bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mortality burden and economic loss attributable to cold and heat in Central and South America
Authors: Tobías Aurelio , Íñiguez Carmen , Hurtado Díaz Magali , Riojas Horacio , Cifuentes Luis Abdon , Royé Dominic , Abrutzky Rosana , Coelho Micheline de Sousa Zanotti Stagliorio , Saldiva Paulo Hilario Nascimento , Valdés Ortega Nicolás , Matus Correa Patricia , Osorio Samuel , Carrasco Gabriel , Colistro Valentina , Pascal Mathilde , Chanel Olivier , Madaniyazi Lina , Gasparrini Antonio
Published: October 2024

Background:

We quantify the mortality burden and economic loss attributable to nonoptimal temperatures for cold and heat in the Central and South American countries in the Multi-City Multi-Country (MCC) Collaborative Research Network.

Methods:

We collected data for 66 locations from 13 countries in Central and South America to estimate location-specific temperature–mortality associations using time-series regression with distributed lag nonlinear models. We calculated the attributable deaths for cold and heat as the 2.5th and 97.5th temperature percentiles, above and below the minimum mortality temperature, and used the value of a life year to estimate the economic loss of delayed deaths.

Results:

The mortality impact of cold varied widely by country, from 9.64% in Uruguay to 0.22% in Costa Rica. The heat-attributable fraction for mortality ranged from 1.41% in Paraguay to 0.01% in Ecuador. Locations in arid and temperate climatic zones showed higher cold-related mortality (5.10% and 5.29%, respectively) than those in tropical climates (1.71%). Arid and temperate climatic zones saw lower heat-attributable fractions (0.69% and 0.58%) than arid climatic zones (0.92%). Exposure to cold led to an annual economic loss of $0.6 million in Costa Rica to $472.2 million in Argentina. In comparison, heat resulted in economic losses of $0.05 million in Ecuador to $90.6 million in Brazil.

Conclusion:

Most of the mortality burden for Central and South American countries is caused by cold compared to heat, generating annual economic losses of $2.1 billion and $290.7 million, respectively. Public health policies and adaptation measures in the region should account for the health effects associated with nonoptimal temperatures.
Association of Concave Deformity of the Anterior Scalene on Magnetic Resonance Imaging with Vascular Variant of Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Authors: El-Haj Madi , Beyth Shaul , Korach Amit , Wald Ori , Eliav Tal , Kalish Yosef , Vorobeitchik Sofia A. , Bloom Allan I.
Published: October 2024

Background:

Neurogenic thoracic outlet syndrome (NTOS) is a dynamic compression of the brachial plexus. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the concave deformity of the posterior edge of the anterior scalene muscle (CDAS) on sagittal T1 with intraoperative findings of vascular compression. The second aim was to define the NTOS vascular subtypes and establish possible treatments.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed patients who met the Consortium for Research and Education on Thoracic Outlet Syndrome criteria for NTOS and were operated on after a failed rehabilitation program.

Results:

Forty-four patients were included; mean age was 29.51 years (range: 13–55 years), and 24 (54.5%) were women. CDAS on sagittal T1 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was identified in 20 of 44. Patients were divided into two categories: type A (pure NTOS) (20 of 44); and type B (mixed neurogenic-vascular variants) (24 of 44). Type B was divided into B1, B2, and B3, corresponding to subclavian artery (SCA) compression (seven of 44), subclavian vein compression (SCV) (five of 44), and both SCA and SCV compression (12 of 44), respectively. All patients with B1 had CDAS on MRI T1 sagittal, whereas CDAS was found on 5%, 60%, and 58.3% in types A, B2, and B3, respectively. Intraoperatively, all patients had at least one structural anomaly. Preoperative symptoms of lower or middle-lower brachial plexus trunk compressions were more prominent in patients with the vascular variant (B1: 85%, B2: 83%, and B3: 83%) than the pure NTOS (type A) (40%).

Conclusions:

NTOS presents as four subtypes: pure neurogenic (A) and vascular (B1, B2, and B3). Preoperative middle/lower trunk symptoms combined with positive upper limb duplex ultrasound of the SCA, SCV, and sagittal MRI show that a CDAS is correlated with the vascular form of NTOS and predicts failure of preoperative rehabilitation program.
Alternative Modes of Delivery in Pulmonary Rehabilitation
Authors: Machado Ana , Burtin Chris , Spruit Martijn A.
Published: October 2024

Purpose:

This review presents an overview of the safety and efficacy of alternative modes of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Review Methods:

We identified recently published systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and guidelines, as well as relevant studies, exploring the safety and effectiveness of community-based PR, home-based PR, telerehabilitation, and web-based rehabilitation in people with COPD. A narrative summary of the main findings is presented.

Although evidence suggests that community-based PR, home-based PR, telerehabilitation, and web-based rehabilitation are effective alternatives to center-based PR, it requires a careful interpretation as several of these programs do not comply with PR definition and have been compared with center-based PR programs that do not reach the minimal clinically important differences. Moreover, there is a huge heterogeneity among programs, and the confidence and quality of the evidence is mostly low. Hence, these novel modes of PR and center-based PR are not interchangeable. Instead, these are alternative modes aiming to increase access to PR. Questions remain regarding the most efficient way of implementing each PR mode, level of access, reimbursement policies, and data privacy in the use of technology. Standard protocols on how to set up each alternative PR mode need to be developed. Future research needs to explore how to use the treatable traits approach in combination with individual preferences and needs, program availability, safety, social support network, digital literacy, and health system context to identify the optimal PR program for each patient.
Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Diseases Other Than COPD
Authors: Menson Katherine E. , Dowman Leona
Published: October 2024

Review the current literature regarding pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) for non-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnoses and what the evidence is regarding expected outcomes based on disease manifestations. Literature search was performed using PubMed database from March 2024 to June 2024. Terms included “pulmonary rehabilitation” and “exercise training” in conjunction with key words “interstitial lung disease (ILD),” “idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis,” “asthma,” “bronchiectasis,” “post-acute sequalae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC),” “long COVID,” “pulmonary hypertension (PH),” and “lung cancer.” Results were filtered for English language, randomized controlled trial, clinical trial, observational trial, meta-analysis, and guidelines. Emphasis was placed on more recent publications since prior reviews, where applicable. The abundance of literature involved ILD, where studies have demonstrated significant improvements in exercise capacity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and dyspnea, despite heterogeneity of diseases; benefits are similar to those seen with COPD. Those with milder disease have more sustained benefits longer term. Patients with asthma benefit in severe disease, lower exercise activity, elevated body mass index, or when comorbid conditions are present, and breathing exercises can improve symptoms of breathlessness. Patients with PASC have a multitude of symptoms and lack benefits in HRQoL measurements; PR improves performance on post-COVID-19 functional status scale, a more comprehensive measurement of symptoms. Those with bronchiectasis benefit from PR when airflow limitation or exacerbations are impacting symptoms and HRQoL. Those with stable PH can improve their exertional capacity without change in disease severity. PR reduces perioperative complications in those with lung cancer and preserve fitness during treatment.
Impact of Preoperative Progressive Relaxation Exercises on Postoperative Pain, Comfort, and Recovery
Authors: Kulakaç Nurşen , Sayılan Aylin Aydın
Published: October 2024

This randomized controlled trial aimed to investigate the impact of preoperative progressive relaxation exercises on postoperative pain, comfort, and quality of recovery. The study was conducted between June and November 2023, involving 68 patients undergoing surgical intervention and hospitalized in the surgical clinic. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS)-Pain, the Perianesthesia Comfort Scale, and the Quality of Recovery Questionnaire. At the sixth postoperative hour, no significant difference was observed in pain levels between the experimental and control groups (P > .05). However, the VAS scores for the experimental group at the 12th and 24th postoperative hours were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < .001). Furthermore, 24 hours postoperatively, the experimental group demonstrated significantly higher quality of recovery (P < .001) and comfort levels (P < .001) than the control group. This study concludes that patients engaged in relaxation exercises exhibited lower VAS scores and higher levels of recovery and comfort.
A Proposed Protocol for the Acute Management of Palpebro-Orbital Myiasis: Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Robbins James O. , Lee Irene T. , Okrent Avital L. , Dermarkarian Christopher R. , Woodward Julie A.
Published: October 2024

Periocular and orbital myiasis are rare, vision-threatening conditions characterized by the infestation of dipterous fly larvae into periorbital and orbital tissues. While it has been primarily reported in tropical and subtropical regions where the climate is ideal for fly larval breeding, any patient with inadequate wound care regardless of geography may be predisposed. Infestations can progress rapidly over the course of several days with significant risk of life-threatening intracranial extension. Despite this, there is a paucity of oculoplastic literature describing protocols to treat periocular and orbital myiasis in the acute setting. Here, the authors present a case of periocular and orbital myiasis seen at the Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina (U.S.A.), and describe a protocol that was effective in the eradication of the infestation without surgical tissue debridement.
Diagnostic Approach to Mesenchymal and Spindle Cell Tumors of the Breast
Authors: White Marissa J. , Cimino-Mathews Ashley
Published: October 2024

Mesenchymal and spindle cell tumors of the breast represent a broad and heterogeneous group of lesions that may be sampled on core needle biopsy or surgical excision. Mesenchymal lesions unique to the breast are those that derive from the specialized breast myofibroblast, such as mammary myofibroblastoma and pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia. However, any mesenchymal lesion arising in extramammary soft tissue may also arise in the breast, including fibroblastic, peripheral nerve sheath, adipocytic, and vascular lesions. The spindle cell lesions pose the greatest diagnostic challenge, due to the significant radiographic, morphologic, and immunophenotypic overlap within the category of mesenchymal lesions and more broadly with other nonmesenchymal breast lesions. The distinction is particularly challenging on the limited material of breast core needle biopsies, and caution should be taken before definitively classifying a breast spindle cell lesion on core needle biopsy to avoid unnecessary treatment if misdiagnosed. Consideration of a wide differential diagnosis, adequate sampling of a resection specimen, use of a targeted immunopanel, and selective use of molecular assays are essential steps for accurate classification of mesenchymal lesions in the breast. This review covers the clinical, histologic, and immunophenotypic features of mesenchymal tumors of the breast, with a special emphasis on the differential diagnoses unique to the breast and challenges encountered on breast core needle biopsy.
Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma of the Urinary Tract Primary to the Renal Pelvis
Authors: Indulkar Shreeya , Ribeiro Efrain , Osunkoya Adeboye O. , Prieto-Granada Carlos N. , Giannico Giovanna A. , Baraban Ezra , Argani Pedram , Matoso Andres
Published: October 2024

Clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCA) of the urinary tract is a rare malignancy and tumors involving the renal pelvis are notably sparse in the literature, with only 5 other patients reported. We present 5 patients, 4 women, and 1 man, with CCA of the renal pelvis. The age at presentation ranged from 29 to 81 years. The tumor size ranged from 4.5 to 8.0 cm. Tumors exhibited shared morphologic and immunohistochemical features with CCA of the female genital tract and those originating in the bladder and urethra, including cells with large nuclei, prominent nucleoli, nuclear hobnailing, and scant clear cytoplasm. Common immunohistochemical findings included reactivity for PAX8, CK7, HNF1β, and Napsin-A. One of the tumors arose in the background of a mixed epithelial and stromal tumor. Another tumor occurred in a renal allograft and tumor cells were positive for the BK virus, demonstrated by SV40 immunohistochemistry. All tumors were negative for TFE3 and TFEB rearrangement and lacked TERT alterations. Follow-up was limited with no recurrence in 4 patients at a maximum of 20 months follow-up and 1 patient died of an unrelated cause at 25 months of follow-up. Next-generation sequencing analysis of all 5 CCAs revealed mutations within genes implicated in DNA damage repair and chromatin remodeling pathways, including ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, ARID1A, DICER1, SMAD4, NOTCH1, and MYC amplification. These molecular findings underscore the dysregulation of fundamental cellular processes essential for genomic integrity maintenance.
68Ga-DOTATATE Uptake in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Ji Xia , Dong Aisheng , Wang Yang , Zuo Changjing
Published: October 2024

We present a case of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma showing increased 68Ga-DOTATATE uptake mimicking neuroendocrine tumor on PET/CT. Immunohistochemical analyses of the resected tumor showed the tumor cells were negative for somatostatin receptor subtype 2. The nonneoplastic islets scattered throughout the tumor were positive for somatostatin receptor subtype 2, which may be responsible for the increased 68Ga-DOTATATE uptake. This case indicates that pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of the pancreatic lesions showing increased 68Ga-DOTATATE uptake.
Upstaging of Invasive Lobular Cancer With FES PET/CT
Authors: Rehman Saud , Edmonds Christine E. , Mankoff David A , Pantel Austin R. , O’Brien Sophia R.
Published: October 2024

A 78-year-old woman diagnosed with left breast invasive lobular carcinoma with left axillary nodal metastasis underwent 18F-fluoroestradiol (FES) PET/CT imaging for further evaluation of indeterminate right axillary lymph nodes seen on staging 18F-FDG PET/CT. 18F-FES PET/CT revealed abnormal 18F-FES–avid right axillary and bilateral cervical nodes, subsequently biopsy-proven metastases, upstaging the patient from stage II to IV and greatly changing patient management. This case demonstrates the value of 18F-FES PET/CT in accurately staging metastatic invasive lobular carcinoma at diagnosis, an indication for which 18F-FES PET/CT “may be appropriate” per current Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging guidelines.
Primary Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Breast With 18F-FDG PET/CT
Authors: Erol Fenercioğlu Özge , Benli Işık Cansu , Baloğlu Mehmet Can , Beyhan Ediz , Ergül Nurhan
Published: October 2024

A 67-year-old woman presented with a palpable breast mass. A biopsy was taken, and the diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma. Primary squamous cell carcinoma of breast is an extremely rare subtype of invasive breast cancer. The diagnosis requires ruling out metastasis of other sites and that is not skin origin. The patient was referred to 18F-FDG PET/CT for diagnosis and staging. In this report, we present PET/CT and postsurgical pathology findings.
The Impact of Endoscopic Mucosal Resection and Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection on Colonic Polyp Resection and Factors Influencing Recurrence
Authors: Li Binnan , Zheng Wanqiong
Published: October 2024

Objective:

This study aims to assess the effectiveness of endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the endoscopic resection of colonic polyps and investigate the factors influencing polyp recurrence.

Methods:

A total of 174 patients with colorectal polyps admitted to the Gastroenterology Department during the same period were included in this prospective randomized controlled study. The patients were randomly allocated to the EMR group and ESD group (72 cases in each group) using a random number table. The clinical efficacy, quality of life, adverse reactions, and 1-year postoperative recurrence rate were compared between the 2 groups. In addition, factors influencing polyp recurrence were analyzed.

Results:

No significant differences were observed between the EMR and ESD groups in terms of clinical efficacy, postoperative quality of life, and postoperative complications. However, the postoperative recurrence rate in the ESD group was significantly lower than that in the EMR group. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis revealed that the number of polyps ≥3, maximum polyp diameter ≥2 cm, and family history of colorectal cancer were independent risk factors for colonic polyp recurrence.

Conclusion:

ESD and EMR demonstrate similar efficacy and safety in patients with colonic polyps. However, the recurrence rate after ESD is significantly lower than after EMR. Furthermore, multifactorial analysis indicates that a larger polyp diameter, a more significant number of polyps, and a family history of colorectal cancer are independent risk factors for the recurrence of colonic polyps following resection.
Insights into the genome of Azotobacter sp. strain CWF10, isolated from an agricultural field in Central India, India
Authors: Roy Arindam , Ghosh Anwesha , Yash Yash , Mehra Prateeksha , Roy Sumit , Bhadury Punyasloke
Published: October 2024

Azotobacter sp. strain CWF10, an aerobic gram negative, oval shaped and motile bacterium, was isolated from a lateritic agricultural soil of Madhya Pradesh, India. The draft genome of the isolate is 5.7 Mb in size, consisting of 14 contigs with 65.09 % G+C content. Average nucleotide identity (94.66%) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (62%) calculation with closest reference strains underpin the bacterium as a potential novel species. The bacterium has a plethora of plant growth promoting genes that point towards potential ability for enhancement of nitrogen, biosynthesis of folic acid, among others. Siderophores such as vibrioferrin and crochelin A are also present in the genome which are known to regulate iron uptake.
Reproducibility of different methods of measuring left ventricular ejection fraction in echocardiography
Authors: Kawagishi Ikuko , Hashimoto Masaya , Endo Yuki , Ono Soma , Takamuku Miyabi , Ohnishi Kazunori
Published: October 2024

Background

Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measurements by echocardiography are subject to problems such as low interobserver reproducibility, which depends on the skill of the observer, and variations in measurement technique.

Objective

We investigated the reproducibility of echocardiography by comparing the measurement results of a certified sonographer with those of control students.

Methods

A total of 30 subjects, 22 adult students and 8 staff members of Shubun University, were included in the study. Measurements were performed according to the standard protocols of the Japanese Society of Echocardiography.

Results

LVEF values were significantly lower with the modified Simpson method than with the Teichholz method (M-mode and B-mode) for both the sonographer and students; there was no difference between the M-mode and B-mode approaches for the sonographer, but B-mode was significantly lower for students. Comparing the sonographer and students, there was no significant difference with the M-mode approach, but students had significantly lower values with the B-mode and modified Simpson methods. Although the modified Simpson method is currently recommended for LVEF measurement, the lower values obtained by students using this method are primarily attributed to their inexperience with the measurement technique.

Conclusions

In the future, the evaluation of cardiac function by echocardiography will require reproducibility that does not rely on the skill of the observer, and the adoption of echocardiography methods incorporating artificial intelligence is anticipated.
In-medium changes of nucleon cross sections tested in neutrino-induced reactions
Authors: Bogart B. , Gallmeister K. , Mosel U.
Published: October 2024

Historically, studied in the context of heavy-ion collisions, the extent to which free nucleon-nucleon cross sections are modified in-medium remains undetermined by these data sets. Therefore, we investigate the impact of NN in-medium modifications on neutrino-nucleus cross section predictions using the GiBUU transport model. We find that including an in-medium lowering of the NN cross section and density dependence on Δ excitation improves agreement with MicroBooNE neutrino-argon scattering data. This is observed for both proton and neutral pion spectra in charged-current muon neutrino and neutral-current single pion production data sets. The impact of collision broadening of the Δ resonance is also investigated. The absence of Δ broadening is slightly favored, but the larger uncertainties on the pion production data prevent definitive conclusions.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
High-precision analysis of the critical point in heavy-quark QCD at
Nt=6
Authors: Ashikawa Ryo , Kitazawa Masakiyo , Ejiri Shinji , Kanaya Kazuyuki
Published: October 2024

Binder-cumulant analysis of the critical point in the heavy-quark region of QCD is performed by Monte-Carlo simulations with the hopping-parameter expansion at Nt=6. We extend our previous analysis at Nt=4 to finer lattices and perform high-precision analyses on large spatial volumes up to the aspect ratio LT=Ns/Nt=18. Higher order terms in the hopping-parameter expansion are incorporated effectively up to 14th order. The numerical results show that the violation of the finite-size scaling becomes more prominent on the finer lattice at a given aspect ratio.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Time-delay interferometry with onboard optical delays
Authors: Reinhardt Jan Niklas , Euringer Philipp , Hartwig Olaf , Hechenblaikner Gerald , Heinzel Gerhard , Yamamoto Kohei
Published: October 2024

Time-delay interferometry (TDI) is a data processing technique for space-based gravitational-wave detectors to create laser-noise-free equal-optical-path-length interferometers virtually on the ground. It relies on the interspacecraft signal propagation delays, which are delivered by intersatellite ranging monitors. Also, onboard signal propagation and processing delays have a non-negligible impact on the TDI combinations. However, these onboard delays were only partially considered in previous TDI-related research; onboard optical path lengths have been neglected. In this paper, we study onboard optical path lengths in TDI. We derive analytical models for their coupling to the second-generation TDI Michelson combinations and verify these models numerically. Furthermore, we derive a compensation scheme for onboard optical path lengths in TDI and validate its performance via numerical simulations.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Breaking Surface-Plasmon Excitation Constraint via Surface Spin Waves
Authors: Yuan H. Y. , Blanter Yaroslav M.
Published: October 2024

Surface plasmons in two-dimensional (2D) electron systems have attracted great attention for their promising light-matter applications. However, the excitation of a surface plasmon, in particular, transverse-electric (TE) surface plasmon, remains an outstanding challenge due to the difficulty to conserve energy and momentum simultaneously in the normal 2D materials. Here we show that the TE surface plasmons ranging from gigahertz to terahertz regime can be effectively excited and manipulated in a hybrid dielectric, 2D material, and magnet structure. The essential physics is that the surface spin wave supplements an additional freedom of surface plasmon excitation and thus greatly enhances the electric field in the 2D medium. Based on widely used magnetic materials like yttrium iron garnet and manganese difluoride, we further show that the plasmon excitation manifests itself as a measurable dip in the reflection spectrum of the hybrid system while the dip position and the dip depth can be well controlled by an electric gating on the 2D layer and an external magnetic field. Our findings should bridge the fields of low-dimensional physics, plasmonics, and spintronics and open a novel route to integrate plasmonic and spintronic devices.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Repurposing product development after COVID-19 by integrating Industry 4.0 and agile new product development practices in emerging economies
Authors: Palsodkar Manoj A. , Pansare Rajesh , Nagare Madhukar R. , Narwane Vaibhav
Published: October 2024

Purpose

After the COVID-19 pandemic, companies from a variety of sectors began repurposing their product development and manufacturing activities. To be successful, repurposing requires a framework that illustrates Agile New Product Development (ANPD) and Industry 4.0 practices. The current study aims to focus on developing a framework that managers and decision-makers can use to successfully adopt ANPD-Industry 4.0 practices and decision-making activities.

Design/methodology/approach

Initially, a literature review is conducted to identify practices related to ANPD and Industry 4.0. Similarly, performance metrics are identified through a review of the literature. To compute the weights of the shortlisted practices, the Pythagorean fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process is used and the Pythagorean fuzzy Combined Compromise Solution (PFCoCoSo) method is used to rank the shortlisted performance metrics.

Findings

According to the findings, ANPD practices (ADP) are the most prominent among shortlisted practices. Following that are Technology Adoption Practices, Organizational Management Practices (OMP), Human Resource Management Practices and System Integration Practices. Customer requirement analysis, for example, is an ADP practice that has a significant impact on the successful repurposing of product development activities.

Practical implications

The identified practices can make a significant contribution during repurposing product development activities. Practices that promote sustainable product development, as well as the use of advanced technologies, will be beneficial in improving organizational performance. Managers can evaluate performance using performance metrics that have been prioritized.

Originality/value

After the COVID-19 pandemic, this could be the first of its kind to develop an RPD framework.
Decision-making in the selection processes of managerial successors in business families and its influence with the use of cutting-edge technologies such as AI: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Ossa-Cardona Jose Luis
Published: October 2024

Purpose

To describe how decision-making in the selection processes of managerial successors in business families is influenced by the use of cutting-edge technologies such as AI.

Design/methodology/approach

Systematic literature review of 65 articles indexed in Scopus and in the main specialized journals on family businesses.

Findings

The integration of AI and algorithms, specifically in selection procedures, raises major questions and faces legal and ethical issues that affect employee performance, moral commitment and fairness in the processes. These aspects are important to ensure transparency, fairness and accountability as they provide insight into the practices of business families and how succession challenges such as the possibility of using signaling games and addressing gender biases and information asymmetries that have been reported in past research could be complemented by these actions.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of this research are mainly attributed to the exclusive use of a single database (Scopus), which could limit access to relevant literature; Furthermore, the exclusion of certain articles, despite focusing on prestigious journals on business families, may have overlooked relevant contributions; Furthermore, the 20-year scope of the literature review that ended in February and August 2024 omits subsequent publications that could have enriched the findings of this study.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study is the first of its kind to conduct a bibliometric analysis covering the line of successor selection and the process leveraged by new practices such as AI, an aspect that has been little addressed in the literature. In addition, this work traces aspects of decision-making that may affect selection. The research is of great value since it allows to illustrate in a consistent way the relationship between the selection of executive successors and how it is affected by the different decision-making processes in families, which allows to identify research gaps and make strategic decisions regarding the management of successions in BFs. Furthermore, this research provides a framework for future research in this area.
Impact of blockchain on deception of source information
Authors: Hu Sensen , Lu Jingyi , Qin Xinghong , Talpur Shahnawaz
Published: October 2024

Purpose

As a potentially disruptive technology, blockchain technology ensures that all the data cannot be merely tampered with once they are recorded on-chain. However, the fake source information may be input into the blockchain, which is mistaken for truthful data and results in a trust divide between the on-chain and the actual world. One missing perspective from previous studies is information manipulation at the source still exists under the blockchain mode. The authors’ goal was to analyze how blockchain technology affects the information deception of the agricultural product supply chain (APSC) under this premise. Also, the authors further analyzed some factors that influence the effectiveness of blockchain technology.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors build an APSC game model consisting of a farmer and an agricultural product broker, which employs the principal–agent game model to explore the conditions for achieving the mutual trust equilibrium between the two parts. Then, through numerical simulation, the authors further analyze how the quality of on-chain information and the numbers of on-chain firms affect blockchain’s effect on deception in APSC and examine the circumstances in which blockchain technology is more suitable.

Findings

The authors demonstrate that only by meeting the threshold of high-quality on-chain information and having a sufficient number of on-chain firms, can the blockchain-based supply chain initiate a better information ecosystem, which helps eradicate deception in the APSC.

Originality/value

This paper provides valuable insights for participants in supply chains as well as is probably generalizable to other industrial products that require similar services in the early stage of blockchain.
Mechanical properties of glass and jute fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites with waste PET needle-punched carpet matrix
Authors: Nematollahi Masoud , Ahmadi Mohammad Saleh , Fattahi Saeid
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study aims to address the environmental impact of nondegradable synthetic materials by promoting their reuse. Specifically, it investigates the feasibility of using polyester needle felt carpet waste as the matrix for thermoplastic composites reinforced with glass and jute fibers at various fiber contents (20, 30 and 40 Wt. %).

Design/methodology/approach

The research used both glued and unglued carpet wastes to examine the effect of adhesive impurities on composite properties. The mechanical properties of the composites were evaluated through tensile, bending and Izod impact tests. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the microstructural effects of adhesive impurities on the fiber/matrix interface.

Findings

The results showed that unglued carpet composites outperformed glued carpet composites, exhibiting 51% greater tensile strength, 294% higher bending strength and 293% superior impact strength on average. The mechanical properties of the unglued carpet composites generally improved with increasing fiber content. In contrast, glued carpet composites demonstrated optimal performance at specific fiber contents within the studied range. Microscopic analysis revealed that adhesive impurities in the glued composites caused fiber/matrix bond disruption and delamination under load.

Originality/value

This study highlights the potential of recycling polyester needle felt carpet waste into high-performance thermoplastic composites. It underscores the significant impact of adhesive impurities on the mechanical properties of these composites and provides insight into optimizing fiber content for improved material performance.
Traits associated with the conservation gradient are the strongest predictors of early‐stage fine root decomposition rates
Authors: Jimoh Saheed O. , Atkins David H. , Mount Hailey E. , Laughlin Daniel C.
Published: October 2024

Fine root traits span two independent axes of variation, the conservation and collaboration axes, which define the root economic space (RES). However, whether early‐stage fine root decomposition rates (quantified as proportion mass loss, i.e. pml) are more strongly related to collaboration or conservation traits remains unclear.

We studied 63 tree species in New Zealand's temperate rain forest. We determined the phylogenetic signal in pml and fine root traits, conducted phylogenetic principal component analysis and used phylogenetic generalized least squares to determine which traits are most strongly related to pml.

Root decomposition exhibited a high phylogenetic signal and was more strongly related to the conservation than the collaboration axis. Root tissue density (RTD) was negatively correlated and root nitrogen (RN) was positively correlated with pml. Root diameter was positively yet weakly correlated with pml, but specific root length was uncorrelated with pml. The lignin‐to‐N ratio and root cellulose were the strongest predictors of pml.

Synthesis: Early‐stage fine root decomposition is most strongly driven by tissue quality traits, such as root nitrogen, tissue density and lignin‐to‐N ratio, which all align with the conservation axis of the root economics space. However, root diameter plays a weak yet undeniable role in early‐stage fine root decomposition. Some thick‐rooted species decomposed faster, possibly due to the higher quality cortical tissue. Thin‐rooted species decomposed slower, possibly because of their higher cellulose concentration that maintains the structural integrity of small diameter roots. Relationships between decomposition and other traits that align with the collaboration gradient deserve further study across the phylogeny of vascular plants.
Apostles of knowledge: Feminine modernities and the travelling schoolmistresses of interwar Iraq
Authors: Falb Kalisman Hilary
Published: October 2024

During the interwar era, nearly all of Iraq's secondary schoolmistresses journeyed to Iraq from other corners of the Arab world. This article examines their extraordinary lives, impact on their students and the feminine modernity that these women represented. Policymakers, officials and intellectuals sought to spread women's education, linking it to a global vision of modern domesticity. In contrast, the schoolmistresses of interwar Iraq, the first women in the region to receive higher education, tied their journeys to their gender, underscoring that travel and a ‘modern’ education created a different type of ‘new woman’ who was to be, and to remain, exceptional.
A model to increase care delivery in nursing homes: The role of Institutional Special Needs Plans
Authors: Chen Amanda C. , Grabowski David C.
Published: October 2024

Objective

To estimate differences in facility‐level outcomes between nursing homes which reached Institutional Special Needs Plan (I‐SNP) maturity and those which never cared for I‐SNP enrollees.

Study Setting and Design

We used a difference‐in‐differences design to estimate the effect of I‐SNP maturity, defined as having at least 33.75% of Medicare long‐stayers in the nursing home enrolled in any I‐SNP. Our main outcome was the hospitalization rate in each nursing home‐year. Secondary outcomes included the share of residents with medication use, fall, urinary tract infection, catheter insertion, pressure ulcer, physical restraint use, increased need for help with activities of daily living (ADLs), and mortality.

Data Sources and Analytic Sample

This repeated cross‐sectional study used 100% Medicare claims, Minimum Data Set assessments, and publicly available Medicare Advantage (MA) plan characteristics data (2004–2021). We included all MA beneficiaries who resided in US nursing homes which reached I‐SNP maturity and those without I‐SNP enrollees.

Principal Findings

We identified 2530 nursing homes which reached I‐SNP maturity (treated) and 9830 nursing homes without I‐SNP enrollees (untreated). There were some differences observed between these nursing homes, including shares of residents who were White (76.42% vs. 84.84%) and on Medicaid (66.94% vs. 55.45%). These nursing homes were also larger on average (141.76 beds vs. 87.56 beds). From the difference‐in‐differences model, nursing homes which reached I‐SNP maturity experienced declines of 4.1 percentage points (pp) for hospitalizations, 1.0 pp for pressure ulcers, 1.3 pp for urinary tract infections (p < 0.001) alongside increases in the need for help with ADLs, use of antipsychotics, falls, and physical restraints.

Conclusions

Nursing homes which reached I‐SNP maturity experienced fewer hospitalizations and pressure ulcers but a decline in function and increase in other negative outcomes. I‐SNPs may be a promising model to improve care for long‐stay residents, but more research is needed to understand potential adverse consequences.
Artificial intelligence as a tool for predicting the quality attributes of garlic (Allium sativum L.) slices during continuous infrared‐assisted hot air drying
Authors: El‐Mesery Hany S. , Qenawy Mohamed , Ali Mona , Hu Zicheng , Adelusi Oluwasola Abayomi , Njobeh Patrick Berka
Published: October 2024

Effective drying methods are a highly suitable solution for ensuring stable food supply chains, reducing postharvest agricultural losses, and preventing the spoilage of perishable fruits and vegetables. Moreover, machine learning techniques are innovative and dependable, especially in addressing food spoilage and optimizing drying processes. This study utilized a continuous infrared (IR) hot air dryer to dry garlic (Allium sativum L.) slices. The experiments were conducted at different levels of IR power, air velocities (V), and temperature (T). The relationships between the input process parameters (IR, T, and V) and response parameters, including effective moisture diffusivity (Deff), drying time, and physicochemical properties of the dried slices (rehydration ratio [RR], total color change, flavor strength, and allicin content in the garlic), were modeled using an artificial neural network (ANN). Our findings showed that the maximum Deff of 6.8 × 10−10 m2/s and minimum drying time of 225 min were achieved with an IR of 3000 W/m2, an air velocity of 0.7 m/s, and a temperature of 60°C. The total color change and RR values increased with IR and higher air temperature but declined with higher air velocity. Furthermore, the garlic's flavor strength and allicin content levels decreased as the IR and air temperature increased. The results demonstrated a significant influence of the independent parameters on the response parameters (p < 0.01). Interestingly, the ANN predictions closely matched the test data sets, providing valuable insights for understanding and controlling the factors affecting drying behaviors.
Effects of land‐use change and elevation on endemic shrub frogs in a biodiversity hotspot
Authors: Lad H. , Gosavi N. , Jithin V. , Naniwadekar R.
Published: October 2024

Agroforestry, often promoted as a sustainable agriculture practice, is rapidly expanding, often at the cost of primary tropical forests. While agroforestry negatively impacts amphibian diversity, its effects on population demography, microhabitat, use and body condition are relatively understudied. This information is crucial for determining and promoting amphibian‐friendly land‐use practices. We compared habitats, population densities, microhabitat use and body condition of two endemic species of shrub frogs (Pseudophilautus amboli and Raorchestes bombayensis) across (1) elevations (low‐ and high‐elevation forests) and (2) land‐use categories (cashew, rubber and low‐elevation forests) in the northern part of the Western Ghats Biodiversity Hotspot. Using distance sampling, we demonstrated that the abundances of the two shrub frog species differed across elevation categories, with P. amboli more common in low‐elevation forests and R. bombayensis more prevalent in high‐elevation forests. Both species of frogs exhibited extremely skewed, male‐biased sex ratios, with three females for 100 males. P. amboli had lower densities and poor recruitment and exhibited altered microhabitat use in cashew plantations compared to low‐elevation forests. Although adult male P. amboli densities in rubber were similar to those in low‐elevation forests, they exhibited altered microhabitat use and smaller body sizes than in forests, indicating poor body condition. We demonstrate the differential impacts of agroforestry types on shrub frogs. We also demonstrate that distance sampling can be a useful tool for population monitoring of shrub frogs, which comprise almost 25% of the anuran diversity in the Western Ghats. There is a need to identify the drivers of extremely skewed sex ratios, which make these species vulnerable to population crashes. Given the recent downlisting of the two focal species to Least Concern, we advocate for their uplisting to at least Near Threatened status considering their patchy distribution, negative impacts of rapidly expanding agroforestry plantations and extremely skewed sex ratios.
Tuta absoluta's population genetic structure across Africa: Two well‐delineated but weakly differentiated groups suggesting few introductions and significant gene flow
Authors: Javal Marion , Ndiaye Arame , Loiseau Anne , Bocar Bal Amadou , Garba Madougou , Brévault Thierry , Gauthier Nathalie
Published: October 2024

Describing the genetic structure and diversity of invasive insect pest populations is essential to better understand a species' invasion history and success throughout its distribution range. Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) is a destructive pest of tomato and many other solanaceous crops, with very high economic impacts. Its invasion threatens food security in a large part of the globe, in areas such as sub‐Saharan Africa where the agricultural resilience has already been weakened by rapid human‐induced changes due in particular to population growth, increased trade and global change.

This work aimed to investigate the diversity and genetic structure of 60 populations of T. absoluta using microsatellite markers, with a particular focus on sub‐Saharan Africa.

Our results revealed distinct differentiation and diversity patterns between T. absoluta native versus invaded areas, and high genetic homogeneity among the African populations sampled. However, for the first time, two weakly differentiated but distinct genetic clusters in Africa were identified.

The results suggest few introduction events of the species in Africa or multiple introductions from genetically close areas, significant gene flow between outbreaks and seem to indicate the existence of two distinct clusters in Africa. This new data enable us to formulate hypotheses on the species' invasion patterns and the dynamics of its invasive populations.

These hypotheses must be verified with more extensive sampling over the whole range of T. absoluta, especially in its presumed native area.
Understanding the professional factors that impact the retention of pathology workers in regional, rural and remote Australia
Authors: Werth Kirrily , Gurney Tiana
Published: October 2024

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine what professional factors impact the retention of pathology workers in regional, rural and remote Australia.

Design

A cross‐sectional survey was used to collect data regarding the professional factors that impact the retention of regional, rural and remote pathology workers in Australia (n = 95). The survey focused on pathology workers’ satisfaction with specific professional factors and how long they intended to stay in their current position.

Setting

Regional, rural and remote (MM2‐7) pathology laboratories in Australia.

Participants

There were a total of 95 participants, including 24 phlebotomists/laboratory assistants, 34 medical laboratory scientists and 29 supervisors/managers, with the majority of participants being from New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.

Results

Significant positive associations were found between satisfaction with career advancement opportunities, workplace culture and maintaining professional skills with the retention of regional, rural and remote pathology workers. Open‐ended responses indicated that personal factors also played an important role in pathology worker retention in regional, rural and remote communities.

Conclusion

This study provides important insights into the professional factors that impact the retention of pathology workers in regional, rural and remote Australia. Personal factors were also found to play an important role in retention. These findings have highlighted the need for further research to be conducted to explore the relationship between professional and personal factors and how this impacts the retention of pathology workers in regional, rural and remote Australia.