bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does corruption play a role in the process of financial globalization in emerging countries?
Authors: Yunan Zuhairan Yunmi , Pacheco-Jaramillo W. Alejandro
Published: August 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to examine various indicators related to corruption and determine their impact on financial globalization in emerging countries. It will consider other factors that may impact financial globalization and focus on how corruption within political, executive and public sector institutions can affect this process.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses a generalized method of moments (GMM) for a data sample of emerging countries covering 2000–2020. Corruption measurements are derived from the varieties of democracy data sets and Transparency International. It also includes data on foreign direct investment, portfolio flows, foreign exchange and international debt as separate indicators of financial globalization. These measures provide more detailed information on the types of financial transactions occurring across countries.

Findings

The results reveal that foreign investors may be less likely to enter certain sectors of the economy due to concerns about unethical practices and difficulties navigating the regulatory landscape in countries with high levels of corruption. This can lead to underdevelopment in sectors that are attractive to foreign investment and a reliance on a narrow range of sectors.

Originality/value

This paper offers valuable insights by integrating corruption and financial globalization indicators, using the GMM for robust analysis. It highlights how corruption influences foreign investment decisions, potentially leading to sectoral underdevelopment and overreliance in emerging countries.
Data-driven decision-making method for determining the handling department for online appeals
Authors: Chen Sheng-Qun , You Ting , Zhang Jing-Lin
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to enhance the classification and processing of online appeals by employing a deep-learning-based method. This method is designed to meet the requirements for precise information categorization and decision support across various management departments.

Design/methodology/approach

This study leverages the ALBERT–TextCNN algorithm to determine the appropriate department for managing online appeals. ALBERT is selected for its advanced dynamic word representation capabilities, rooted in a multi-layer bidirectional transformer architecture and enriched text vector representation. TextCNN is integrated to facilitate the development of multi-label classification models.

Findings

Comparative experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach and its significant superiority over traditional classification methods in terms of accuracy.

Originality/value

The original contribution of this study lies in its utilization of the ALBERT–TextCNN algorithm for the classification of online appeals, resulting in a substantial improvement in accuracy. This research offers valuable insights for management departments, enabling enhanced understanding of public appeals and fostering more scientifically grounded and effective decision-making processes.
Global supply chain network design for shelf-life products under uncertainty: a case study of pistachios
Authors: Mostaghimi Fatemeh , Jabalameli Mohammad Saeed , Bozorgi-Amiri Ali
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Supply chain management has become critical in today’s globalized environment, with growingly intense competition on the international level. The particular characteristics of modern trade have led companies to globalize and devise increasingly sophisticated supply chains to meet customer demand worldwide. Motivated by the need to address these challenges, we have developed a new model for a global supply chain that incorporates uncertainties in exchange rates, demand fluctuations, and the quantity of produce.

Design/methodology/approach

The objective of the proposed model is to maximize supply chain profitability. Our model optimizes several critical decisions in the proposed global supply chain, including the location of domestic and foreign distribution centers, allocating the centers to customers, transportation mode selection, storage temperature, optimal farm purchase quantities, product flows across the network, and the shelf-life of products. Scenario-based stochastic programming approach is employed to account for the inherent uncertainties within the model. A pistachio supply chain is examined as a case study in this article, and the efficiency of the proposed model is demonstrated through computational results.

Findings

The model was solved using the CPLEX solver in GAMS and the results, the Sirjan DDC and Turkey FDC have been selected. In general, 40% of demand for customers from FDC (turkey) and 60% of demand from DDC (sirjan) is provided. Changes in the demand of foreign customers make the net profit more effective than changes in the demand for domestic customers. The decrease in exchange rate decreases the network profit with a higher slope and the increase in exchange rate will increase network profit with a relatively stable slope.

Originality/value

While research on GSCs for perishable products has been ongoing for several years, the importance of the subject necessitates continued investigation in this area. This paper aimed to address this gap by presenting an optimization model for designing GSCs for perishable products under uncertainty and with various transportation modes. The proposed model was designed with the aim of improving supply chain performance and real-world applicability.
Does ChatGPT foster academic misconduct in the future?
Authors: Kumar Anuj , Kumar Arya , Bhoyar Sanjay , Mishra Ashutosh Kumar
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper analyzes the ethics of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly regarding AI-generated educational content in academia. It attempts to explore how AI customization mimics human interaction and behavior in education, investigate ethical concerns in educational AI adoption, and assess ChatGPT’s ethical use for nurturing curiosity and maintaining academic integrity in education.

Design/methodology/approach

Fictional tales may help us think critically and creatively to uncover hidden truths. The narratives are analyzed to determine the affordances and drawbacks of Artificial Intelligence in Education (AIEd).

Findings

The study highlights the imperative for innovative, ethically grounded strategies in harnessing AI/GPT technology for education. AI can enhance learning, and human educators’ irreplaceable role is even more prominent, emphasizing the need to harmonize technology with pedagogical principles. However, ensuring the ethical integration of AI/GPT technology demands a delicate balance where the potential benefits of technology should not eclipse the essential role of human educators in the learning process.

Originality/value

This paper presents futuristic academic scenarios to explore critical dimensions and their impact on 21st century learning. As AI assumes tasks once exclusive to human educators, it is essential to redefine the roles of both technology and human teachers, focusing on the future.
Sustainability, business strategy and innovation: a thematic literature review
Authors: Trizotto Rafaela Cabral Almeida , Nascimento Leandro da Silva , da Silva Josiane Piva Testolin , Zawislak Paulo Antônio
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Challenges related to sustainability have increasingly become pivotal in the realm of business strategy and innovation. Nevertheless, the incorporation of sustainability principles into business strategies and innovative practices remains a subject of ongoing scholarly debate. This paper aims to undertake a thematic literature review on this theme.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered from the Scopus, Web of Science and Science Direct databases. The final sample comprised 85 papers. For analytical purposes, this study adopted topic modeling using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) methodology.

Findings

The authors identified five dominant topics concerning the relationship between sustainability, innovation and business strategy. Through a cross-analysis of these topics, the authors theorize that a sustainable innovation strategy encompasses three complementary and interdependent dimensions: capabilities, management and firm. Building on this analysis, the authors outline a research agenda aimed at further exploration and advancement of this theme.

Practical implications

This review enhances the synthesis of research on the theme, prompting reflections on how companies can initiate innovative sustainable actions that align with their business strategy. Additionally, the authors identify specific elements that require improvement to enhance each of the three dimensions of sustainable innovation strategies, such as eco-efficiency, circular economy and the adoption of innovative business models oriented toward services/servitization.

Social implications

By interweaving sustainability with innovation and business strategy, this study underscores the critical topics that companies and public policymakers should address to support sustainable development at the national level.

Originality/value

While previous literature reviews have focused on the dyadic relationships between sustainability and strategy, or sustainability and innovation, this study extends the boundaries of knowledge by integrating these three concepts into a hybrid theoretical stream.
Catalyzing the carbon emission: the interplay of financial development and foreign investment in Asia-Pacific and Oceanian region
Authors: Bhat Mohd Nadeem , Ikram Firdos
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the interplay between CO2 emissions, financial development (FD) and foreign direct investment (FDI) in Asia-Pacific and Oceania. It also aims to understand short- and long-term impacts, emphasizing the role of FDI, FD and FD’s moderating effect on the FDI–CO2 relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a 21-year panel data set (2000–2020) from 44 countries, the study employs the pooled mean group-autoregressive distributed lag (PMG-ARDL) model supplemented by the Dumitrescu–Hurlin panel causality test. This method assesses the complex dynamics and offers a robust analysis of short- and long-term effects in the Asia-Pacific and Oceanian context.

Findings

Long-term results indicate that FDI coupled with FD and FD’s moderating effect on FDI significantly contributes to CO2 emissions. Short-term relationships are more complex and lack statistical significance. FD positively moderates the FDI–CO2 relationship in the long run.

Practical implications

For investors, policymakers and stakeholders in Asia-Pacific and Oceania, the study highlights the importance of considering environmental impacts in investment decisions. The insights into the role of FDI and FD help craft policies and strategies for environmental sustainability.

Social implications

Socially, this research emphasizes the necessity of a balanced approach to economic development, considering the potential long-term environmental consequences. Policymakers and stakeholders may use these findings to guide discussions and actions to achieve sustainable and socially responsible development in this dynamic region.

Originality/value

The findings contribute original insights into the essential relationships among FDI, FD and CO2 emissions in a diverse region like Asia-Pacific, enhancing the understanding of environmental implications in regions experiencing rapid economic growth.
Food, glorious food! The intersection of food cultures and creative tourism in Brunei
Authors: Tham Aaron , Chin Wei Lee
Published: July 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to apply the theoretical frameworks of resource-based view (RBV) and Social Creativity to elucidate insights related to food cultures and creative tourism in the context of Brunei. This addresses an important gap in the literature to unpack how food cultures and creative tourism can become a vehicle for the diversification of a country’s reliance on oil and gas as primary industries.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach was taken in this research, utilising both primary and secondary data such as social media posts, media reports and semi-structured interviews to shed light on an emerging niche market in Brunei tourism.

Findings

The research revealed the entrepreneurial mindset of local food chefs and enthusiasts in showcasing Bruneian heritage and cultures, supported by government campaigns and technological advances. This lends further evidence that food cultures and creative tourism can be a lever for a national economic diversification strategy and can be validated elsewhere.

Research limitations/implications

This is one of the first studies to investigate the intersection of the RBV and Social Creativity to advance the theory and practice of tourism in South East Asia.

Practical implications

The intersection of food cultures and creative tourism within Brunei is dovetailed into the theoretical frameworks of the RBV and Wilson’s Social Creativity Framework. This is evidenced in a diversification strategy emerging from the case study of Brunei, where food is earmarked as a heritage resource and leverages individual, and in particular, young people’s creativity to generate a niche tourism market for the country.

Social implications

The paper illuminates the role of technology as a vehicle for the discourses of creativity, reflexivity, education and economy to flourish. Through co-created content on social media, food heritage and creative tourism experiences are foregrounded and assisted by the entrepreneurs in reaching their desired audiences. Arguably, such tools helped the country alleviate the devastating impacts of COVID-19 and thrust domestic food tourism experiences into the spotlight, like other destinations.

Originality/value

This is one of the first studies to investigate the intersection of the RBV and Social Creativity to advance the theory and practice of tourism in South East Asia.
Inclusion of people with disability (PWD) in the tourism workforce: a critical discourse analysis of policies and plans
Authors: Lu Siqi Emily , Moyle Brent , Yang Elaine Chiao Ling , Reid Sacha
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to critically examine the discourse on the disability workforce in Australian tourism policy and planning documents.

Design/methodology/approach

This research draws on a database of 490 Australian tourism policy and planning documents, across national, state, regional and local levels of governments, destination management organisations and peak industry bodies, to systematically examine the issues pertaining to disability workforce over the ten-year policy cycle (2013–2023), through critical discourse analysis.

Findings

Analysis revealed 20 of the existing 490 documents had mentions of the inclusion of people with disability (PWD) in the tourism workforce. Through critical discourse analysis, the nuances of political attitudes are evident. Tourism policies tend to exert a cautious approach towards the inclusion of PWD employment. PWD do not have a strong voice when it comes to the formation of tourism policy, especially not as members of the tourism workforce.

Practical implications

This research underscores an emerging call for the government’s commitment to considering the underrepresented social group of PWD in the tourism workforce. By shedding light on critical discourse analysis of the disability workforce, tourism scholars and practitioners understand the current challenges and explore opportunities to implement tangible actions for an inclusive work environment for all.

Originality/value

The research is novel and innovative as it critically examines the discourse of the disability workforce in the tourism sector through an institutional theory perspective. The limited emphasis of government policies on the disability workforce may result in missed opportunities to encourage meaningful employment engagement of PWD in tourism organisations. Consequently, this research contributes a tripartite model of policy recommendations that explicitly articulates the mechanisms for change that are tailored to tourism workforce and advocates for the active voices of PWD community in the policy formation process.
Oxycodone attenuates lipopolysaccharide‐induced myocardial injury by inhibiting inflammation, oxidation and pyroptosis via Nrf2/HO‐1 signalling pathway
Authors: Wang Yanting , Feng Wei , Li Shaona , Liu Cuicui , Jia Lili , Wang Pei , Li Linlin , Du Hongyin , Yu Wenli
Published: July 2024

Myocardial injury and cardiovascular dysfunction are the most common complications of sepsis, and effective therapeutic candidate is still lacking. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of oxycodone in myocardial injury of lipopolysaccharide‐induced sepsis and its related signalling pathways. Wild‐type and nuclear factor erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2)‐knockout mice, as well as H9c2 cardiomyocytes cultures treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were used as models of septic myocardial injury. H9c2 cardiomyocytes culture showed that oxycodone protected cells from pyroptosis induced by LPS. Mice model confirmed that oxycodone pretreatment significantly attenuated myocardial pathological damage and improved cardiac function demonstrated by increased ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS), as well as decreased cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase isoenzymes MB (CK‐MB). Oxycodone also reduced the levels of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress damage induced by LPS, which involves pyroptosis‐related proteins including: Nod‐like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), Caspase 1, Apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein contain a CARD (ASC), and Gasdermin D (GSDMD). These changes were mediated by Nrf2 and heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) because Nrf2‐knockout mice or Nrf2 knockdown in H9c2 cells significantly reversed the beneficial effect of oxycodone on oxidative stress, inflammatory responses and NLRP3‐mediated pyroptosis. Our findings yielded that oxycodone therapy reduces LPS‐induced myocardial injury by suppressing NLRP3‐mediated pyroptosis via the Nrf2/HO‐1 signalling pathway in vivo and in vitro.
A case of organizing pneumonia in rearranged during transfection fusion‐positive lung adenocarcinoma treated with selpercatinib
Authors: Ohkoshi Hiroki , Saiki Masafumi , Takahashi Nozomu , Homma Kenta , Furuya Satoshi , Shimamura So , Omori Chisa , Hoshino Yuki , Uchida Yoshinori , Ikemura Shinnosuke , Soejima Kenzo
Published: August 2024

Selpercatinib is the first targeted therapy for rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion‐positive unresectable non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The main adverse effects of selpercatinib include hypertension, liver dysfunction, diarrhea, and QT prolongation on electrocardiograms. However, instances of drug‐induced interstitial lung disease (DI‐ILD) are infrequently reported. We describe the first case of a patient with RET fusion‐positive NSCLC treated with selpercatinib who developed DI‐ILD, confirmed pathologically. The patient, a 72‐year‐old woman, initiated selpercatinib treatment following the postoperative recurrence of lung adenocarcinoma. After 15 months of treatment, computed tomography scans revealed multiple infiltrates and ground‐glass opacities in both lungs. A thoracoscopic lung biopsy identified organizing pneumonia, attributed to DI‐ILD caused by selpercatinib. Although she was asymptomatic, the patient's selpercatinib treatment was discontinued, leading to a gradual improvement in the lung infiltrates. Despite the lack of detailed reports, DI‐ILD with selpercatinib represents a potentially serious adverse event and should be approached with caution.
Effects of adolescent intermittent ethanol exposure on cortical perineuronal net and parvalbumin expression in adulthood mediate behavioral inflexibility
Authors: Sullivan Emily D. K. , Dannenhoffer Carol A. , Sutherland Elizabeth B. , Vidrascu Elena M. , Gómez‐A Alexander , Boettiger Charlotte A. , Robinson Donita L.
Published: July 2024

Background

Alcohol is commonly consumed by adolescents in a binge‐like pattern, which can lead to long‐lasting cognitive deficits, including reduced behavioral flexibility. We and others have determined that adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) exposure leads to increased number of perineuronal net (PNN) numbers in brain regions that are important for behavioral flexibility. However, whether altered neurochemistry stemming from AIE exposure plays a significant role in reduced behavioral flexibility is unknown.

Methods

We measured the number and size of parvalbumin expressing (PV+) interneurons and associated PNNs within the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), prelimbic cortex (PrL), infralimbic cortex (IL), and anterior insular cortex (AIC) of female and male rats following AIE or control exposure and subsequent training on an attentional set‐shift task (ASST). We then ran analyses to determine whether AIE‐induced changes in PV and PNN measures statistically mediated the AIE‐induced behavioral deficit in reversal learning.

Results

We demonstrate that AIE exposure impaired behavioral flexibility on reversal two of the ASST (i.e., recalling the initial learned associations), and led to smaller PV+ cells and increased PNN numbers in the AIC. Interestingly, PNN size and number were not altered in the PrL or IL following AIE exposure, in contrast to prior reports. Mediation analyses suggest that AIE alters behavioral flexibility, at least in part through changes in PV and PNN fluorescent measures in the AIC.

Conclusions

This study reveals a significant link between AIE exposure, neural alterations, and diminished behavioral flexibility in rats, and highlights a potential novel mechanism comprising changes in PV and PNN measures within the AIC. Future studies should explore the impact of PNN degradation within the AIC on behavioral flexibility.
From powerholders to stakeholders: State‐building with elite compensation in early medieval China
Authors: Chen Joy , Wang Erik H. , Zhang Xiaoming
Published: July 2024

How do rulers soften resistance by local powerholders to state‐building efforts? This paper highlights a strategy of compensation, where elites receive government offices in exchange for relinquishing their localist interests, and become uprooted and integrated into the national political system as stakeholders. We explore this strategy in the context of the Northern Wei Dynasty of China (386–534 CE) that terminated an era of state weakness during which aristocrats exercised local autonomy through strongholds. Exploiting a comprehensive state‐building reform in the late fifth century, we find that aristocrats from previously autonomous localities were disproportionately recruited into the bureaucracy as compensation for accepting stronger state presence. Three mechanisms of bureaucratic compensation facilitated state‐building. Offices received by those aristocrats: (1) carried direct benefits, (2) realigned their interests toward the ruler, and (3) mitigated credible commitment problems. Our findings shed light on the “First Great Divergence” between Late Antiquity Europe and Medieval China.
Therapeutic relevance of eosinophilic inflammation and airway viral interactions in severe asthma
Authors: Rupani Hitasha , Busse William W. , Howarth Peter H. , Bardin Philip G. , Adcock Ian M. , Konno Satoshi , Jackson David J.
Published: August 2024

The role of eosinophils in airway inflammation and asthma pathogenesis is well established, with raised eosinophil counts in blood and sputum associated with increased disease severity and risk of asthma exacerbation. Conversely, there is also preliminary evidence suggesting antiviral properties of eosinophils in the airways. These dual roles for eosinophils are particularly pertinent as respiratory virus infections contribute to asthma exacerbations. Biologic therapies targeting key molecules implicated in eosinophil‐associated pathologies have been approved in patients with severe asthma and, therefore, the effects of depleting eosinophils in a clinical setting are of considerable interest. This review discusses the pathological and antiviral roles of eosinophils in asthma and exacerbations. We also highlight the significant reduction in asthma exacerbations seen with biologic therapies, even at the height of the respiratory virus season. Furthermore, we discuss the implications of these findings in relation to the role of eosinophils in inflammation and antiviral responses to respiratory virus infection in asthma.
Posttransplant Lymphoproliferative Disease Following Pancreas Transplantation: A 40 Year Single‐Center Experience
Authors: Matar Abraham J. , Finger Erik B. , Maakaron Joseph , Minja Emmanuel , Ramanathan Karthik , Humphreville Vanessa , Rao Joseph S. , Fisher Jessica , Sutherland David E. R. , Matas Arthur J. , Kandaswamy Raja
Published: August 2024

Background

Chronic immunosuppression following pancreas transplantation carries significant risk, including posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD). We sought to define the incidence, risk factors, and long‐term outcomes of PTLD following pancreas transplantation at a single center.

Methods

All adult pancreas transplants between February 1, 1983 and December 31, 2023 at the University of Minnesota were reviewed, including pancreas transplant alone (PTA), simultaneous pancreas–kidney transplants (SPK), and pancreas after kidney transplants (PAK).

Results

Among 2353 transplants, 110 cases of PTLD were identified, with an overall incidence of 4.8%. 17.3% were diagnosed within 1 year of transplant, 32.7% were diagnosed within 5 years, and 74 (67.3%) were diagnosed after 5 years. The overall 30‐year incidence of PTLD did not differ by transplant type—7.4% for PTA, 14.2% for SPK, and 19.4% for PAK (p = 0.3). In multivariable analyses, older age and Epstein‐Barr virus seronegativity were risk factors for PTLD, and PTLD was a risk factor for patient death. PTLD‐specific mortality was 32.7%, although recipients with PTLD had similar median posttransplant survival compared to those without PTLD (14.9 year vs. 15.6 year, p = 0.9).

Conclusions

PTLD following pancreas transplantation is associated with significant mortality. Although the incidence of PTLD has decreased over time, a high index of suspicion for PTLD following PTx should remain in EBV‐negative recipients.
A case of malignant melanoma of the small intestine with cardiac metastasis
Authors: Liu Lian‐di , Deng Mao , Zheng Shuang , Peng Fang , Xiao Bin , Chen Ran
Published: July 2024

Malignant melanoma (MM) is notorious for its high metastatic potential, with cardiac metastasis being particularly severe as it involves cardiac structures and can lead to significant cardiac functional issues. While there is no standardized treatment approach, early detection and intervention can improve prognosis.
A narrative literature review of equine sarcoidosis
Authors: Wimmer‐Scherr Christina Maria , Schwarz Bianca Christine
Published: August 2024

Equine sarcoidosis (ES) is a rare disease characterised by granulomatous inflammation of one or multiple organs. The skin is most frequently affected in horses and the clinical presentation can range from scaling and crusting lesions to nodular or tumour‐like masses. ES has been divided into three subtypes depending on the distribution of lesions in the body: the localised, partially generalised and generalised form. Overall, no breed or sex predilections have been consistently observed so far. Most affected horses are older than 3 years although the disease may occur at any age. While aetiology and pathogenesis of ES have not yet been fully determined, a chronic exaggerated immune response to one specific or multiple antigens is frequently hypothesised. Diagnosis is based upon history, clinical presentation, histopathology and exclusion of likely differential diagnoses. The treatment of choice in ES is initial anti‐inflammatory to immunosuppressive doses of corticosteroids with subsequent tapering doses. Reported treatment success seems to be highly variable and prospective studies on the efficacy of corticosteroids or other agents are currently lacking in ES. Prognosis for survival is good for the localised form and poor for the other forms of ES. Complete remission of lesions in the localised form following treatment is less frequent and response to treatment is typically characterised by a slowdown or cessation of disease progression. There are scarce reports of spontaneous remission of this disease.
Rapid and non‐destructive determination of total phenolic contents using UV–NIR spectroscopy of dehydrated mushroom (Lentinus edodes)
Authors: Younas Shoaib , Manzoor Muhammad Sajid , Arqam Ukasha , Ali Farhan , Murtaza Ayesha , Wahab Muhammad Abdul , Manzoor Muhammad Aamir , Imran Muhammad , Wang Xin
Published: July 2024

Multispectral imaging (MSI) is an emerging technique that ranges from light spectrum of UV–NIR (405–970 nm) used for rapid determination of phenolic contents. The current study focuses on the determination of total phenolic content (TPC) in a fast and non‐invasive way in hot‐air dehydrated Lentinus edodes. The spectral information of MSI has been combined with various chemometrics like partial least squares (PLS), back propagation neural networks (BPNN), and least squares‐support vector machines (LS‐SVM) for the quantitative prediction of phenolic contents. Fresh mushrooms possessed 1.49 and 1.73 GAE g kg−1 TPC in processed samples at 10% moisture content. Comparing models, PLS acquired significant Rp with a lower RMSEP of 0.9980 and 0.1039 and was considered an outstanding algorithm, followed by LS‐SVM of 0.9777 and 0.1417 coefficient of determination and error of prediction data set, respectively. It is concluded that MSI spectroscopy produces highly significant results to determine functional food properties in a rapid and non‐destructive way. The present study will provide a strong platform for the fast online determination of phenolic profile of agricultural commodities.

Practical applications

Utilization of spectroscopy for non‐destructive detection of phenolic contents is defined through the combination of chemometrics with spectra of multispectral imaging system and emphasizes control processing of postharvest horticulture produces. Prediction results R2 above 80% describe that these chemometrics are successfully capable of estimating total phenolic contents in control processing for quality preservation.
Herpes simplex virus in infancy: Evaluation of national surveillance case capture
Authors: Berkhout Angela , Yeoh Daniel K , Teutsch Suzy , Morris Anne , Nourse Clare , Clark Julia E , Blyth Christopher C , Jones Cheryl A ,   the APSU Neonatal HSV Study Advisory Group
Published: August 2024

Aim

As herpes simplex virus (HSV) in infancy is not a mandatory notifiable condition in Australia, completeness of ascertainment by the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit (APSU) has been difficult to evaluate to date. We evaluated case capture in Queensland (QLD) and Western Australia (WA) using statewide laboratory and clinical data and complementary surveillance data collected via the APSU.

Methods

HSV polymerase chain reaction positive results in infants (0–3 months) from 2007 to 2017 were obtained from statewide public pathology providers in QLD and WA. Clinical data were extracted from patient records and compared to APSU reported cases.

Results

A total of 94 cases of HSV disease in infancy (70 QLD; 24 WA) were identified from laboratory data sets, compared to 36 cases (26 QLD; 10 WA) reported to the APSU. In total there was 102 unique cases identified; 28 cases were common to both data sets (seven skin eye mouth (SEM) disease, 13 central nervous system (CNS) disease and eight disseminated disease). Active surveillance captured 35% (36/102) of cases overall including 74% (14/19) of CNS, 71% (10/14) of disseminated and 17% (12/69) of SEM disease cases, respectively. Surveillance reported cases had a higher case‐fatality rate compared to those not reported (14% vs. 3%, P = 0.038). Neurological sequelae at discharge were comparable between the groups.

Conclusion

Active surveillance captures one third of hospitalised HSV cases in QLD and WA, including the majority with severe disease. However, morbidity and mortality remain high. Future studies on HSV will rely on observational studies. Enhanced case ascertainment through combined laboratory and surveillance data is essential for better understanding and improving outcomes.
What Went Wrong? Israeli Misconceptions And the October 2023 Surprise
Authors: Hitman Gadi
Published: July 2024

This study examines Israel's failure to prevent Black October, the Hamas invasion that killed more than 1,100 people and sparked the Gaza war. The article synthesizes literatures of security and intelligence to advance three levels at which we must analyze Israel's missteps. The first is the intelligence level, where the state assessed threats. The second is operational, where officials devised military and security solutions, such as relying on technology to police the border with the Gaza Strip. The third level is political‐diplomatic, where the government pursued regional normalization agreements without focusing on solutions to the Palestinian file. Failures at all three levels were intertwined. The examination of these cascading mistakes opens a window into the interactions within and across these levels among military and civilian decision makers, and it suggests how they should be addressed going forward.
Public cancer screening services and participation: What meanings in users' narratives to promote engagement?
Authors: Martino Maria Luisa , Lemmo Daniela , Bianchi Marcella , González Leone Maria Florencia , Donizzetti Anna Rosa , Freda Maria Francesca , Caso Daniela
Published: July 2024

Despite the effectiveness of cancer screening (CS) in providing timely diagnoses and early treatments, the participation of citizens remains very low in particular in Southern Italy. This study aims to investigate the meanings that intervene in the relationship between the individual and their active participation in CSs within public healthcare. A total of 101 ad hoc semi‐structured interviews were collected with CS users in public service of Campania Region, Italy. The interviews were analyzed through a qualitative–quantitative methodology by T‐Lab software. A cluster analysis and multiple matching analysis were conducted. Findings show five clusters: prevention as a sensory and emotional burden; prevention as a strategy to manage the hereditary risk of death; individual's internal demand for health; the times and places of prevention; and the concreteness of doing prevention; and two factors: from the risk of disease diagnosis to preventive measures and from external healthcare settings to internal self‐care settings. Findings shed light on how to construct better well‐being promotion strategies and foster a subjective health and prevention demand accounting for the continuous experiences of those participating in CSs to encourage greater citizen engagement.
Mitochondrial respiration is essential for photosynthesis‐dependent ATP supply of the plant cytosol
Authors: Vera‐Vives Antoni M. , Novel Piero , Zheng Ke , Tan Shun‐ling , Schwarzländer Markus , Alboresi Alessandro , Morosinotto Tomas
Published: July 2024

Plants rely on solar energy to synthesize ATP and NADPH for photosynthetic carbon fixation and all cellular need. Mitochondrial respiration is essential in plants, but this may be due to heterotrophic bottlenecks during plant development or because it is also necessary in photosynthetically active cells.

In this study, we examined in vivo changes of cytosolic ATP concentration in response to light, employing a biosensing strategy in the moss Physcomitrium patens and revealing increased cytosolic ATP concentration caused by photosynthetic activity.

Plants depleted of respiratory Complex I showed decreased cytosolic ATP accumulation, highlighting a critical role of mitochondrial respiration in light‐dependent ATP supply of the cytosol. Consistently, targeting mitochondrial ATP production directly, through the construction of mutants deficient in mitochondrial ATPase (complex V), led to drastic growth reduction, despite only minor alterations in photosynthetic electron transport activity.

Since P. patens is photoautotrophic throughout its development, we conclude that heterotrophic bottlenecks cannot account for the indispensable role of mitochondrial respiration in plants. Instead, our results support that mitochondrial respiration is essential for ATP provision to the cytosol in photosynthesizing cells. Mitochondrial respiration provides metabolic integration, ensuring supply of cytosolic ATP essential for supporting plant growth and development.
Reintroduction strategies for rare arable weeds in agricultural practice and their influence on yield
Authors: Schumacher Matthias , Witty Rosa , Gerhards Roland
Published: August 2024

Agricultural intensification and changing landscape structure led to decreasing numbers of arable flora and fauna during the last decades. To counteract these declines, arable plant diversity needs to be restored. It is important to promote regional plant communities including endangered species to ensure adaption to agricultural landscapes. Therefore, this study examines the development of arable plant diversity, crop yield and the reintroduction success of rare arable plants (RAPs) under different practical farming strategies in cereals from 2019 to 2021 in southwestern Germany. Farming strategies varied regarding weed control intensity (none, mechanical, herbicide with and without efficiency gap), fertilisation (mineral and none) and row spacing (12.5 cm and 20 cm). Additionally, two different seed mixtures containing RAP and common species were used for reintroduction: one commercially available and another self‐composed. Reintroduction success was quite high with more than 80% establishment rate. Species numbers doubled in all treatments over time, except the one with herbicide application, with on average 8–10 species emerging from the soil seed bank. Reintroduction of RAP increased arable plant species richness further up to 37 species. The site‐adapted mixture showed in the end a site‐typical weed community. Yield was significantly lower in treatments with reintroduction via sown mixtures and no weed control, losing on average 65% yield. The reintroduction of RAP was successful and accompanied by an increasing floral diversity, however, with a simultaneous yield loss. Financial incentives or subsidies are therefore still necessary to compensate yield loss for reintroduction and conservation efforts.
Thermo-Economic and Environmental Assessment of a Novel SOFC-Based Hybrid Energy Generation System for Combined Cooling Heating and Power Generation
Authors: Khan Yunis , Singh Pawan Kumar
Published: August 2024

The world's energy demand is increasing day by day due to industrial development and population growth. As a result, creating an effective energy-generation system is essential. In this work, a conventional hybrid solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC)-gas turbine (GT) system is equipped with an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) and a vapor absorption refrigeration system (VARS) for combined cooling, heating, and power production applications. The proposed hybrid trigeneration plant's performances were evaluated based on the energetic, exergetic, economic, and environmental points of view using computational techniques by engineering equation solver software. Additionally, working fluid selection was also performed along with parametric analysis of the proposed hybrid trigeneration plant. The outcomes reveal that the energy, exergy efficiency, network output, and cost rate of the proposed hybrid trigeneration plant (SOFC-GT-ORC-VARS) were enhanced by 39.83%, 9.21%, 7.85%, and 10.81%, respectively, as compared to the conventional SOFC-GT system; however, CO2 emission per MWh of energy output was reduced by 28.48%. Furthermore, cooling effect and heating effect from the proposed hybrid trigeneration system were observed as 53.14 kW and 123.20 kW, respectively. R1233zd(E) and R290 were observed as the thermodynamically and economically best-performing working fluids, respectively, among other tested fluids. Parametric analysis revealed that SOFC parameters highly affected the system's performance. Overall, it was concluded that the proposed hybrid plant performance is far better than the conventional SOFC-GT system.
Influence of the System Downtime Cost Rate on the Performance and Robustness of Periodic Inspection and Replacement and Quantitative Inspection and Replacement Maintenance Strategies Using Monte Carlo Method
Authors: Cheikh Khamiss , Boudi EL Mostapha , Rabi Rabi , Mokhliss Hamza
Published: August 2024

This essay analyzes the crucial role of maintenance in production and service-oriented enterprises, highlighting the necessity for integrated viewpoints in contemporary corporate management. Focusing on time-based maintenance (TBM) and condition-based maintenance (CBM) techniques, the study provides a novel criteria and applies Monte Carlo simulation for assessment. The purpose is to discover ideal values for the system downtime cost rate, establishing a balance between performance and resilience. The organized parts include deterioration and failure models, maintenance assumptions, and cost models, finishing with a summary of noteworthy results and recommendations for further investigations. The study brings significant insights into the subject of maintenance strategies and analyzes the influence of the system downtime cost rate on the performance and robustness of condition-based maintenance strategies for a system with more or less stable behavior.
A Numerical Investigation on the Sinkage of the Deep-Sea Mining Vehicle Based on a Modified Constitutive Soil Model
Authors: Sun Pengfei , Lu Haining , Yang Jianmin , Xu Zhiyong
Published: August 2024

The seabed soil of the polymetallic nodule mining area is relatively thin, soft, and fluid, which will produce large deformation under external disturbance. Its undrained shear strength is related to strain-rate and strain-softening effect. It is an important engineering safety problem for the deep-sea mining vehicle (DSMV) to travel in the soft seabed, and its sinkage is a vital index affecting the traction performance. It is necessary to study the sinkage performance of the DSMV under the characteristics of large soil deformation, but there are only few existing studies. This study established a numerical model of seabed soft soil with Tresca constitutive considering strain-rate and strain-softening effects. First, a numerical simulation study was carried out on the interaction between the DSMV track plate and the seabed soil, and the influence of track plate structures on the pressure–sinkage characteristic was obtained. Then, a simplified three-dimensional model of the “PIONEER-I” DSMV was established. Under the condition of wet weight and initial vertical velocity, the influence of different initial bottoming velocities, weight, and soil parameters on the sinkage of the DSMV was obtained. An empirical prediction model of the DSMV sinkage was established based on the energy method and numerical calculation results.
Intensity Matters: Effect of Different Work-Matched Efforts on Subsequent Performance in Cyclists
Authors: Barranco-Gil David , Alejo Lidia B. , Revuelta Carlos , de Paz Sabbas , Ibañez María , Lucia Alejandro , Valenzuela Pedro L.
Published: July 2024

Purpose: To assess the effect of 2 work-matched efforts of different intensities on subsequent performance in well-trained cyclists. Methods: The present study followed a randomized controlled crossover design. Twelve competitive junior cyclists volunteered to participate (age, 17 [1] y; maximum oxygen uptake, 71.0 [4.7] mL·kg−1·min−1). The power–duration relationship was assessed through 2-minute, 5-minute, and 12-minute field tests under fresh conditions (control). On subsequent days and following a randomized order, participants repeated the aforementioned tests after 2 training sessions matched for mechanical work (∼15 kJ/kg) of different intensities (ie, a moderate-intensity continuous-training [60%–70% of critical power; CP] session or a session including high-intensity intervals [3-min repetition bouts at 110%–120% of the CP interspersed by 3-min rest periods]). Results: A significantly lower power output was found in the 2-minute test after the high-intensity training session compared not only with the control condition (−8%, P < .001) but also with the moderate-intensity continuous-training session (−7%, P = .003), with no significant differences between the latter conditions. No significant differences between conditions were found for the remaining tests. As a consequence, the high-intensity training session resulted in significantly lower W′ values compared to both the control condition (−27%, P = .001) and the moderate-intensity continuous-training session (−26%, P = .012), with no differences between the 2 latter conditions and with no differences for CP. Conclusion: A session including high-intensity intermittent efforts induces a greater fatigue, particularly in short-duration efforts and W′, than a work-matched continuous-training session of moderate intensity.
Racing Demands for Winning a Grand Tour: Differences and Similarities Between a Female and a Male Winner
Authors: Lamberts Robert P. , van Vleuten Annemiek , Dumoulin Tom , Delahaije Louis , van Erp Teun
Published: July 2024

Purpose: To describe and compare the race characteristics, demands, and durability profile of a male and a female Grand Tour winner. Methods: Overall and stage-type-specific (ie, time trials, flat, semimountainous, and mountain) demands and race characteristics during 2 Grand Tours were determined and compared between the female and male cyclists. In addition, relative power output distribution and pacing, percentage of functional threshold power (FTP), and changes in maximal mean power outputs (MMPs) with increasing levels of kilojoules burned were determined. Results: Although many differences were found between course and absolute racing demands between the male (FTP: 413 W; critical power: 417 W) and female (FTP: 297 W; critical power: 297 W) cyclists, similar power distributions and pacing strategies were found if data were expressed relatively. However, the female cyclist rode a higher percentage of her FTP during the first 2 quarters of flat stages (14.7%–15.1%) and the last quarter of mountain stages (9.8%) than the male cyclist. Decrements in MMPs were only observed after burning 30 kJ·kg−1 in the female and 45 kJ·kg−1 in the male Grand Tour winner. Conclusions: Both the male and female Grand Tour winners produced very high 20- to 60-minute MMPs, whereas decrements in MMPs were only observed after having burned 75% (female) and 80% (male) of total kilojoules burned during a stage. These are the latest and lowest in MMPs reported in the scientific literature and highlight the importance of durability in combination with excellent climbing and time-trial skills, which are needed to be able to win a Grand Tour.