bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leveraging ERP systems for improving ERP effectiveness in emergency service organizations: an empirical study
Authors: Bhattacharya Mithu , Ramakrishnan Thiagarajan , Fosso Wamba Samuel
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that influence enterprise resource planning (ERP) effectiveness within the context of emergency service organizations. Drawing on information systems (IS) effectiveness, ERP implementation and job satisfaction literature, the authors posit that user involvement, top management involvement and training satisfaction are the antecedents to perceived job satisfaction, and perceived job satisfaction leads to ERP effectiveness in emergency service organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey methodology is used for collecting data for this research, and the PLS-SEM technique is used for analysis.

Findings

Results indicate users will be more satisfied with their training if their inputs are taken into account during their training and the top management is actively involved during the training process. Further, if the users perceive that they are adequately trained, they will be more satisfied with their jobs in using ERP, which will also lead to more effective ERP usage in emergency service operations.

Research limitations/implications

The focus of this study is on a single emergency service organization and thus may not be generalizable to other sectors. The authors extend ERP research to the context of emergency service organizations and thus add to the literature on ERP and emergency services. They conceptualize perceived job satisfaction to integrate roles, teamwork, supervisor and their perception regarding their potential to grow in the organization.

Practical implications

The managerial contribution of this research is to identify the motivational aspects and provide practical insights into the effective use of ERP systems for emergency service organizations. From a managerial perspective, the study provides a framework for both IS and emergency service providers/executives to understand and evaluate the factors that help them use ERP effectively in their firms.

Originality/value

This study extends the knowledge of ERP systems. While most of the ERP research focuses on implementation, the authors’ focus is on the effective use of ERP in emergency service organizations. They focus on identifying key factors that are important to using ERP effectively, specifically in emergency service organizations.
An ensemble machine learning framework for Airbnb rental price modeling without using amenity-driven features
Authors: Ghosh Indranil , Jana Rabin K. , Abedin Mohammad Zoynul
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The prediction of Airbnb listing prices predominantly uses a set of amenity-driven features. Choosing an appropriate set of features from thousands of available amenity-driven features makes the prediction task difficult. This paper aims to propose a scalable, robust framework to predict listing prices of Airbnb units without using amenity-driven features.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose an artificial intelligence (AI)-based framework to predict Airbnb listing prices. The authors consider 75 thousand Airbnb listings from the five US cities with more than 1.9 million observations. The proposed framework integrates (i) feature screening, (ii) stacking that combines gradient boosting, bagging, random forest, (iii) particle swarm optimization and (iv) explainable AI to accomplish the research objective.

Findings

The key findings have three aspects – prediction accuracy, homogeneity and identification of best and least predictable cities. The proposed framework yields predictions of supreme precision. The predictability of listing prices varies significantly across cities. The listing prices are the best predictable for Boston and the least predictable for Chicago.

Practical implications

The framework and findings of the research can be leveraged by the hosts to determine rental prices and augment the service offerings by emphasizing key features, respectively.

Originality/value

Although individual components are known, the way they have been integrated into the proposed framework to derive a high-quality forecast of Airbnb listing prices is unique. It is scalable. The Airbnb listing price modeling literature rarely witnesses such a framework.
Live streaming: pushing limits of hospitality and tourism online experiences
Authors: Hua Nan , Li Bin , Zhang Tingting (Christina)
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a hospitality and tourism live-streaming (HTLS) experience cocreation model based on a critical reflection of extant literature to capture the governing structure of HTLS experiences and reveal the mechanisms under which HTLS works.

Design/methodology/approach

To ensure that critical reflections and insights produced by this study are meaningful and contribute to the body of knowledge and practices, the authors have adopted a robust methodology comprising systematic searching, evaluating and conceptualizing.

Findings

A conceptual model is developed around three critical and intimately related domains of HTLS experiences: the governing framework of HTLS content cocreation based on stakeholder theory; the structural relationships between HTLS content, IT affordance and HTLS experiences; and the conceptual structure of HTLS experiences based on personal engagement theory.

Practical implications

Several practical implications follow from this study. First, it is critical to understand that both HTLS content and experience are affected by multiple stakeholders. Second, stakeholder interactions and cocreation determine consumer experiences. Third, practitioners should take advantage of the understanding of HTLS stakeholder attributes. Fourth, attention should be paid to IT affordance. And lastly, a tiered structure appears to govern consumer engagement in HTLS.

Originality/value

Live-streaming studies are still in their infancy stage in hospitality and tourism, with only nine papers related to HTLS published in peer-reviewed journals until May 2022. This study reviewed a carefully selected collection of 15 live-streaming-related articles and proposed a conceptual HTLS experience cocreation model. Moreover, the existing studies in live streaming are synthesized, with important themes identified, as well as practical and theoretical trends explored.
Cruise revenue management: cross-discipline literature review and development of an integrated cruise revenue management framework
Authors: Chu Angela Mai Chi , Hsu Cathy
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to adopt a holistic approach to understand cruise revenue management (RM) practices that cover ticket and onboard revenues, through a cross-disciplinary literature review and practitioner interviews. An integrated cruise RM framework was developed and served as a blueprint for future cruise studies and practices.

Design/methodology/approach

A multi-stage approach was adopted, including a systematic literature review, two-waves of interviews with 26 cruise industry practitioners and the development of a holistic RM framework.

Findings

This study clarifies cruise RM functions across product planning, delivery stages and identifies ticket and onboard RM components. These are incorporated into the integrated framework, with weather and itinerary/ route attractiveness as additional considerations. Interviews revealed that there is no difference in the RM cycle before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, although strategies and tactics may vary in response to the market situation.

Research limitations/implications

Suggestions are made regarding product and service bundling and ways for ticket and onboard revenue teams to work together to optimize total revenue. Future research directions are also provided under the categories of RM applications and concepts, ticket core activities, onboard core activities and overall issues.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to conduct a cross-disciplinary systematic literature review of cruise RM without imposing publication dates or specific databases and the first to develop an integrated cruise “total” RM framework that includes ticket and onboard revenues.
Toward an event-oriented conceptualization of conflict: reflections on three decades of conflict research
Authors: Zhang Lihan , Fu Yongcheng , Lu Wenxue , Liu Jian
Published: March 2023

Purpose

How to depict conflict characteristics? Previous literature has overwhelmingly used intensity and frequency of conflict, resulting in an incomplete understanding of conflict itself and its impacts. To fill this knowledge gap, this paper aims to develop a comprehensive theoretical framework for conflict attributes.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a systematic and integrative literature review, this study has achieved the objectives by synthesizing the current state of knowledge on conflict and borrowing insights from event system theory.

Findings

A total of 16 conflict attributes were identified to constitute the event-oriented conceptualization of conflict, describing conflict from three dimensions – strength, time and space. Four promising areas for future conflict inquiry are proposed: linking the effectiveness of conflict to its attributes; exploring the interplay and configuration of multiple conflict attributes; progressing from variance- to process-oriented conflict theories; and developing symmetric/asymmetric views of conflict.

Originality/value

This paper conceptually clarifies conflict attributes from the event perspective and offers a nuanced understanding of conflict, which contributes to the current fragmented knowledge of conflict attributes. Scholars can build on this study’s findings to fill gaps and move conflict research forward. It also enhances researchers’ awareness of time and space and thus encourages more longitudinal exploration into the dynamics of conflict.
Pursuing sustainable development goals through integrating the aspirations of zakah and CSR: evidence from the perspective of an emerging economy
Authors: Hoque Nazamul , Uddin Mahi , Islam Mohammad Tazul , Mamun Abdullahil , Nazim Uddin Mohammad , Ahmad Afzal , Thowhidul Islam Md
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study looked into the scope of integrating the aspirations of zakah and corporate social responsibility (CSR) to counter poverty, inequity, illiteracy, malnutrition and environmental pollution to ensure peace, happiness, prosperity and sustainability as envisaged in sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative research study conducted using both primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected from 29 business enterprises in Bangladesh employing a semi-structured interview protocol. The secondary data were collected through content analysis of annual reports, websites and CSR publications of sample organizations. Finally, collected qualitative data have been analyzed thematically following the due procedures to address the research questions.

Findings

The findings reveal that integration of the aspirations of zakah and CSR is a convenient and wholehearted approach for entrepreneurs resulting in pursuing SDGs. In addition, business entrepreneurs in Bangladesh consider such practices as killing two birds with one stone because this approach warrants performing both religious and social obligations simultaneously. Interestingly, the study explores that shariah compliance acts as a guiding force for selecting well-being-oriented projects in zakah-funded CSR resulting in pursuing the priority goals – No Poverty (1), Zero Hunger (2) – of SDGs, thereby addressing some of the most critical issues of emerging economies such as Bangladesh.

Practical implications

The findings of this research can be used as a guide to incorporate the spirit and principle of zakah into the CSR programs aimed at pursuing SDGs mainly in Muslim countries representing one-fourth of the world population.

Originality/value

Integration of the aspirations of zakah and CSR is an innovative move and net addition to the literature on sustainability, CSR and zakah because Muslim business entrepreneurs will now conveniently be able to use the entrepreneurs' zakah money – readily available in each financial year – to fund the entrepreneurs' various CSR projects (within shariah framework) relating to poverty alleviation, humanitarian and disaster relief, health and sanitation and environmental conservation which will eventually contribute to pursuing various SDGs.
Proposed mapping and evaluation model of sustainable development goals in graduate programs in environmental sciences in Brazil
Authors: Gomes Junior José Carmino , Dalila Corbari Sandra , Kniess Cláudia Terezinha , Nogueira da Silva Gérsica Moraes , Piontkewicz Simone Caroline , de Souza Melo Maiara , Silveira Carbone Amanda , Mantovaneli Jr Oklinger , Martins Sobral Maria do Carmo , Philippi Junior Arlindo , Fernandez Felipe , de Aguiar Dutra Ana Regina , Birch Robert Samuel , Guerra José Baltazar Salgueirinho Osório de Andrade , Sampaio Carlos Alberto Cioce
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This paper aim to propose a methodological mapping approach for the evaluation of dissertations and theses of graduate programs in the area of environmental sciences in Brazil in relation to the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Design/methodology/approach

The research is characterized as exploratory with qualitative/quantitative approach. The proposed model was developed as a computational algorithm with a pilot being adopted as a professional master in national network for teaching in environmental sciences (ProfCiAmb) comprising associated courses from nine Brazilian public universities. 230 dissertations completed between 2018 and 2020 were analyzed.

Findings

A total of 266 correlations were identified between the texts and descriptors of each SDG. Correlation values between 0.100 (minimum value – Vmin) and 0.464 (maximum value – Vmax) were observed. SDG 4 – Quality Education (Vmax = 0.399) and SDG 6 – Drinking Water and Sanitation (Vmax = 0.464) were those with the highest correlation values, followed by SDG 3 – Health and Well-Being (Vmax = 0.299) and SDG 17 – Partnerships and Means of Implementation (Vmax = 0.249).

Practical implications

The construction of the computational algorithm provided consistent quantitative analyses with potential to contribute to the improvement of the multidimensional evaluation of graduate studies, as well as to support public policies related to teaching and research and strategic planning of the programs.

Originality/value

The relevance of this study lies in the creation of a model that involves the creation of metrics and tools regarding the impact of graduate studies on society.
The incompatibility of proactive market orientation and postponement strategy in product differentiation
Authors: Yuki Sho , Kubo Tomokazu
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Previous studies have found that a proactive market orientation (PMO) has a positive effect on product differentiation and innovation and that the effect is contingent on various factors. However, the influence of logistics on the positive relationship between PMO and product differentiation has received scant attention in marketing research. To fill this research gap, this paper aims to introduce the concept of postponement as a basic logistics strategy, currently used by many firms, and examine the interaction effect of PMO and postponement on new product differentiation.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the exploration–exploitation literature, the authors considered PMO and postponement as types of exploration and exploitation, respectively. The authors hypothesized that postponement hampers the positive effect of PMO on product differentiation. The authors tested the hypotheses empirically by applying ordinary least squares regression to a sample of 187 brand managers in the Japanese apparel industry.

Findings

PMO is positively related to product differentiation, although the relationship is weakened when design and production systems are postponed, that is, when postponement hinders product differentiation.

Originality/value

Previous studies have examined market orientation and postponement (logistics) separately. However, referring to the exploration–exploitation literature, the authors built a conceptual and empirical bridge between market orientation and logistics management and proposed that this configuration is important for product differentiation.
Relationships among memorable brand experience, brand preference, and behavioral intentions: focusing on the difference between robot servers and human servers
Authors: Hwang Jinsoo , Kim Hyunjoon , Kim Heather Markham
Published: March 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the differences among memorable brand experience, brand preference and behavioral intentions based on the type of service providers, such as robot servers and human servers. In addition, this study investigated the relationships among the four concepts.

Design/methodology/approach

The data was collected from 296 customers who experienced robot servers and from 307 customers who experienced human servers.

Findings

The data analysis results indicated that there was a statistical difference with the mean value of the five concepts according to the type of employee. The results also revealed that memorable brand experience has a positive influence on brand preference, which in turn positively influences intentions to use, word-of-mouth and willingness to pay more.

Originality/value

This study attempted to find the difference between robot servers and human servers in memorable brand experience, brand preference and behavioral intentions in the restaurant industry for the first time.
Problematising access: reflections on ethnography in a bureaucratic organisation
Authors: Buskermolen Nikkie
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The article aims to explore the methodological implications of gaining access into a bureaucratic organisation for an ethnographic research project. It broadens the understanding of this crucial part of ethnographic research and problematises the notion of access by questioning the view of access as an official, singular and straightforward moment prior to fieldwork.

Design/methodology/approach

The article is based on 10 months of ethnographic fieldwork at the office of a Dutch health insurance company.

Findings

In this article, the author shows that research in a bureaucratic setting requires a deep level of reflexivity especially in order to maintain access and deepen the relationships in the field.

Originality/value

The study of bureaucratic organisations is a relatively new field of investigation for anthropologists and is becoming more popular. The question of how to study these types of organisations in terms of access has not yet been fully addressed through an ethnographical lens.
LSTM based artificial intelligence predictive maintenance technique for availability rate and OEE improvement in a TPM implementing plant through Industry 4.0 transformation
Authors: Mohan Roosefert , Roselyn J. Preetha , Uthra R. Annie
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The artificial intelligence (AI) based total productive maintenance (TPM) condition based maintenance (CBM) approach through Industry 4.0 transformation can well predict the breakdown in advance to eliminate breakdown.

Design/methodology/approach

Meeting the customer requirement as per the delivery schedule with the existing resources are always a big challenge in industries. Any catastrophic breakdown in the equipment leads to increase in production loss, damage to machines, repair cost, time and affects delivery. If these breakdowns are predicted in advance, the breakdown can be addressed before its occurrence and the demand supply chain can be met. TPM is one of the essential operational excellence tool used in industries to utilize the existing resources of a plant in a optimal way. The conventional time based maintenance (TBM) and CBM approach of TPM in Industry 3.0 is time consuming and not accurate enough to achieve zero down time.

Findings

The proposed AI and IIoT based TPM is achieved in a digitalized data oriented platform to monitor and control the health status of the machine which may reduce the catastrophic breakdown by 95% and also improves the quality rate and machine performance rate. Based on the identified key signature parameters related to major breakdown are measured using the sensors, digitalised by programmable logic controller (PLC) and monitored by supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and predicted in server or cloud.

Originality/value

Long short term memory based deep learning network was developed as a regression forecasting model to predict the remaining useful life RUL of the part or assembly and based on the predictions, corrective action has been implemented before the occurrence of breakdown. The reliability and consistency of the proposed approach are validated and horizontally deployed in similar machines to achieve zero downtime.
GRI and stakeholder engagement: setting standards in the public interest
Authors: Leeson Robyn , Kuszewski Judy
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a viewpoint on the role of stakeholders and inclusivity in the standard setting activities of GRI’s Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB). This paper explores GRI’s multistakeholder approach, its links to sustainable development, the GBSSB due process and what this means in practice when setting standards.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws on GRI’s origins in sustainable development and the participation of people and interests in decisions that impact on them. This paper also looks at the GSSB’s Due Process Protocol, October 2018, which details the procedural steps by which standards are developed in the public interest.

Findings

It is demonstrated how multiple and diverse stakeholders are involved in the process designed to serve the overarching interests of humanity and through that, the mission of sustainable development.

Practical implications

Examples from recent standard setting activity are outlined to demonstrate the abovementioned findings. These examples can illuminate the standard-setting field.

Social implications

This paper argues the important role of stakeholder engagement in setting standards in the public interest.

Originality/value

This reflection is timely. The current standard-setting landscape should take into account GRI’s valuable contributions to such important aspects as stakeholder engagement, on which the GRI has been working for a long time.
Dual‐sensor wavefield separation in a compressed domain using parabolic dictionary learning
Authors: Faouzi Zizi Mohammed Outhmane , Turquais Pierre , Day Anthony , Pedersen Morten W. , Gelius Leiv J.
Published: March 2023

In the marine seismic industry, the size of the recorded and processed seismic data is continuously increasing and tends to become very large. Hence, applying compression algorithms specifically designed for seismic data at an early stage of the seismic processing sequence helps to save cost on storage and data transfer. Dictionary learning methods have been shown to provide state‐of‐the‐art results for seismic data compression. These methods capture similar events from the seismic data and store them in a dictionary of atoms that can be used to represent the data in a sparse manner. However, as with conventional compression algorithms, these methods still require the data to be decompressed before a processing or imaging step is carried out. Parabolic dictionary learning is a dictionary learning method where the learned atoms follow a parabolic travel time move out and are characterized by kinematic parameters such as the slope and the curvature. In this paper, we present a novel method where such kinematic parameters are used to allow the dual‐sensor (or two‐components) wavefield separation processing step directly in the dictionary learning compressed domain for 2D seismic data. Based on a synthetic seismic data set, we demonstrate that our method achieves similar results as an industry‐standard FK‐based method for wavefield separation, with the advantage of being robust to spatial aliasing without the need for data preconditioning such as interpolation and reaching a compression rate around 13. Using a field data set of marine seismic acquisition, we observe insignificant differences on a 2D stacked seismic section between the two methods, whereas reaching a compression ratio higher than 15 when our method is used. Such a method could allow full bandwidth data transfer from vessels to onshore processing centres, where the compressed data could be used to reconstruct not only the recorded data sets, but also the up‐ and down‐going parts of the wavefield.
Plant water‐use strategies predict restoration success across degraded drylands
Authors: Butterfield Bradley J. , Munson Seth M. , Farrell Hannah L.
Published: March 2023

Plant strategies for coping with water limitation are likely to mediate restoration outcomes in degraded dryland ecosystems. Trade‐offs in traits related to water acquisition and use can intensify in more arid environments, making their effects on dryland restoration success even more salient. However, isolating the effects of drought responses from those of other environmental factors, as well as identifying the specific drought resistance traits that influence restoration success, can be difficult.

In the present study, we couple a controlled dry‐down experiment with a cross‐site restoration field trial of out‐planted seedlings (RestoreNet) using a suite of dryland herbaceous plant species from the same seed sources. We quantified interspecific variation in physiological responses to drought, specifically reductions in stomatal conductance (gs) and stem water potential (SWP), by comparing well‐watered control plants to those experiencing decreasing soil moisture.

Drought responses of SWP and gs varied independently among species, but both were related to survival in the cross‐site restoration field trial when effect sizes were aggregated across all sites. Responses were consistent with acquisitive water‐use strategies resulting in greater success, where species with greater declines in SWP or weaker declines in gs under drought had greater survival. The correlation between SWP drought response and survival also intensified in sites with lower accumulated precipitation following restoration.

Differences among functional groups revealed two different paths to restoration success: forbs that maintain high gs and narrow safety margins to maximize exploitation of moisture pulses before going into drought dormancy, or C4 grasses that maintain efficient water uptake in drying soils while risking cavitation. C3 grass species varied between these two strategies.

Synthesis and applications. Taken together, the results of this study and others conducted at RestoreNet sites indicate that while a diversity of physiological responses to drought may exist in dryland plant communities, successfully restoring herbaceous species through out‐planting in degraded conditions is likely to be achieved with species that maximize water uptake via one of two strategies, with tolerance of low SWP being particularly important in the most arid settings.
Quantifying neighbour effects on tree growth: Are common ‘competition’ indices biased?
Authors: Britton Travis G. , Richards Shane A. , Hovenden Mark J.
Published: March 2023

Interactions among neighbouring plants are key determinants of plant growth. To characterise the cumulative effect of all neighbours on the growth of a focal plant, neighbourhoods are often described by ‘competition’ indices. Common competition indices calculate the summed size of neighbour plants (focal‐independent index [FII]) whilst others include the summed ratio of the neighbour size relative to focal plant size (focal dependent). A frequently overlooked statistical artefact is that focal‐dependent indices (FDIs) may lead to biased estimates of neighbourhood effects on plant growth when growth is size dependent.

Here, we conduct a literature search to determine the most common index types used to explain neighbour effects on tree growth. We then assess the ability of two common index types—focal dependent and focal independent—to correctly infer neighbourhood effects in (1) observations of tree growth in an experimental forest in south‐east Tasmania, Australia, and (2) an artificially created dataset where tree growth is unrelated to the neighbourhood.

Both indices detected the competitive neighbourhood effect on tree growth observed in our own dataset but differed in their conclusion regarding neighbour effects in the simulated data. Despite the simulated dataset being generated so there was no relationship between tree growth and their neighbourhood, the FDI detected strong, competitive neighbourhood effects when intrinsic growth was incorrectly related to tree size. In contrast, when we considered the FII as the neighbourhood metric, we correctly did not detect any neighbourhood effects in the simulated data regardless of how size‐dependent growth was described.

Synthesis. ‘Competition’ indices are a useful method to characterise the cumulative neighbourhood effect on plant growth; however, we demonstrate that indices which include the size of the focal plant in their calculation can be biased by an inherent relationship between tree growth and initial size. Whilst this bias typically overstates the strength of competition in determining focal tree growth, we show that it can be mitigated by correctly describing intrinsic growth. We discuss the limitations of both index types, provide recommendations for performing statistical modelling and outline how to check for accurate neighbour inference.
Be the mother, not the daughter: Immigrant Chinese women, postpartum care knowledge, and mothering autonomy
Authors: Zhang Yijia , Hanser Amy
Published: March 2023

Scholars have documented the transformation of modern motherhood, as mothering practices have been a target of medical knowledge that comes to define correct modes of conduct for women caring for their pregnant bodies, undergoing childbirth and childrearing. Such accounts usually set scientific knowledge and medical authority in opposition to women’s autonomy. Drawing on the interviews with immigrant Chinese mothers in Canada, we offer a different account of knowledge and agency in new motherhood. These women’s often‐intense experiences of intergenerational care‐giving associated with the practice of zuo yuezi reveal a more fluid relationship between medical authority and mothering agency. We find that the central tension during the postpartum experience lies in intergenerational and family relationships. In this context, new mothers draw on alternative sources of knowledge—and medical professionals are one such key source—to demonstrate within the family their competence to make care decisions for themselves and their babies. These women’s use of medical knowledge to counter a familial and intergenerational authority complicates dominant accounts about medicalisation, demonstrating that women’s relationship to medical knowledge and authority maybe be far more fluid and complex than a standard account of medicalisation and loss of women’s agency would predict.
The place of political experience in lobbyist careers: Decisive, divergent or diverse?
Authors: HALPIN DARREN R. , LOTRIC ANTHONY
Published: March 2023

There is broad consensus that lobbyists with government experience are valuable to those who employ them, principally because they possess contacts in government and unique insights into the policy process. Yet the near exclusive focus on government experience as the defining feature of lobbyist careers, means the literature has neglected analysis of the mix of different (and important) experiences that actual lobbyists likely accumulate during their careers. We address these gaps through analysis of the career sequences of over 600 lobbyists operating across contract and in‐house roles in Australia. Using the tools of sequence and cluster analysis, we identify four broad types of careers among lobbyists. While half of all lobbyists have had roles with some direct political experience, we find that distinctions between types of lobbying careers are differentiated by experience in other fields such as journalism, public relations, associations and corporate life. Moreover, our multivariate analysis shows that different career types are more strongly associated with in‐house versus contract lobbying roles. We conclude that scholars should move beyond a focus on ‘revolving doors’ to more directly analyse the range of experiences that lobbyists leverage in their professional lives.
Pre‐export shark fin processing to conceal CITES‐listed species: a case‐study from a shark fin seizure in Colombia
Authors: Cardeñosa D. , Robles Y. L. , Ussa D. A. , del Valle C. M. , Caballero S. , Chapman D. D.
Published: March 2023

Illegal trade in shark fins can be a driver of overexploitation and is a global law enforcement issue given that some frequently traded species are listed on CITES Appendix II. Shark fins are usually traded dried or frozen and are not processed until they reach supply chain end points in southeast Asia, which allows for visual species identification in many of the commonly traded species. All external tissue is removed during processing, eliminating characters that are crucial for visual species identification. If processing occurs early in the supply chain, law enforcement personnel face the challenge of identifying fins to the species level and detecting illegal trade without the ability to do so visually. Here, we apply mini‐barcoding and real‐time PCR methods to a case study in Colombia where seized processed shark fins were sampled and analyzed using these methods. Five species of shark were identified, all of which are listed under CITES Appendix II, and four of which have been assessed to be in threatened categories by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Threatened and CITES‐listed species comprised 96.3% and 100% of the analyzed samples, respectively. The case study presented here raises concerns about the changes occurring when processing takes place in the supply chain, impeding any kind of identification of illegally traded shark fins without genetic tools. If early‐supply chain processing becomes the norm, it will introduce significant identification challenges for law enforcement throughout the rest of the supply chain. This underscores the need for in‐port genetic testing capacity building in nations and regions where shark products are highly traded to detect CITES‐listed and prohibited/regulated species at any point of the supply chain and regardless of the nature of the product.
Challenges and unique considerations of adolescents with chronic kidney disease
Authors: Nair Nikhil , Prashant Kadatane Saurav , Yaacoub Rita Marie , Sandhu Jazlyn M. , Bhavaraju Shreeyans , Raina Rupesh
Published: March 2023

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasingly prevalent disease that burdens patients of all ages significantly. While much data have been gathered on adult and paediatric populations, there is a lack of data on the effects of CKD on young adults and adolescents. The aim of this review was to look at the prevalence and comorbidities of this patient population, considering the rapid biological growth and development during this time frame. We present this review to illustrate the need for further research into this special patient group.
‘A Pioneer in the Struggle for Social Justice’: Manuel Larraín and Transnational Catholic Activism in Latin America in the 1950s and 1960s
Authors: Burgos Raúl
Published: March 2023

This article explores the development of inter‐American Catholicism during the 1950s and 1960s. It analyses the role of the Chilean Catholic bishop Manuel Larraín (1900–1966) in his efforts to disseminate his diagnosis of underdevelopment in Latin America and to establish links with the Catholic world in the United States. Based on a review of his writings, the American press and documentation from Catholic organisations, it is suggested that the Chilean bishop advocated the implementation of social reforms and American collaboration to prevent the advance of communism and strengthen Catholicism on the continent.
Unintentional injuries among children with developmental disabilities are a public health challenge in China
Authors: Zhou Ling , Porterfield Shirley L. , Fang Shu , Huang Jin , Zhang Yingying
Published: March 2023

Child injury is a significant global health issue that contributes to both morbidity and mortality in children. Children with developmental disabilities are at a high risk for injuries due to a combination of environmental barriers and health conditions. However, little research has assessed the prevalence of injuries among this population in China. Using administrative data from a micro insurance programme for children with developmental disabilities (such as autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy and Down syndrome) under the age of 19, we estimated the risk of unintentional injuries reported in insurance claims. Between 2017 and 2020, there were 190 insurance claims (0.53%) reporting nonfatal unintentional injuries and six reporting fatal injuries. The cumulative hazard rate of unintentional injuries by the end of 1 year is 1.21% and is negatively associated with children's age. These findings suggest the need for increased safety support for children with developmental disabilities, particularly in early childhood.
Sex, racial, and ethnic diversity in clinical trials
Authors: Bøttern Julie , Stage Tore Bjerregaard , Dunvald Ann‐Cathrine Dalgård
Published: March 2023

Diverse representation in clinical trials is crucial to understand the efficacy and safety of drugs in minority groups. This review aims to (1) describe research participants' sex, racial, and ethnic diversity in clinical drug trials and (2) describe the sex distribution of researchers conducting the research. We reviewed all clinical drug trials published in the journals “Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics” and “Clinical and Translational Science” in 2000–2001 and 2020–2021 and analyzed the research participants' and researchers' demographics. We compared the race of the research participants with the concurrent race diversity of the reference population in the countries where the research was conducted. We identified 281 articles with 17,639 research participants. Approximately one‐third of the research participants were women in both 2000–2001 and 2020–2021. The representation from racial minorities of Black and Asian people increased from 2000–2001 to 2020–2021, but Asian and Native American people are still under‐represented in clinical drug trials today. The proportion of female authors increased, but female authors still made up less than 40% of the total number of authors in 2020–2021. In conclusion, men are still over‐represented in clinical pharmacology research, and some races are still vastly under‐represented. Furthermore, although the proportion of female authors increased with time, they are still under‐represented as first and last authors.
Impact of Canada's cannabis legalisation on youth emergency department visits for cannabis‐related disorders and poisoning in Ontario and Alberta, 2015–2019
Authors: Callaghan Russell C. , Sanches Marcos , Vander Heiden Julia , Kish Stephen J.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Although there is momentum towards legalising adult recreational cannabis use worldwide, the extent of youth cannabis‐related harm associated with legalisation is still uncertain. The current study aimed to assess whether the initial implementation of Canada's cannabis legalisation (via the Cannabis Act) on 17 October 2018 might be associated with youth harm, as assessed by emergency department visits for cannabis‐related disorders/poisoning.

Methods

We used Ontario and Alberta, Canada emergency department data from 1 April 2015 to 31 December 2019. We identified all cannabis‐related disorders/poisoning (ICD‐10 CA: F12.X, T40.7) emergency department visits of youth (n = 13,615), defined as patients younger than the minimum legal cannabis sales age (18 years, Alberta; 19 years, Ontario). Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) models were employed to assess the impact of legalisation on weekly counts of cannabis‐related harms.

Results

The final SARIMA intervention (step) parameter indicated a post‐legalisation increase of 14.7 (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.0; 24.3, p < 0.01) weekly youth cannabis‐related disorder/poisoning presentations to Ontario/Alberta emergency department settings, equivalent to an increase of 20.0% (95% CI 6.2%; 33.9%). There was no evidence of associations between cannabis legalisation and comparison series of youth alcohol, opioid or appendicitis emergency department episodes.

Discussion/Conclusion

Our findings require replication and extension but are consistent with the possibility that the implementation of the Cannabis Act was associated with an increase in youth cannabis‐related presentations to Ontario/Alberta emergency departments.
Overview of Cochrane systematic reviews for rehabilitation interventions in individuals with cerebral palsy: A mapping synthesis
Authors: Liguori Sara , Young Vanessa M. , Arienti Chiara , Pollini Elisa , Patrini Michele , Gimigliano Francesca , Negrini Stefano , Kiekens Carlotte
Published: March 2023

Aim

This overview of Cochrane systematic reviews (CSRs) reports on current evidence on the effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions for individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) and the quality of the evidence.

Method

Following the inclusion criteria defined by the World Health Organization, all CSRs tagged in the Cochrane Rehabilitation database that were relevant for individuals with CP were included. A mapping synthesis was used to group outcomes and comparisons of included CSRs indicating the effect of rehabilitation interventions and the certainty of evidence.

Results

A total of eight CSRs were included in the evidence map. The effect of interventions varied across comparisons and the certainty of evidence was inconsistent, ranging from high to very low. The best evidence was found for botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT‐A) combined with occupational therapy in the management of spasticity. However, the effect of BoNT‐A on drooling and salivation remains unclear. A paucity of randomized controlled trials studying treatments for both dystonia and postural deformities was noted.

Interpretation

This review emphasizes the need to further investigate the effectiveness and cost–benefit of rehabilitation interventions for individuals with CP.

What this paper adds

The quality and quantity of evidence on rehabilitation interventions for cerebral palsy is limited worldwide.

Botulinum neurotoxin A plus occupational therapy showed robust efficacy for the management of upper‐limb spasticity.

Evidence on sleep‐positioning systems for hip migration and trihexyphenidyl for dystonia is scarce.
Bioactive metabolites from autochthonous lactic acid bacteria inhibit the growth of Melissococcus plutonius, causal agent of European foulbrood disease in honey bees
Authors: Mojgani Naheed , Bagheri Masoumeh , Moharrami Mojtaba , Toutiaee Samira , Rousta Hosein Modir
Published: March 2023

European foulbrood (EFB), a serious disease affecting honey bee larvae, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), is caused by the Gram‐positive bacterium Melissococcus plutonius corrig. (ex White) Bailey & Collins. In this in‐vitro study, we evaluated the inhibitory potential of microbial metabolites produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB), isolated from the honey bee gut, against M. plutonius. Several LAB species were identified by biochemical tests and 16S rRNA sequencing. Their filtered cell‐free supernatant (CFS) fluids were evaluated individually and in combination against growth and survival of three concentrations of M. plutonius (104–106 colony‐forming units mL−1), for various time intervals (24–96 h), in agar‐well diffusion and broth micro‐dilution assays. We also assessed whether the bioactive metabolites from selected LAB isolates consisted of acids, bacteriocins, and/or hydrogen peroxide, and quantified the presence of short‐chain fatty acids (SCFA; i.e., acetic, butyric, lactic, and propionic acid) by means of high‐performance liquid chromatography. Six LAB isolates inhibited M. plutonius growth: Lactobacillus acidophilus (Moro) Hansen & Mocquot, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus (Hansen) Zheng et al., Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (Orla‐Jensen) Zheng et al. (two isolates), Lactobacillus apis Killer et al., and Pediococcus acidilactici Lindner. The inhibitory effects on M. plutonius were larger at the lowest than at the highest M. plutonius concentration, and P. acidilactici showed the strongest antibacterial activity. Exposure to a mixture of CFS fluids of the four most potent isolates could reduce M. plutonius survival to 0% within 96 h. The antagonistic activity in the CFS of L. rhamnosus and L. apis appeared to be related to the presence of acids, whereas the antagonistic activity in L. plantarum and P. acidilactici appeared to be related to the presence of bacteriocins or bacteriocin‐like inhibitory substances (BLIS). Hydrogen peroxide did not seem to play a role. Total SCFA levels were highest in L. rhamnosus CFS fluid. These results can serve as a basis for in vivo studies on the use of LAB isolates as potential biocontrol agents against EFB in honey bees.
A cerebellar degeneration‐related protein 2‐like cell‐based assay for anti‐Yo detection in patients with paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration
Authors: Erikstad Kjell Inge , Herdlevær Ida , Peter Elise , Haugen Mette , Totland Cecilie , Vedeler Christian
Published: March 2023

Background and purpose

Commercially available tests for Yo antibody detection have low specificity for paraneoplastic cerebellar degeneration (PCD) because these assays use cerebellar degeneration‐related protein 2 (CDR2) as the antigen, not CDR2‐like (CDR2L). We aimed to test the hypothesis that use of a CDR2L cell‐based assay (CBA), as an additional screening technique, would increase the accuracy of Yo‐PCD diagnosis.

Methods

An in‐house CBA to test for anti‐CDR2L antibodies was developed and used to screen sera from 48 patients with confirmed anti‐Yo‐associated PCD. Fifteen non‐Yo PCD patients, 22 patients with ovarian cancer without neurological syndromes, 50 healthy blood donors, 10 multiple sclerosis, 15 Parkinson's disease, and five non‐paraneoplastic ataxic patients were included as controls. Sera were also tested by western blot analysis using recombinant CDR2 and CDR2L proteins developed in house, by the commercially available line immunoassays from Ravo Diagnostika and Euroimmun, and by the CDR2 CBA from Euroimmun.

Results

The CDR2L CBA identified all 48 patients with Yo‐PCD. No CDR2L CBA reaction was observed in any of the control sera. The western blot technique had lower sensitivity and specificity as sera from eight and six of the 48 Yo‐PCD patients did not react with recombinant CDR2 or CDR2L, respectively.

Conclusions

The CDR2L CBA is highly reliable for identification of Yo‐PCD. Although our findings indicate that, currently, the combination of CDR2 and CDR2L yields the most reliable test results, it remains to be evaluated if a test for single anti‐CDR2L positivity will serve as a sufficient biomarker for Yo‐PCD diagnosis.