cas9 systems, to bolster protein yield and quality. Although recombinant technology holds much promise, it must navigate high costs and scalability to satisfy the escalating global demand for RPs in therapeutics and food. The variability in ethical and regulatory hurdles across regions further complicates market acceptance, underscoring an urgent need for robust regulatory frameworks for genetically modified organisms. These frameworks are essential for safeguarding the production process, ensuring product safety, and upholding the efficacy of RPs in industrial applications.
Calcium carbide (CaC2) ripening in fruits: Health risks, non‐destructive detection, quality control, and regulatory frameworks
Authors: Vidhya D. , Mahanti Naveen Kumar , Barun  , Dakho Jonah , Kumar Ashok , Chaubey Shivam , Chhetri Krishna Bahadur
Published: February 2025

The use of calcium carbide (CaC2) for the artificial ripening of fruits is a common practice in some regions, despite being banned in many countries due to health concerns. CaC2 reacts with moisture to produce acetylene gas, which accelerates the ripening process. However, the presence of acetylene gas and its byproducts in CaC2‐ripened fruits can pose risks to human health. Therefore, there is a need for non‐destructive techniques to detect CaC2‐induced ripening and ensure the safety and quality of fruits. This review explores the scope and application of non‐destructive techniques for the detection of CaC2‐induced ripening of fruits. Various spectroscopic methods, including near‐infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and hyperspectral imaging, have been investigated for their potential to identify fruits ripened using CaC2. Additionally, chemical tests and sensor‐based approaches have been explored to detect residues of CaC2 and its byproducts in fruits. The review examines the principles behind these techniques and discusses their advantages, limitations, and practical applications. Non‐destructive techniques are promising for detecting CaC2‐induced ripening of fruits. Spectroscopic methods allow rapid identification of characteristic signatures in ripened fruits, whereas chemical tests and sensor‐based approaches detect CaC2 residues. These tools ensure fruit safety and authenticity, protecting consumer health. Further research is needed to improve the sensitivity and reliability of these methods for wider use in the food industry.
The Discovery of Water Conduction in Karst Collapsed Column Caused by Fault Cutting: Evidence from Chronology, Exploration Data and Hydrochemical Test
Authors: LU Cunjin , CHAI Jincheng , XU Jinpeng , LI Pu , BIAN Kai
Published: February 2025

The water conductivity of karst collapsed column is affected by multiple factors such as the characteristics of its own column filling, structure and mining disturbance. As a structural water‐conducting channel, fault usually plays a controlling role in hydrogeological structure. During the process of mine water hazard prevention and control, it was discovered that the lithology composition, compaction and cementation degree and water physical properties of karst collapsed column fillings were all non‐conducting water, but due to the influence of combined development faults, some exploration drill holes showed concentrated water outflow. Based on this, the scientific hypothesis was proposed that fault cutting leads to water conduction in karst collapsed columns. The study comprehensively used methods like chronology, exploration data analysis, and hydrochemical testing to analyze the chronological relationship between faults and karst collapsed columns, their spatial relationship, outlet point distribution and water chemical properties, and the impact of faults on the water‐conductivity of karst collapsed columns, which proved the effect of fault cutting on changing water conductivity of karst collapsed column. The research showed that later fault cutting through karst collapsed columns turned the originally non‐conductive karst collapsed columns into water‐conductive collapsed columns at the fault plane, creating a longitudinally connected water‐conducting channel. A new model of fault cutting karst collapsed column to change the original water conductivity of karst collapsed column was proposed. The research results can provide a theoretical basis for the prediction of the water conductivity of the karst collapsed column. According to whether the karst collapsed column was cut by the fault, it was predicted theoretically, so as to determine the key areas of water conductivity detection and prevention and control, and has broad application prospects under the background of source control of mine water disaster.
The Qixiangzhan Lava Flow at the Tianchi Volcano: Eruptive Dynamics, Emplacement Mechanism and Implications for the Formation of Long‐lived Magmatic Systems Prior to Caldera‐forming Eruptions
Authors: LI Jiahui , SHAN Xuanlong , YI Jian , WU Chengzhi , GUIDO Ventura , LIU Pengcheng , GUO Jiannan , WANG Wei
Published: February 2025

The 7 ka old Qixiangzhan lava flow (QXZ, Tianchi volcano) represents the last eruptive event before the 946 CE, caldera‐forming ‘Millennium’ eruption (ME). Petrographic, whole rock, mineral composition, Sr‐Nd isotopic data on QXZ show that: (a) the lava consists of two components, constituted by comenditic obsidian fragments immersed in a continuous, aphanitic component; (b) both components have the same geochemical and isotopic variations of the ME magma. The QXZ and ME comendites result from fractional crystallization and crustal assimilation processes. The temperature of the QXZ magma was about 790°C and the depth of the magma reservoir around 7 km, the same values as estimated for ME. QXZ had a viscosity of 105.5–109 Pa s and a velocity of 3–10 km/yr. The emplacement time was 0.5–1.6 yr and the flow rate 0.48–1.50 m3/s. These values lie within the range estimated for other rhyolitic flows worldwide. The QXZ lava originated through a mixed explosive–effusive activity with the obsidian resulting from the ascent of undercooling, degassing and the fragmentation of magma along the conduit walls, whereas the aphanitic component testifies to the less undercooled and segregated flow at the center of the conduit. The QXZ lava demonstrates the extensive history of the ME magma chamber.
The Influence of Microbial Community on Oil Reservoirs: A Case Study on the Mesozoic Natural Gas in the Pengyang Area, Southwestern Ordos Basin, China
Authors: SHANG Ting , NIU Xiaobing , LI Mingrui , ZHANG Zhongyi , HUANG Xuan , HAN Tianyou , ZHANG Xiaolei , LI Jihong , CHU Meijuan , LIU Xin
Published: February 2025

The formation of Mesozoic natural gas in the Pengyang area of southwestern Ordos Basin is discussed, from the perspective of microbial community characteristics, in order to clarify the relationship between the origin of natural gas and its associated indigenous microbial community. The types and diversity of indigenous microbial communities associated with the oil reservoir were studied by means of collecting reservoir formation water samples from exploration wells. The indigenous microbial communities in the Chang 8 member of the Yanchang Formation were primarily distributed within Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, including the specific species and genera of Methylobacter, Pseudomonas, Haibacter, Toxobacillus, Acinetobacter and Adura actinomyces. The results of diversity analysis shows that the number of common genes was 5448, while the number of unique genes and information was less. This reflects the fact that the strata in the study area are relatively closed and not invaded by external water sources, which leads to the development of biological community diversity. In conjunction with the analysis of geochemical characteristics of oil and gas reservoirs in this area, this indicates that the study area possesses the necessary geological conditions for microbial degradation. It is the first time that the species and diversity of the indigenous microbial community in the Ordos Basin have been analyzed, showing that microbial degradation is the main cause of natural gas formation here, changes the characteristics of crude oil in this area and provides first‐hand information on the impact of indigenous microorganisms on the reservoir.
Case Series: Extracutaneous Findings of Eosinophilic Fasciitis Patients
Authors: Yuce Inel Tuba , Karabacak Murat , Onen Fatos , Birlik Merih
Published: February 2025

Objective

Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) is a connective tissue disorder characterized by cutaneous changes similar to scleroderma, usually associated with peripheral eosinophilia. This case series highlights clinical findings, particularly extracutaneous involvement, in EF patients to enhance clinician awareness of this rare condition.

Methods

EF patients' skin and visceral organ involvement, musculoskeletal findings, laboratory tests (including acute phase reactants, autoantibodies, protein electrophoresis, etc.), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), skin biopsy results, and treatments were evaluated.

Results

The patient's age at presentation was 54 (range 23–68), and 50% were female. All patients presented with skin thickening in the distal upper extremities, except for the hands and feet. Notably, 50% of the patients showed involvement in the trunk, while 87.5% exhibited involvement in the distal lower extremities. A total of 87.5% of patients had increased acute‐phase reactants, and three‐quarters had peripheral eosinophilia. Some patients presented with extracutaneous manifestations such as nonspecific pulmonary nodules, neuropathy, or arthritis. MRI scans on all patients revealed notable thickening, contrast enhancement, and increased signal intensity within the fascia. Treatment involved the initiation of corticosteroids, with 87.5% of patients requiring the addition of an immunosuppressive agent due to an inadequate response. While no hematological malignancies were detected during the follow‐up period, solid cancer was detected in one patient.

Conclusion

Patients diagnosed with EF should undergo a thorough evaluation for extracutaneous involvement, including joints, lungs, and muscles, as well as screening for occult malignancies. In instances where the condition does not respond to steroid therapy, it may be necessary to consider additional immunosuppressive treatments.
The fallacy of single imputation for trait databases: Use multiple imputation instead
Authors: Blomberg Simone P. , Todorov Orlin S.
Published: February 2025

The past few years have seen the publication of many new trait databases. A common problem with large databases is a lack of completeness, or inversely, the high prevalence of missing values.

Biologists have developed several methods to impute (fill in) missing values. This allows ordinary statistical procedures to be used in analyses and the use of only complete cases, with a concomitant loss of power and accuracy, can be avoided.

Often, biologists use simulation to test new methods by deleting values from a dataset and recording how well the imputed values match the known, removed values.

Here we argue that this is a poor measure of the strength of an imputation method. We also describe the importance and logic of the statistical procedure of multiple imputation, which requires that the imputations need not be precise or accurate estimates of the missing data.
Effect of blood alcohol on the diagnostic accuracy of glial fibrillary acidic protein and ubiquitin carboxy‐terminal hydrolase L1 for traumatic intracranial hemorrhage: A TRACK‐TBI study
Authors: Harris Mark , Yue John K. , Jain Sonia , Sun Xiaoying , Puccio Ava M. , Gardner Raquel C. , Wang Kevin K. W. , Okonkwo David O. , Yuh Esther L. , Mukherjee Pratik , Nelson Lindsay D. , Taylor Sabrina R. , Markowitz Amy J. , Diaz‐Arrastia Ramon , Manley Geoffrey T. , Korley Frederick K. ,   The TRACK‐TBI Investigators
Published: February 2025

Background

Acute intoxication is common in patients evaluated for traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, the effect of elevated blood alcohol levels (BALs) on the diagnostic accuracy of FDA‐cleared biomarkers for evaluating traumatic intracranial injury on computed tomography (CT) scan, namely, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and ubiquitin carboxy‐terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH‐L1), has not been well studied.

Methods

We investigated the effect of significantly elevated (>300 mg/dL) and modestly elevated BAL (81–300 mg/dL) at emergency department presentation on the diagnostic accuracy of GFAP and UCH‐L1 for predicting a positive CT in patients presenting to 18 U.S. Level I trauma centers within 24 h of TBI as part of the prospective, Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in TBI (TRACK‐TBI) study. Plasma GFAP and UCH‐L1 were measured using Abbott i‐STAT Alinity and ARCHITECT assays. Discrimination was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

Results

Of 2320 TRACK‐TBI participants studied, 54 (2.3%), 332 (14.3%), 1209 (52.1%), and 725 (31.3%) had significantly elevated BAL, modestly elevated BAL, nonelevated BAL (0‐80 mg/dL), and no BAL available, respectively; 48.3% of the cohort had a positive brain CT. Those with significantly elevated and modestly elevated BAL were more likely to have positive CT (61.1% and 60.5% vs. 46.9% and 44.0%) and had higher plasma GFAP and UCH‐L1 levels than those with nonelevated BAL and no BAL available. The AUC of GFAP and UCH‐L1 combined for predicting CT positivity was higher in those with significantly elevated BAL (0.949) than those with modestly elevated BAL (0.858), nonelevated BAL (0.849), and no BAL available (0.883).

Conclusions

Modestly and significantly elevated BAL does not lower the diagnostic accuracy of GFAP and UCH‐L1 for predicting traumatic intracranial injury on CT. These biomarkers may be useful in decreasing avoidable brain CT imaging in persons with acute alcohol intoxication.
Political conflicts and food import refusals
Authors: He Xi , Wang Jingxi
Published: February 2025

We examine the impact of political conflicts on China's food import refusals using monthly data from 2010 to 2022. Our analysis reveals that political conflicts significantly contribute to increased food import rejections. Specifically, a one‐standard‐deviation rise in political tensions results in a .02% increase in the number of import shipment rejections. Heterogeneous analysis shows that this effect is more pronounced for developed countries than for developing ones and is stronger for differentiated products compared to homogeneous ones. Dynamic analysis indicates that the impact lasts for approximately 6 months. We also find that past rejections, the presence of non‐tariff measures (NTMs), the duration of a country's WTO membership, and past export values, also significantly influence China's decisions to reject food imports. These findings highlight the importance of considering the risks of shipment rejections linked to political conflicts.
Immune Treatment Strategies in Unexplained Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
Authors: Cai Rui , Yang Qiaoran , Liao Yingjun , Qin Lang , Han Jinbiao , Gao Rui
Published: February 2025

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is characterized by the occurrence of two or more consecutive pregnancy losses. Approximately half of these cases lack a clear etiology and are termed unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (URPL). Maternal–fetal immune dysfunction is thought to be involved in causing URPL. Increased human leukocyte antigen compatibility, susceptibility genes, lack of blocking antibodies, and dysfunction of immune cells can all disrupt the immune tolerance environment of the maternal–fetal interface. To correct the maternal–fetal immune imbalances, some immunotherapies were recently tried to be used for patients with URPL. This review summarizes the characteristics and mechanisms of the immune microenvironment at the maternal–fetal interface of URPL patients, and the present immunotherapies for URPL patients, to serve as a reference for future research.
Obesity and cesarean section rate among low‐risk primiparous women in Victoria, Australia: A population‐based study
Authors: Mekonnen Alemayehu , Teale Glyn , Vasilevski Vidanka , Sweet Linda
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Women living with overweight, or obesity are at risk of pregnancy and birth complications. This study investigated the trend and associations between overweight and obesity on cesarean births and their contribution to cesarean births among low‐risk primiparous women in Australia.

Material and Methods

Body mass index data were obtained for 219, 950 primipara (aged 20─34 years) with singleton, term pregnancies without malpresentations from the Victorian Perinatal Data Collection registry (2010─2019). Women were grouped according to body mass index and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the trend and associations of overweight and obesity with cesarean births. The contribution of overweight and obesity to cesarean births were estimated using population attributable fraction.

Results

The prevalence of cesarean birth was 29.7%, and the prevalence increased by 20%, from 27.6% in 2010 to 33.2% in 2019. Being overweight or obese was independently associated with an increased likelihood of cesarean births in the overall sample (adjusted OR (AOR) 1.46; 95% CI 1.42–1.50 and AOR 2.05, 95% CI 1.98–2.11, respectively). However, overweight was not an independent risk factor when the analysis was limited to elective cesarean births. Induction of labor was significantly higher among women who were overweight (AOR 1.38; 95% CI 1.35–2.42), or obese (AOR 2.18 95% CI 2.12–2.25). The combined overweight and obesity contributed to 14.8% of cesarean births but the increasing trend of cesarean births was not explained solely by changes in overweight or obesity rates.

Conclusions

Obesity and overweight, combined, are responsible for a significant proportion of cesarean births. However, overweight and obesity alone do not provide enough insight into the increasing trend of cesarean birth. While further investigation of potential contributors is needed, initiatives to reduce cesarean births in Australia may benefit better by including measures, such as health education to prevent overweight and obesity prior to conception.
Air Pollution Associated With Mortality Among Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Treated With Nucleotide/Nucleoside Analogues
Authors: Jang Tyng‐Yuan , Zeng Yu‐Ting , Liang Po‐Cheng , Wu Chih‐Da , Wei Yu‐Ju , Tsai Pei‐Chien , Hsieh Ming‐Yen , Lin Yi‐Hung , Hsieh Meng‐Hsuan , Wang Chih‐Wen , Yang Jeng‐Fu , Yeh Ming‐Lun , Huang Chung‐Feng , Chuang Wan‐Long , Huang Jee‐Fu , Cheng Ya‐Yun , Dai Chia‐Yen , Chen Pau‐Chung , Yu Ming‐Lung
Published: February 2025

Background and Aims

Air pollution is associated with advanced liver fibrosis in patients with chronic liver diseases, including chronic hepatitis B (CHB). This study aimed to investigate the association between air pollution and mortality in patients with CHB treated with nucleotide/nucleoside analogues.

Methods

We enrolled 697 patients with CHB treated with nucleotide/nucleoside analogues and analysed the incidence and risk factors for mortality. Daily air pollutant concentrations were estimated from the year before enrolment.

Results

All‐cause mortality showed an annual incidence of 1.1/100 person‐years after a follow‐up period of 3798.1 person‐years. Factors with the strongest association with all‐cause mortality were liver cirrhosis (hazard ratio [HR]/95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.95/1.69–9.23; p = 0.02), age ([HR]/CI: 1.07/1.03–1.17, p < 0.001) and pre‐treatment gamma‐glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels (HR/CI: 1.004/1.001–1.006, p = 0.004). Among patients with cirrhosis, the factors associated with all‐cause mortality were age (HR/CI: 1.08/1.04–1.12, p < 0.001), pre‐treatment GGT levels (HR/CI: 1.004/1.001–1.008, p = 0.01), platelet count (HR/CI: 0.988/0.977–0.998, p = 0.02) and NOx concentration (per unit increment, ppb) (1.045/1.001–1.091; p = 0.046). The best NOx cut‐off value for predicting all‐cause mortality in patients with cirrhosis was 25.5 ppb (AUROC 0.63; p = 0.03). NOx levels > 25.5 ppb were associated with a higher incidence of mortality in patients with cirrhosis (HR/CI:2.49/1.03–6.02; p = 0.04).

Conclusions

Air pollution influences all‐cause mortality in patients with CHB receiving nucleotide/nucleoside analogue therapy. Long‐term NOx exposure may increase liver‐related mortality in patients with chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis receiving nucleotide/nucleoside analogue treatment.
Investigating peer influence on collaborative group members' motivation through the lens of socially shared regulation of learning
Authors: Järvenoja Hanna , Törmänen Tiina , Lehtoaho Emma , Turunen Marjo , Suoraniemi Jasmiina , Edwards Justin
Published: February 2025

Background

Social context and peers significantly impact students' motivation, especially in collaborative learning settings. However, there is limited evidence on how students strategically influence each other's motivation through socially shared regulation of learning (SSRL).

Aims

This study examined secondary school students' SSRL during collaborative learning, focusing on how groups regulate motivation and how these regulation processes influence individual situational motivation through peer interactions.

Sample

The participants were 95 secondary school students (13–16 years) performing a collaborative science task in 31 groups.

Methods

Collaborative learning was videotaped to capture motivation regulation from social interactions. Four times during the task, individual perceptions of peer influence on motivation and motivation regulation were collected with situational self‐reports, and individual stimulated‐recall interviews were conducted after the task.

Results

The results showed that motivation regulation is embedded within broader SSRL processes. When motivation regulation coincided more likely with cognitive regulation, students perceived significantly higher peer influence on motivation. In interviews, students highlighted cognitive and social aspects of SSRL as crucial for their situational motivation but did not hardly recognize any direct motivation regulation strategies.

Conclusions

This study contributes to the methodological advancements for studying motivation as situation‐ and context‐specific, emphasizing the use of different data channels to capture the dynamic interplay between the individual‐ and group‐level aspects throughout the learning process. For educational practice, this study supports the claim that peer interactions, particularly in collaborative learning, play a crucial role in individual students' motivation.
Zanubrutinib for the treatment of Bing–Neel syndrome
Authors: Sarosiek Shayna , Ramirez‐Gamero Andres , Flynn Catherine A. , Treon Steven P. , Castillo Jorge J.
Published: February 2025

Infiltration of the central nervous system by malignant lymphoplasmacytic cells is a rare complication of Waldenström macroglobulinaemia (WM) and is referred to as Bing–Neel syndrome (BNS). Traditionally, the treatment of BNS included chemotherapy, but in more recent years, the oral Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor ibrutinib has become a standard therapy for WM and the most common therapy for BNS due to the drugs tolerability and ability to cross the blood–brain barrier. Zanubrutinib, a second‐generation covalent BTK inhibitor with fewer off‐target effects, is also effective in WM. In this series, we report on the successful use of zanubrutinib in nine patients with BNS, of whom five had prior exposure to ibrutinib and four were naïve to BTK inhibitors.
Featured Cover
Authors: Meißgeier Tina , Kappelmann‐Fenzl Melanie , Staebler Sebastian , Ahari Ata Jadid , Mertes Christian , Gagneur Julien , Linck‐Paulus Lisa , Bosserhoff Anja Katrin
Published: February 2025

The cover image is based on the article Splicing control by PHF5A is crucial for melanoma cell survival by Anja Katrin Bosserhoff et al., https://doi.org/10.1111/cpr.13741.

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