bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Benchmarking higher education excellence: insights from QS rankings
Authors: Qazi Abroon , Al-Mhdawi M.K.S.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to address a gap in traditional university ranking methodologies by investigating the interrelations among key indicators featured in the QS rankings, within the broader context of benchmarking in higher education.

Design/methodology/approach

Utilizing the 2024 QS ranking data and a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) model, this research explores the interconnected relationships among indicators such as “academic reputation,” “employer reputation,” “faculty-to-student ratio,” “sustainability” and others to predict university rankings.

Findings

The developed model achieves 80% predictive accuracy and shows that strong performance in “employment outcomes,” “academic reputation” and “employer reputation” contributes to higher overall scores. In contrast, weaker performance in “academic reputation” and “sustainability” is associated with lower scores. Among these factors, “academic reputation” is the most informative indicator for predicting the overall score.

Originality/value

This research contributes to the literature by emphasizing the interconnections among ranking criteria and advocating for network-based models for benchmarking in higher education. Particularly, it underscores the importance of “sustainability” in forecasting rankings, aligning well with the broader theme of predicting university performance and societal impact. This study offers valuable insights for researchers and policymakers, promoting a comprehensive approach that considers the interdependencies among criteria to enhance educational quality and address societal change within the framework of benchmarking in university rankings.
“Pharma’s secret weapon”: unleashing supply chain potential through supplier relationship management practices
Authors: Mafanele Percy , Maziriri Eugine Tafadzwa , Masakale Alfred Mojalefa , Mabuyana Brian
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The study explored how supplier evaluation, selection, development and segmentation affect supply chain performance in pharmaceutical organizations. It also determined the moderating influence of top management support on the link between supply chain performance and organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The research philosophy of this study was positivism, leading to the adoption of a quantitative research method. Empirical data were gathered from a significant sample of supply chain experts at leading pharmaceutical companies in South Africa. Data collection scales were derived from existing studies. The collected data were analysed using structural equation modelling.

Findings

The results confirmed the validity of the proposed model, which is based on selected criteria (latent variables). This study emphasizes the crucial influence of supplier evaluation, selection, development and segmentation on supply chain performance in pharmaceutical organizations. The research shows a positive correlation between supply chain performance and organizational performance, with top management support playing a moderating role.

Originality/value

The study’s originality and value stem from its thorough examination of how supplier relationship management practices affect supply chain performance and organizational performance in the pharmaceutical industry of South Africa. Furthermore, the research adds to the current body of knowledge by considering the moderating influence of top management support on the link between supply chain performance and organizational performance. These findings offer valuable insights for academics and industry professionals in the realm of supply chain management.
A matter of mindset? Features and processes of newsroom-based corporate communication in times of artificial intelligence
Authors: Rohrbach Tobias , Makhortykh Mykola
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Many companies adopt the corporate newsroom model to streamline their corporate communication. This article addresses why and how corporate newsrooms transform corporate communication following the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) systems.

Design/methodology/approach

This research draws on original data from 13 semi-structured interviews with executive communication experts in large Swiss companies that use corporate newsrooms.

Findings

Corporate newsrooms serve as an organisational (rather than spatial) coordination body for topic-oriented and agile corporate communication. To enable their functionality, it is crucial to find the right balance between optimising and stabilising communication structures. Newsrooms actively adopt AI both to facilitate routine and enable more innovative applications, such as living data archives and channel translations. Interviews also highlight an urgent need for regulatory frameworks of AI in corporate communication.

Practical implications

This article provides (currently lacking) insights into the practical challenges and coping strategies for establishing and managing corporate newsrooms.

Originality/value

This research addresses the gap in corporate newsroom research regarding a limited understanding of how newsrooms are implemented, managed and adapted to AI-related innovations.
Changes in the board of directors’ number of meetings: why and so what?
Authors: Haque Md Reiazul , Islam Saiful , Chowdhury Sourav Paul , Hossain Md. Alamgir , Hassan Md Ziaul
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the potential link between prior-year banking performance and a change in the number of board of directors’ meetings in the current year and understand how changes in board meetings might impact subsequent bank performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample is drawn from 42 banks in Bangladesh from 2011 to 2019, and the data are analyzed using multivariate regressions. Potential endogeneity concerns are addressed using the entropy balance matching approach.

Findings

This study presents two key findings: first, the change in the number of board meetings in a year is influenced by bank performance in the last year, where poor performance leads to more meetings, and second, an increase in the number of board meetings contributes to enhanced bank performance.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies to explore the reasons behind changes in the board of directors’ meeting behavior and whether such changes benefit banks. The results highlight that a decline in bank performance prompts the board to meet more often, and this proactive response helps banks overcome the poor performance problem. Thus, this study underscores the significance of the board’s adaptive behavior in tailoring the number of meetings according to the bank’s specific circumstances.
Information literacy as a desideratum for lifelong learning and creativity: a developing country’s perspective
Authors: Asif Muhammad , Naveed Muhammad Asif
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Information literacy (IL) is essential to prepare lifelong learners and a creative workforce in the digital information landscape. This study aims to investigate the effect of IL on the lifelong learning and creativity of medical students in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey research design, along with a questionnaire, was used to collect data from students, recruited through a stratified convenient sampling process, from the medical colleges with permission from competent authorities. The administration of the questionnaire was done personally, and a total of 500 responses were received. The data were analyzed by applying descriptive and inferential statistics.

Findings

The results indicated that these medical students perceived themselves as information literate in basic IL skills. Furthermore, the IL skills appeared to have a direct, statistically significant, but positive effect on their lifelong learning and creativity.

Practical implications

The research outcomes may inform academia, particularly associated with medical education, to initiate IL instruction programs for medical students to develop IL capabilities.

Originality/value

This research would be an invaluable contribution to the existing IL literature because of the dearth of empirical studies examining the interrelationships between IL, lifelong learning and creativity.
Supporting opinions to fit in: a spiral of silence-theoretic explanation for establishing echo chambers and filter bubbles on social media
Authors: Haug Maximilian , Maier Christian , Gewald Heiko , Weitzel Tim
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Social media communities contain like-minded members who disclose opinions about various topics that are important to them. These communities often function as echo chambers, filter bubbles or separate spaces for users to share conforming opinions and discredit others deliberately. In extreme cases, they build their alternative reality with limited information that can lead to real-world action, as seen in the storming of the capitol. Therefore, we need to better understand the mechanisms of opinion disclosure in such communities.

Design/methodology/approach

We base our research on the spiral of silence theory to understand both trait-based and state-based fear of isolation as the mechanism that prevents opposing opinions in three scenarios focusing on topics dominating the mainstream US media landscape at that time: immigration, presidential election and COVID-19. We recruited 164 participants from an online research platform and analyzed the data using structural equation modeling.

Findings

Our results reveal empirical evidence that state-based fear of isolation prompts community members to express agreement and support for the community’s opinion, regardless of their views. We show that hot-button issues impose an even greater danger of establishing an environment in online communities that becomes an echo chamber of filter bubbles.

Originality/value

The spiral of silence theory provides a fine-grained understanding of the concept of fear of isolation, which was either used as a trait or as a state. Furthermore, we go beyond the initial hypotheses of the spiral of silence and show that within online communities, members stay silent and start to argue against their own opinions.
Viewpoints of nurse auditors regarding the profession: a qualitative study
Authors: Aydogdu Ana Luiza Ferreira
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to understand the experiences of Brazilian nurse auditors in the practice of their profession, exploring the importance, challenges, rewards and strategies related to the occupation.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative descriptive study conducted with 44 nurse auditors. An online, open-ended questionnaire was used. Thematic content analysis was performed.

Findings

Five themes were identified: (1) functions of a nurse auditor; (2) skills required for a nurse auditor; (3) learning to be a nurse auditor; (4) advantages of being a nurse auditor and (5) challenges faced by a nurse auditor. Also, a total of 16 subthemes were presented.

Research limitations/implications

The study critically examined essential aspects of auditing through the lens of nurse auditors, addressing a relevant topic. However, limitations must be acknowledged, including the use of self-report questionnaires, regional representation disparities, the scarcity of international articles on the topic and potential researcher bias.

Practical implications

The study underscores the importance of increasingly integrating nurse auditors into the workforce while emphasizing the need to enhance the capacitation of these professionals through theoretical and practical education. It highlights the significance of educating other multidisciplinary team members about the nurse auditor’s crucial role in fostering teamwork and ensuring the quality of healthcare services.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study conducted with Brazilian nurse auditors, exploring crucial aspects of auditing from the perspective of these professionals. Understanding the critical role of nurse auditors in maintaining and improving healthcare quality can enhance public trust in healthcare systems.
Top management commitment, institutional pressures and green supply chain practices: pathways to sustainable performance
Authors: Haldorai Kavitha , Kim Woo Gon , Phetvaroon Kullada
Published: January 2025

Purpose

By integrating upper echelon theory and institutional theory, this study investigates the influence of top management commitment to sustainability on sustainable performance. Additionally, the mediating role of green supply chain management practices and the moderating role of institutional pressure are examined.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 376 managers and employees in green hotels within the Thai hospitality industry using a time-lagged survey.

Findings

The findings reveal that top management commitment to sustainability positively influences sustainable performance and that green supply chain management practices mediate this relationship. Additionally, coercive and normative pressures moderated the relationship between top management commitment to sustainability and green supply chain management practices.

Practical implications

This study highlights the importance of green supply chain management practices for hospitality firms. It emphasizes that strong leadership commitment to sustainability, partnerships with suppliers and compliance with regulations are crucial for the successful implementation of green supply chain initiatives.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by providing empirical evidence about the mechanisms through which top management commitment to sustainability translates into improved sustainable performance. Furthermore, the study enhances our understanding of how external pressures, specifically coercive and normative pressures, influence the adoption of green supply chain practices, offering new insights into how contextual factors shape management actions regarding sustainability. This adds nuance to our understanding of the interplay between internal commitment and external pressures in driving sustainability outcomes in the hospitality industry.
Examining metaverse experiences of people traveling to Turkey amid massive migration waves
Authors: Talay Ömür
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to examine the metaverse experiences of individuals traveling to Turkey, a nation with a complex history of migration, and to assess the influence of these experiences on their accommodation processes within host countries.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach, using semi-structured interviews, explored participants’ Metaverse experiences. Thematic analysis was applied to the interview data. The participant statements were coded, and concept maps were created.

Findings

The findings indicate that metaverse technologies can significantly facilitate planning for both short-term travelers and temporary migrants to migration hotspots, mitigating anxieties associated with the unfamiliar, and expediting the adaptation process by enabling virtual exploration of such destinations.

Originality/value

The research uniquely explores how metaverse and related technologies can enhance hospitality experiences in destination countries, particularly those facing challenges from irregular migration. Unlike previous studies, it specifically focuses on the metaverse experiences of people traveling to these destinations, aiming to answer the crucial question of how effective these technologies are in improving the hospitality experience in such contexts.
The impact of online brain-spotting therapy on brain metabolism and PTSD symptoms of intimate sexual violence victims: a single case study
Authors: Foo Mariana , Himawan Karel Karsten , Susanto Eko
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of online brainspotting (BSP) therapy in reducing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and influencing brain metabolism in a survivor of intimate partner sexual violence.

Design/methodology/approach

A quasi-experimental single-case study using a pretest–posttest design was conducted with clinical assessments and neuroimaging techniques (Proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy or H-MRS). The PTSD participant underwent 15 online BSP sessions, with a healthy control included for comparison. PTSD symptoms and neural activity, specifically the N-acetyl aspartate/creatine ratio, were evaluated before and after the intervention.

Findings

The results indicated significant reductions in PTSD symptoms and improvements in neural activity, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, medial prefrontal cortex, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, hippocampus and amygdala. Reductions in anxiety and depression levels were also observed through clinical assessments. Follow-up sessions confirmed sustained symptom improvement.

Research limitations/implications

The small sample size and lack of randomization limit generalizability, and reliance on self-reporting could introduce bias. Future research should involve larger samples, randomized trials and longer follow-up periods.

Practical implications

This study offers preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of online BSP therapy in treating PTSD, highlighting its potential as an accessible treatment option and demonstrating the value of neuroimaging in tracking therapy outcomes.

Originality/value

The study provides novel insights into online BSP’s impact on brain regions associated with trauma and emphasizes the need for culturally sensitive PTSD treatment in Indonesia.
Post‐fire recovery of sagebrush‐steppe communities is better explained by elevation than climate‐derived indicators of resistance and resilience
Authors: Applestein Cara V. , Germino Matthew J.
Published: January 2025

More landscapes require restoration than can feasibly be treated, and so decision‐support tools to prioritize areas for treatment are needed. Moreover, restoration is complicated by the threat of biological invasion in disturbed areas, and so indicators of ecosystem resistance to invasion and resilience to disturbance (hereafter R&R) are important candidate criteria for prioritizing sites for restoration.

We asked how climate‐based R&R indicators that differed in being either categorical or continuous compared in their ability to explain plant‐community recovery after six wildfires that collectively encompassed >750,000 ha and 7803 plot‐year observations in sagebrush steppe of the western USA. Unique associations of species that most frequently co‐occurred were identified using structural topic modelling. Mixed effect random forests were used to identify the relative importance of various R&R indicators in explaining post‐fire plant associations compared with weather, landscape characteristics and treatment history.

Simple metrics (elevation, latitude, longitude and year of monitoring) were more informative predictors of post‐fire recovery than climate‐based R&R indicators. However, small differences in the abundances of perennial grass and especially annual grass associations were predicted by the spring modified Thornthwaite Moisture Index (difference between precipitation and potential evapotranspiration).

Synthesis and applications: The convenience of categorical resistance and resilience indicators has led to their widespread adoption for large‐scale planning of restoration. Our results reveal that none of the resistance and resilience indicators assessed effectively explained post‐fire restoration better than elevation, although a simple continuous resistance and resilience indicator describing water balance performed better than categorical indicators for explaining small but critical differences in cheatgrass association abundances.
Learning to Stand on its own Two Feet: The Office for Students and the Crisis in Higher Education in England
Authors: Oliver Timothy J.
Published: January 2025

In order to address an ever‐growing crisis in higher education in England, policy makers need tools capable of meeting the challenge. Yet the Office for Students has been roundly criticised for its shortcomings as a regulator for the sector, weakening the response to its plethora of problems. This article argues that a combination of unclear goals and a lack of independence are two key problems that must be addressed if the Office for Students is to rise to the challenges facing the sector.
The Level of Green Development in China and Influencing Factors—A Case Study of the Huai River Ecological Economic Belt
Authors: Liu Yu , Yuan Hongjun , Zhao Xin
Published: January 2025

Environmental issues are significant challenges for China's growth, with green development being crucial. The Huai He River Ecological and Economic Belt (EEB), a vital north–south economic corridor, plays a key role in demonstrating ecological civilization and regional coordinated development, essential for China's eco‐progress. This study uses the super‐SBM‐DEA model to measure the green development efficiency (GDE) of the EEB from 2005 to 2020, introducing innovative input–output indicators like technological innovation, industrial, environmental, and social gains. It analyzes the GDE from multiple angles using the Malmquist index, Moran index, and Durbin model, examining the temporal and spatial evolution and influencing factors of the EEB. Four key findings emerge: (1) The EEB's green development level trends upward, with western urban areas showing superior sustainable growth and environmental efficiency compared with the east. (2) Technological progress is the primary driver for improving the green level in the EEB. (3) The spatial agglomeration of green development levels is increasing. (4) Technological innovation significantly influences the EEB's GDE, while the digital economy level and environmental regulation promote it. Conversely, a single energy structure, urbanization, and foreign investment negatively impact the GDE, whereas economic growth and industrial structure enhancement positively affect the region's GDE but may adversely affect neighboring areas. The study recommends strategies to advance the premium quality evolution of the EEB, tailored to its regional characteristics.
‘In or Out’ or ‘In‐And‐Out’: The Social Identity Transition of Female Academics During the Perinatal Period
Authors: Lai Yi‐Ling , Thorpe Andy
Published: January 2025

The career trajectories of working mothers in academia could be adversely impacted by maternity breaks given the professional demand for consistent research performance. This study employs the postmodernist perspective of identity which addresses social context to unpack in‐depth accounts of female academics' social identity transition throughout their perinatal period (pregnancy till 1‐year post‐birth). We collected 93 critical incidents via interviews from 23 academics who completed their perinatal period between 2019 and 2022. We found the identity transition was more dynamic than linear. This enabled us to develop a multi‐dimensional identity grid matrix to illustrate the varied transitional statuses these mothers encountered as a consequence of the ongoing (re)negotiation between self and social structures (in‐and‐out of salient social identities). Hence, the social identities of academic mothers can be betwixt among multiple identities. The findings can help HR practitioners in forming a more supportive and consensual working culture, thereby and facilitating working mothers' ability to develop positive resources for a better social‐self.
Quality deterioration mechanism of freeze‐thawed sweet potato oat dough: In terms of ice crystals and protein changes
Authors: Wei Xinyu , Duan Xu , Liu Wenchao , Ren Guangyue , Li Linlin , Cao Weiwei , Chen Junliang , Sun Xiaofei , Zhao Linlin
Published: January 2025

Sweet potato–oat composite dough is a nutritious, functional dough with promising market potential. This study investigates its quality changes during freeze‐thaw cycles from the perspectives of ice crystals and protein alterations to provide theoretical support for its processing and production. After freeze‐thaw cycles, both the storage modulus and loss modulus of the dough decrease, resulting in increased hardness, reduced resilience and chewiness, lower sensory scores, decreased specific volume, and darker color. From the perspective of ice crystals, the formation and melting of ice crystals caused significant changes in water status: strongly bound water increased then decreased, weakly bound and free water decreased then increased, and freezable water content rose significantly (p < 0.05). These changes disrupted the dough's structure, leading to pore enlargement and collapse. From the protein perspective, freeze‐thaw treatment significantly reduced β‐folds and α‐helices, causing the protein structure to become loose and disordered, further affecting elasticity and viscosity. Results showed that after more than three freeze‐thaw cycles, the dough's processing properties and product quality deteriorated, making it unsuitable for further use.

Practical Application

Sweet potato oatmeal composite dough is a new type of functional composite dough, which is rich in nutrients and has a promising market prospect. This study reveals the mechanism of the influence of ice crystal formation and protein structure changes on the quality of sweet potato oat dough during freezing, which can provide a reference for the study of frozen dough of other miscellaneous grains. By exploring the changes in dough quality during freezing storage and transport, reasonable freezing storage and transport times and conditions were developed to reduce the effects of freezing and thawing on dough quality, and to ensure the taste and value of the product, thus providing consumers with better frozen pasta choices.
Supercritical fluid extrusion of pea flour and pea protein concentrate: Effects on off‐flavor removal and sensory improvement
Authors: Iqbal Aamir , Hosseini Abdul Fateh , Rizvi Syed S. H.
Published: January 2025

This study was intended to provide a novel process that fills a knowledge gap in relation to the enhancement of pulses utilization. The primary goal was to develop an experimental framework for using a high‐pressure supercritical fluid extruder (SCFX) as a continuous bioreactor to produce off‐flavor reduced and functionally superior pulse flours and protein concentrates in a single step. The current study focused on using SCFX processing to remove off‐flavor from pulse flour and protein concentrates, enhancing the quality, acceptability, and marketability of pulse‐based products. Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC‐CO2), a well‐known green solvent, was employed in combination with an extrusion system to achieve off‐flavor reduction at larger scale. Using various methods such as headspace solid‐phase microextraction‐gas chromatography mass‐spectroscopy (HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS) and sensory evaluation, this study demonstrated that SCFX significantly reduced the off‐flavor in pea flour (PF) and pea protein concentrate (PPC). HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS analyses identified major off‐flavor compounds in unextruded PF and PPC, including 1‐hexanol, 1‐octanol, 1‐nonanol, nonanal, and 2‐alkyl methoxypyrazines. Following SCFX treatment, all these compounds except nonanal were removed. Total off‐flavor compound concentration dropped from 923 to 126.5 ng/g in PF, and from 571.7 to 65.9 ng/g in pea protein concentrate PPC after SCFX treatment. Sensory evaluation corroborated these HS‐SPME‐GC‐MS findings, showing that over 80% of the participants could accurately distinguish the extruded samples from the unextruded ones, perceiving the treated samples as having the least beany flavor. These findings highlight the efficacy of SCFX processing in enhancing the sensory profile of pulse‐based products by removing off‐flavor compounds.
Genomic and Methylomic Signatures Associated With the Maintenance of Genome Stability and Adaptive Evolution in Two Closely Allied Wolf Spiders
Authors: Zuo Qing , Wu Run‐Biao , Sun Li‐Na , Ren Tian‐Yu , Fan Zheng , Wang Lu‐Yu , Tan Bing , Luo Bin , Irfan Muhammad , Huang Qian , Shen Yan‐Jun , Zhang Zhi‐Sheng
Published: January 2025

Pardosa spiders, belonging to the wolf spider family Lycosidae, play a vital role in maintaining the health of forest and agricultural ecosystems due to their function in pest control. This study presents chromosome‐level genome assemblies for two allied Pardosa species, P. laura and P. agraria. Both species' genomes show a notable expansion of helitron transposable elements, which contributes to their large genome sizes. Methylome analysis indicates that P. laura has higher overall DNA methylation levels compared to P. agraria. DNA methylation may not only aids in transposable element‐driven genome expansion but also positively affects the three‐dimensional organisation of P. laura after transposon amplification, thereby potentially enhancing genome stability. Genes associated with hyper‐differentially methylated regions in P. laura (compared to P. agraria) are enriched in functions related to mRNA processing and energy production. Furthermore, combined transcriptome and methylome profiling has uncovered a complex regulatory interplay between DNA methylation and gene expression, emphasising the important role of gene body methylation in the regulation of gene expression. Comparative genomic analysis shows a significant expansion of cuticle protein and detoxification‐related gene families in P. laura, which may improve its adaptability to various habitats. This study provides essential genomic and methylomic insights, offering a deeper understanding of the relationship between transposable elements and genome stability, and illuminating the adaptive evolution and species differentiation among allied spiders.
Inquiry letter types, accountants' responses, and audit fees: Evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Weidong , Zheng Hongrui , Wang Jenny Jing , Chen Zihuang , Luo Zhenghan
Published: January 2025

This study examines the impact of various types of inquiry letters on audit pricing using samples from Shenzhen and Shanghai listed companies during the 2015–2020 period. We found that the audit fees for receiving financial report inquiry letters were higher than those for receiving non‐financial ones. In particular, when the entity being audited received annual report inquiry letters concerning internal control and requested the accounting firm to verify and respond, the audit fees for that company for the following year were higher. This study identified the mechanisms by which inquiry letters affect certified public accountant (CPA) charges.
Outcomes of a fledgling public dermatology clinic in rural Australia
Authors: Li Grace Xiaoying , Wong Xin Lin , Sebaratnam Deshan Frank
Published: January 2025

There is paucity of research available regarding the epidemiological characteristics of patients attending dermatology outpatient services in rural Australia. We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients attending a public dermatology clinic established at Dubbo Base Hospital in rural New South Wales. The broad range of dermatological presentations encountered, coupled with the brisk uptake of services by remote patients, highlights the ongoing need for specialist dermatology services in underserved rural communities.
Towards personalized medicine in uveal melanoma
Authors: Kiilgaard Jens
Published: January 2025

The melanocyte in the human uvea undergoes in rare cases malignant transformation and becomes one of the deadliest types of melanomas in humans. The incidence varies between 3 and 12 per million people and the highest incidence is found in Denmark. The uveal melanoma differs in many aspects from the melanoma in the skin, but the lack of UV induced mutations and failure of immunotherapies seems to be the most prominent.

The genetic alterations in uveal melanoma have provided new tools in the management of this patient group. We can today stratify the patients according to metastatic risk into a high‐risk group and a low‐risk group. This allows for better use of resources in the follow‐up program for these patients. The mapping of the mutations involved in the tumor formation have also opened for specialized treatments and better inclusion criteria for randomized studies. The mutational burden in uveal melanoma is very low, which makes uveal melanoma an excellent model to investigate the evolution of the tumor and investigate the mechanisms of metastatic disease progression.
100 years of acta ophthalmologica: recipe for success
Authors: Grzybowski Andrzej
Published: January 2025

In 2023 Acta Ophthalmologica journal celebrated its 100th anniversary. This reminds its long history and shows how it became one of the leading journals in Ophthalmology. The journal was founded by Konrad Lundsgaard in 1923 as Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica with the goal was to present the clinical and experimental achievements of the ophthalmological communities of the Nordic countries. Later, with increasing interest from scientific communities in other countries, it has become one of the most visible ophthalmology journals in the world and changed its into more international present name. Acta Ophthalmologica publishes a wide variety of high‐quality ophthalmological papers. Here the activities of Acta Ophthalmologica over the past 100 years are presented.
Corneal ectatic disorders – clinical appearance and differential diagnosis
Authors: Modis Laszlo
Published: January 2025

The prevalence and incidence of ectatic corneal disease (ECD) vary greatly in different populations and geographic areas and its presence is reaching nearly 5% according to recent data.

Ectasia of the cornea refers to diseases in which the radius of curvature and in parallel its refractive power changes and the cornea thins corresponding to the ectatic part. Ectasias are differentiated according to the form and the area of the cornea where the process occurs. The etiology of the disease is not known, and it used to be classified on clinical appearance. ECD is a heterogeneous disease, genetic and environmental factors may contribute to its pathogenesis. Ectasias are bilateral, progressive, non‐inflammatory, rather sporadic, and familial occurrence has been found in only 6‐20% of cases. The mode of inheritance can be autosomal dominant or recessive.

Most common form is keratoconus, a progressive, non‐inflammatory, usually bilateral, asymmetric disease, characterized by epithelial and stromal thinning and weakening. Its special iatrogenic form occurs as a complication of LASIK surgery.

In contrast, keratoglobus and keratotorus are very rare. It is characterized by the anterior bulging of the entire cornea in the shape of a sphere or a pear. For this reason, the astigmatism is not great as compared to advanced keratoconus and often remains regular even during the progression. However, if refraction increases, may reach up to 60 Ds or even more. The cornea is very thin, but there is no Fleischer ring, which is an important differential diagnostic sign.

Pellucid marginal degeneration is characterized by thinning and protrusion of the cornea in the lower one‐third. There are no signs of inflammation and no vascularization. It usually begins between 20 and 40 years of age. The cause of visual impairment is irregular astigmatism. Scarring occurs in the stroma near the posterior surface, but very rarely spontaneous perforation may occur.

Terrien's marginal degeneration is a bilateral disease usually affecting men in their forties. However, significant asymmetry can also occur. In the upper part of the cornea, yellowish‐white stromal opacities are visible 1‐2 mm from the limbus, following its curve. Between the lesion and the limbus, the cornea has a normal structure. As the disease progresses, astigmatism and vascularization develop.

The diagnosis of ECD is usually based on patient history and characteristic findings on topography and tomography, slit lamp signs often appear later, as the disease progresses. Typical signs on imaging include inferior steepening, skewing of radial axes, abnormal islands and elevations on anterior and posterior maps and abnormal corneal thinning. The diagnostic focus has shifted from the anterior to the posterior corneal surface.

ECDs should be distinguished from senile lesions, infections, pseudopterygium, immunological diseases, dellen.
Ectasia screening with the pentacam scheimpflug tomographer: the belin ambrosio module
Authors: Belin Michael W.
Published: January 2025

Screening for ectatic disease falls into two general categories; 1) refractive surgery screening, where the goal is to identify patients at potential risk for post‐refractive ectasia, and 2) identifying patients with true ectatic disease (keratoconus) at the earliest possible point in the disease process to intervene to limit and/or prevent sequalae. Tomographic imaging (either Scheimpflug or OCT) allows for the earliest detection of disease by its ability to image all anterior segment surfaces.

The Belin/Ambrosio Display (BAD) utilizes 9 different tomographic parameters in a proprietary regression formula and was designed to fulfill both functions (screening & diagnosis). The differences, however, are important. The overall reading of the BAD is done by the final “D”. The final “D” represents variance from normal, but not necessarily keratoconus. The BAD display will show an elevated final “D” in any corneal condition that varies from normal. Conditions such as corneal edema or post refractive surgery will produce an elevated final “D” as these conditions differ from the normal cornea.

Diagnosing keratoconus requires identifying those parameters that are specific for keratoconus that in addition to the final “D”, raises the specificity for keratoconus. A current FDA Phase 3 protocol looks at posterior elevation at the thinnest point, and a Percent Thickness Increase (PTI) graph with the tracing below midline. These parameters added to a specified final “D” would increase disease specificity. The BAD display has been shown to have both high sensitivity and specificity, but screening values can be adjusted to suit the clinical or study situation.
Cancer‐associated retinopathy in microcitic lung cancer treated with atezolizumab: Potential exacerbation of retinal immune damage
Authors: Gonzalez‐Lopez Julio J.
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Cancer‐associated retinopathy (CAR) represents a paraneoplastic syndrome characterized by profound visual impairment associated with autoantibodies targeting retinal antigens.

Case report: Herein, we present a clinical case of CAR in a 66‐year‐old male tobacco user diagnosed with microcytic lung cancer, concurrently exhibiting very high titers of antirecoverin antibodies. The patient's ocular symptoms manifested as bilateral vision loss and photopsias, prompting comprehensive ophthalmological evaluation. The patient's medical history revealed treatment with atezolizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1), as part of his anticancer regimen. Notably, atezolizumab is known for its immunomodulatory effects, which have shown efficacy in various malignancies. However, recent literature suggests a potential association between immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and the exacerbation of autoimmune phenomena, including CAR. Ophthalmologic examination revealed loss of extrafoveal ellipsoid layer in OCT, bilateral diffuse retinal pigmentary changes with attenuated arterioles and electroretinogram (ERG) findings consistent with severe dysfunction of both rod and cone photoreceptors, indicative of advanced retinal degeneration. Vitamin A levels were within normal limits. Furthermore, the presence of markedly elevated antirecoverin antibody titers supported the diagnosis of CAR.

Discussion: While the exact pathophysiological mechanisms linking atezolizumab to CAR exacerbation remain speculative, it is postulated that the drug's ability to unleash antitumor immune responses may inadvertently trigger or amplify autoimmune reactions against retinal antigens. Indeed, the upregulation of immune checkpoints such as PD‐L1 in retinal tissues has been implicated in the maintenance of immune privilege, and disruption of this balance by ICIs could predispose to immune‐mediated retinal damage. This case highlights the importance of heightened vigilance for ocular adverse events in patients receiving ICIs, particularly those with pre‐existing autoimmune tendencies. Prompt recognition and management of CAR are paramount to mitigating irreversible visual impairment and improving patient outcomes. Future studies elucidating the interplay between ICIs and retinal autoimmunity are warranted to optimize therapeutic strategies and minimize iatrogenic complications.

Conclusions: In conclusion, we present a compelling case of CAR in a patient with microcytic lung cancer treated with atezolizumab, suggesting a potential association between ICI therapy and exacerbation of immune‐mediated retinal damage. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for ocular complications in patients receiving ICIs, and further research is needed to delineate the underlying mechanisms and optimize management strategies in this population.
Tear biomarkers in dry eye disease: evaluation endpoints in clinical trials
Authors: De Salamanca Amalia Enriquez
Published: January 2025

Biomarkers play an increasingly important role in the field of personalized /precision medicine and are of great interest for application in stratified medicine, for risk stratification, identification of responders/non‐responders to treatments, or for objective monitoring of treatment in clinical trials. Dry eye (DE) disease is a chronic, complex and multifactorial disease that encompasses a collection of disorders affecting the lacrimal functional unit. Unfortunately, although there are many available therapies for acute‐moderate DE forms, there is a scarcity of effective therapies for the more chronic and severe forms, in which the development of new pharmacological therapies is specially hampered by the lack of objective tests for response outcomes in clinical trials, mainly due to the fact that symptoms and clinical signs do not correlate well in DE. Having objective evaluation end‐points in the context of DE clinical drug trials would help to have a better performance of drug efficacy demonstration, so the potential effectiveness of a particular therapeutic strategy could be checked more reliably and objectively. Several studies have addressed the search for tear biomarkers in DE, which could be used could be used not only by clinicians in their daily clinical activity for DE diagnosis and severity grading, but also in clinical trials as evaluation end‐point outcomes and/or as drug efficacy end‐points for phase III clinical trials. Tear biomarkers could also be used to improve patient enrollment/recruitment in DE clinical trials, by a better subject/patient classification and/or by the identification of those subjects /patients more likely to be drug responders. In this talk I will review tear biomarkers which could be used as evaluation endpoints in DE clinical trials.
Herpetic keratitis
Authors: Seitz Berthold
Published: January 2025

Keratitis of herpetic origin, which is common in Europe, is mostly caused by herpes simplex virus type I (HSV) and its appearance is like a chameleon. It can usually be treated successfully if the different, typically unilateral forms of this disease are known: 1. epithelial keratitis (dendritica/geographica), 2. stromal keratitis (necrotizing vs. non‐necrotizing = "interstitial"), 3. endotheliitis (= "disciform keratitis"), 4. so‐called "metaherpetic keratitis" (= neurotrophic keratopathy), 5. (vascularized) corneal scars. The therapeutic regimen is deliberately adapted to the form of appearance. Concomitant ocular hypertension should be treated primarily with medication in the acute stage (avoid prostaglandin analogues!). After keratoplasty and in case of frequent severe keratitis episodes, systemic acyclovir application (2x400mg/day) for at least 1 year is the current standard!
MSC‐EV mechanisms in corneal wound healing and inflammation
Authors: Rautavaara Yedizza
Published: January 2025

Many rare eye diseases are often complex with fast disease progression and are poorly understood due to genetics, which is why treating them has become a true challenge. Furthermore, the shortage of donor corneas, the complexity of the surgery, and postoperative complications, prompt researchers to find new, more efficient, and practical treatments for corneal diseases. Rare ocular surface diseases often have in common an impaired epithelial wound healing ability, as well as an inflammatory component. The application of immune‐modulating Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been shown to have wound‐healing and inflammation‐suppressing activity in injured and diseased corneas. We aimed to extend this to focus on extracellular vesicles (EVs) originating from MSCs, and to evaluate their potential for promoting wound healing and anti‐inflammatory activity independent of the MSCs. Avoidance of transplantation or cellular therapy would enable more flexibility in treatment and would be less invasive for the patient. Due to their diminutive size, EVs can be delivered directly to recipient cells and penetrate the corneal epithelial barrier by topical application, bypassing the need for any surgical delivery. We used human corneal epithelial cell‐transformed (HCE‐T) cells to investigate the effects of EVs on wound healing using a scratch assay and monitoring the gap closure and cell migration rate. We further used RNA sequencing to identify the mRNA suppression profile of the cells, focusing on the exchange of EVs between corneal cells and ocular tissues. In vivo, Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced corneal inflammation was performed in a mouse model to assess the corneal opacity and inflammation, before and after EV treatment. Moreover, fluorescent labeling was applied to confirm the cell and tissue uptake of EVs for further evaluation. This study therefore highlights the effects of EVs both in vitro and in vivo, to provide valuable insights into the molecular and cellular processes that EVs can beneficially regulate.
Vision science informing visual display symbology
Authors: Douglass Amanda , Coffey Kate , Baker Madeline , Karas Renee , Francis Lauren , Abel Larry , Gavrilescu Maria
Published: January 2025

Aims/Purpose: Improvements in technology for head mounted displays allow both a large increase in the quantity of visual information presented and capacity to control how it is displayed. The requirements of defence operators are unique, including making quick and efficient decisions, operating in varying light conditions and using night vision devices and laser eye protection. Scientifically‐informed symbology is required to ensure maximal operational capacity is obtained from available technology.

Methods: Applied tasks have been used to investigate the addition of colour to visual symbology. The first used a flight simulator to examine the effect of adding colour to symbology requiring attention; both day and night backgrounds were investigated with the plane on autopilot. Participants were required to identify randomly appearing symbols presented either as monochrome green or with additional colour, in addition to other tasks. The second task manipulated symbology colour to improve performance when using laser eye protection. Participants undertook two simulated drives wearing laser eye protection while responding to both standard and optimised coloured symbols.

Results: For the flight simulator experiment, the use of colour to draw attention to symbology resulted in faster response times (1.81s vs 2.57s, p < 0.001) and fewer missed events (0.91 vs 3.32/15 missed, p < 0.001). For the driving experiment, manipulating the colours did not statistically significantly affect reaction time but resulted in a statistically significant improvement in the accuracy of symbol detection and identification (standard 88.7%, optimised 94.5%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The judicious use of colour informed by vision science in displays has demonstrated improvements in reaction time and accuracy which may be operationally significant for defence operators. Further work is required to refine other salient aspects of symbology which may attract attention including size, luminance and flicker.