bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developing professional capital through technology-enabled university-school-enterprise collaboration: an innovative model for C-STEAM preservice teacher education in the Greater Bay area
Authors: Lyu Siyuan , Niu Shijing , Yuan Jing , Zhan Zehui
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Preservice teacher (PST) professional development programs are crucial for cultivating high-quality STEAM teachers of the future, significantly impacting the quality of regional STEAM education. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as a region of cross-border cooperation, integrates the resources and advantages of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, possessing rich cultural heritage and innovative capabilities. Transdisciplinary Education for Cultural Inheritance (C-STEAM) is an effective approach to promoting educational collaboration within the Greater Bay Area, facilitating the integration of both technological and humanities education. This study aims to develop a Technology-Enabled University-School-Enterprise (T-USE) collaborative education model and implement it in the Greater Bay Area, to explore its role as a support mechanism in professional development and its impact on C-STEAM PSTs' professional capital.

Design/methodology/approach

Adopting a qualitative methodology, the study interviewed PSTs who participated in a C-STEAM teacher education course under the T-USE model. Thematic coding is used to analyze their knowledge acquisition, interaction benefits with community members, and autonomous thinking and decision-making in theoretical learning and teaching practice.

Findings

The findings show that the T-USE model significantly enhanced the PSTs' human capital, including teaching beliefs, knowledge, and skills. In terms of social capital, PSTs benefited from collaboration with PST groups, university teaching teams, in-service teachers, and enterprises, though challenges such as varying levels of expertise among in-service teachers and occasional technical instability emerged. For decisional capital, the T-USE model provided opportunities for autonomous thinking and promoted teaching judgment skills through real teaching challenges and scenarios. Reflective practice activities also supported PSTs' professional growth.

Originality/value

This study reveals the effectiveness and internal mechanism of the T-USE model in C-STEAM PST training, offering significant theoretical and practical references for future PST education.
Analysing inhibitors to BIM implementation: a social network theoretical perspective
Authors: Malla Vijayeta , K.V. Prasad , Delhi Venkata Santosh Kumar
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Building information modelling (BIM) implementation in the design, construction and operations (DCO) industry is increasingly becoming essential. While BIM has been adopted on a larger scale in many developed economies, its acceptance is still in the embryonic phases for developing nations in the DCO industry. This study aims to identify the inhibitors to BIM implementation through the social network theoretical lens, intending to understand the associations among the barriers in the Indian context. Subsequently, recommend strategies to mitigate the barriers from the academic practitioner’s perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

A mixed methods research was adopted, commencing with comprehensive literature reviews to recognise various inhibitors to BIM implementation. These identified barriers were further examined through the questionnaire survey (n = 71). BIM implementation barrier network (BIBN) was created using University of California at Irvine Network (UCINET) is a powerful social network analysis software that functions on the principle of social network theory. The experts’ opinions were captured through the BIBN network through interviews. Network properties such as eigen vector centrality, betweenness centrality, degree centrality, in-degree and out-degree and clustering coefficient were computed, and the metrics were analysed further.

Findings

Twenty-six BIM implementation barriers were initially identified. A questionnaire survey was conducted. The chain reaction can be minimised by prioritising and regulating these barriers. The issues were categorised into fourfold clusters (standardisation, policy and process, cultural and human resources, change management and operational) issues were generated from the exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The obstacles and barriers resulting from the other main barriers associated with it can be minimised by reducing the challenges with high eigenvector centrality but low betweenness importance.

Practical implications

This study proves to accelerate sustainable BIM implementation growth in developing nations; this research study assists BIM stakeholders in developing coping mechanisms to monitor and remove BIM implementation barriers.

Originality/value

Analysing the associativity of the BIM implementation barriers through sociograms for developing nations is a novel concept with this research.
Role of multinational buyers in ensuring worker voice through social dialogue: an exploratory study of the export oriented garment industry
Authors: Faroque Anisur R. , Hoque Imranul , Gani Mohammad Osman
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore how multinational lead buyers can play an active role in ensuring worker voices in garment supplier factories where workers have limited space to raise their voices, and how buyers’ involvement increases the possibilities of worker voices mitigating barriers to social dialogues and enhancing mutual interests of buyers and workers in garment factories.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a qualitative research approach and multiple embedded case study method, this study considered buyer−supplier dyads as the unit of analysis, i.e. two multinational lead buyers and their four corresponding suppliers in the garment industry of Bangladesh. Focus group discussion and key informant in-depth interviews were techniques applied to collect factory-level data, and within and cross-case analysis techniques were applied to develop an overall understanding.

Findings

The results of this study reveal that the opportunities for workers to voice their concerns through social dialogue in garment supplier factories are limited due to various obstacles. Similarly, the role of multinational lead buyers in addressing these issues is found to be less than ideal. This study also shows that buyers can take short-term and long-term initiatives to ensure social dialogues. Moreover, this study presents how social dialogues can meet the expectations of multinational buyers and their garment suppliers.

Research limitations/implications

While this study focuses exclusively on the garment industry, similar scenarios also exist across a multitude of other industries. Thus, future research could extend this study’s scope to various sectors, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the general state of worker voices in Bangladesh. This study stands to make significant contributions to literature in the fields of global value chains, human relations and international business. It will pose critical perspectives on how upstream value chain suppliers can fortify worker rights through social dialogue, and elucidate the means and motives for lead buyers to play a more active role in this endeavour.

Originality/value

This study is distinct in its approach, integrating buyer−supplier roles to pave the way for enhanced worker voice opportunities through social dialogue in garment supplier factories.
Gendered choices of labour market integration programmes: evidence from the United States
Authors: Morlet Guillaume , Caves Katherine
Published: May 2024

Purpose

We investigate whether women are more likely than men to choose to pursue a competency-based labour market integration programme, rather than the time-based labour market integration programme. We further investigate whether women with existing but uncertified skills are even more likely to pursue a competency-based labour market integration programme.

Design/methodology/approach

We test our hypotheses using ordinary least squares applied to linear probability models. We discuss the relative advantages of this methodology. We show the robustness of our results through multiple specifications and estimation methods. Finally, we discuss the reasons preventing us from granting our results a causal interpretation and discuss how they are surmountable in future research.

Findings

Women are significantly more likely to enrol into competency-based programmes, relative to time-based. Women with existing but uncertified skills are significantly more likely to enrol into competency-based programmes, whereas women without skills or with college degrees are not significantly different from the baseline. Our findings are robust to various specifications, and we include a comprehensive set of fixed-effect vectors, addressing industrial, occupational and time-varying state specificities.

Research limitations/implications

First, our empirical test of hypothesis H2 is hindered by the construction of the “some college or associate’s degree” variable in RAPIDS data. “Some college” is very different from an associate’s degree. Second we had to choose between omitted variable bias and selection bias. Because of the demonstrated importance of the occupation and industry variables in existing literature, we included those variables at the risk of selection bias. Occupation and industry fixed effects reduce, but do not eliminate, omitted variable bias. Finally, the third limitation of this paper is external validity. Registered Apprenticeship programmes are quite idiosyncratic to the United States.

Social implications

The rollout and expansion of CBRA may thus be an avenue through policymakers may reduce the gender training gap. This may in turn give more women access to the labour market and allow more women to benefit from the “wage premia” of Registered Apprenticeship completion on the labour market (Lou and Hawley, 2019).

Originality/value

This article is the first that applies econometric methods to investigate women’s choices of labour market integration programmes, using Registered Apprenticeship as a case study. We discuss the implications of our findings, highlighting how competency-based programmes may be an approach to better serving more diverse populations in Registered Apprenticeship.
Evaluating a project management methodology to improve project performance
Authors: Rode Anna Le Gerstrøm , Jensby Anne , Svejvig Per
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Project management as a field of practice and research is characterized by impressive amounts of normative literature and extensive collections of best practices promising to improve project performance. On the other hand, research proving the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed tools is limited. Project management methodology (PMM) evaluation is important but complicated and scarce. This paper evaluates a specific PMM designed to improve project performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a multiple, embedded and comparative case study the paper evaluates 71 projects within and across 17 organizations.

Findings

The paper identifies conflicting indicators of PMM failure and success in terms of project speed and impact, and the results indicate the complexity, contextuality and challenge inherent in PMM evaluation.

Originality/value

Contributions include empirical evidence and contextual knowledge on the effectiveness and efficiency of a specific PMM, as well as a new conceptual model and a novel methodological design for PMM evaluation.
Media and social media sentiment and CEO pay cuts
Authors: Cahill Daniel , Liu Zhangxin (Frank) , Santoso Theresa
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study investigates the relationship between media and social media sentiment and the likelihood of CEO pay cuts. The purpose is to examine whether and how these pay cuts influence market reactions. The study aims to provide insights into how external sentiment affects corporate decision-making and market perceptions, particularly in the context of CEO compensation.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample of 6,331 firm-year observations from 2015 to 2021, this paper employs quantitative analysis to assess the association between media and social media sentiment and CEO pay cuts. We utilise company DEF14A SEC filings to identify CEO pay cut dates and capture traditional media and Twitter sentiment 30-days prior to these filing dates.

Findings

We find a negative association between media and social media sentiment and CEO pay cuts, indicating that firms facing more negative sentiment are more likely to engage in pay cuts. We find evidence that CEO pay cuts are negatively correlated with market reactions, suggesting markets generally do not seem to favour decisions to cut CEO pay. This relationship, however, is complex and influenced by multiple factors, including the nature of sentiment and the specific components of CEO compensation.

Research limitations/implications

The study faces limitations in identifying the varying degrees of pay cuts and their motivations. Additionally, the content of news articles and Twitter posts used to measure sentiment was not specifically identified, which may affect the accuracy of sentiment measurement.

Practical implications

This research offers valuable insights for managers and corporate decision-makers, highlighting the potential impact of public sentiment on critical executive compensation decisions.

Social implications

The study underscores the influence of media and social media in shaping public opinion and driving corporate actions, highlighting the growing intersection between social perceptions and corporate governance. This has broader implications for how firms engage with media platforms and manage their public image, particularly in the realm of executive compensation.

Originality/value

We are the first to study the impact of media and social media sentiment on CEO compensation decisions and market reactions. By employing DEF14A filings as event dates for market reaction studies, we offer a novel approach to analysing the impact of executive compensation changes on market behaviour.
Integrated reporting adoption in SMEs: incentives and disincentives
Authors: Nada Omar Hassan Ali , Győri Zsuzsanna
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the drivers and challenges of integrated reporting (IR) adoption in the Hungarian SME context.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses qualitative methods to conduct an in-depth analysis of small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) drivers and challenges of IR adoption through semi-structured interviews. Further, the results of the interview are supported by content analysis.

Findings

The research highlighted the drivers for IR adoption, including growing the company’s customer base, attracting new investors, boosting competitiveness and increasing the company’s market value by improving the long-, medium- and short-term value creation. Nonetheless, the organizational transformation required to implement IR, a lack of qualified human resources, weak administrative control and poor documentation all serve as impediments to Hungarian SMEs implementing IR. Consequently, the current IR framework needs further clarification and simplification to be practical for SMEs. Integrated thinking, value creation, materiality and stakeholder engagement are the concepts that have been identified as being unclear or inapplicable for SMEs.

Practical implications

Furthermore, the practical implications for standard-setters, regulators and companies may help in the future in mitigating barriers, pushing companies to learn more about the benefits and risks of adopting IR.

Originality/value

The study is one of the few that examines the drivers and challenges of IR adoption in SMEs and responds to several academic requests for IR research on the reasons why SMEs do not participate in IR adoption. Also, the study compiles and evaluates the previous literature’s drivers and challenges for IR adoption. Furthermore, the practical implications for standard-setters, regulators and companies may help in the future in mitigating barriers, pushing companies to learn more about the benefits and risks of adopting IR.
Analysis of the structure and evolution of sustainability accounting research: a 41-year review
Authors: Owusu Godfred Matthew Yaw , Ofori-Owusu Charles
Published: May 2024

Purpose

In the accounting field, sustainability accounting (SA) has evolved as a valuable tool that links improvements in environmental, social and governance issues to financial performance. This study aims to examine the structure and evolution of SA research, map the state of knowledge and analyse the literature trends and gaps.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopts a bibliometric review technique with data sourced from the Scopus database. A total of 7,049 extant literature spanning from 1982 to 2022 was analysed using the VOSviewer software.

Findings

The authors find a significant growth in the number of publications on SA research, primarily driven by collaboration among researchers from Europe and America. The analysis highlights emerging themes, structure and discusses in detail the changing phases of SA research over the past four decades while highlighting key events that have impacted the development of SA research. Furthermore, the dominant theories used by extant studies are discussed and potential avenues for future research are provided. The authors draw the attention of the research community to the dominant authors, the most cited articles, prominent publication outlets and countries advancing research in this field.

Originality/value

This study advances knowledge on SA research by providing a retrospective assessment of the state of knowledge in the field while highlighting avenues for future research.
Spanning care and comfort: examining Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana's role in enhancing well-being of individuals in South Gujarat
Authors: Goswami Gopal , Bagdi Himanshu
Published: May 2024

Purpose

This study aims to delve into the impact of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) on the well-being and quality of life of beneficiaries in Surat City of India. Employing correlation and regression analyses, the study uncovers significant correlations between Awareness, Healthcare Utilisation, and Financial Burden Reduction with well-being outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The investigation employs a structured questionnaire to gather data from 250 beneficiaries, exploring the relationships between Awareness, Healthcare Utilisation, Financial Burden Reduction, Well-Being and quality of Life. The data was collected using a structured questionnaire using a survey method.

Findings

The results highlighted the crucial role of Awareness in empowering beneficiaries to make informed healthcare decisions, positively influencing their well-being. Furthermore, the study underscores how active engagement with PMJAY's healthcare services enhances well-being. The mitigation of financial burdens emerges as a pivotal factor, signifying the program's efficacy in improving beneficiaries' quality of life.

Originality/value

The comprehensive model presented in this study reveals that PMJAY's multifaceted approach is pivotal in promoting enhanced well-being and quality of life among beneficiaries. These findings affect public health policies seeking to create holistic interventions that holistically address vulnerable populations' healthcare access, financial burdens, and overall well-being.
The worker bee’s dilemma part 2: exit strategy saboteur
Authors: Paul Tyechia Veronica
Published: May 2024

Research methodology

This descriptive case study is written using factual case information was obtained from an employee of the firm with their consent. All names, including the firm name, have been anonymized.

Case overview/synopsis

After being denied promotion, Vivienne began the first step to her long-term exit strategy by seeking another graduate degree. Her supervisor failed to supply the recommendation he’d promised for her graduate school application. Vivienne felt that his breach of trust was deliberate and now must decide what course of action to take. This case analyzes Vivienne’s organization, needs and ambition using management theories, laws and concepts. It also analyzes the phenomenon of trust, specifically vertical trust between managers and employees, and it leads to an important career crossroads for Vivienne.

Complexity academic level

Undergraduate. Courses: Organizational Behavior, Human Resource Management
How interacting anthropogenic pressures alter the plasticity of breeding time in two common songbirds
Authors: Cuchot Paul , Bonnet Timothée , Dehorter Olivier , Henry Pierre‐Yves , Teplitsky Céline
Published: May 2024

Phenological adjustment is the first line of adaptive response of vertebrates when seasonality is disrupted by climate change. The prevailing response is to reproduce earlier in warmer springs, but habitat changes, such as forest degradation, are expected to affect phenological plasticity, for example, due to loss of reliability of environmental cues used by organisms to time reproduction.

Relying on a two‐decade, country‐level capture‐based monitoring of common songbirds' reproduction, we investigated how habitat anthropization, here characterized by the rural–urban and forest–farmland gradients, affected the average phenology and plasticity to local temperature in two common species, the great tit Parus major and the blue tit Cyanistes caeruleus.

We built a hierarchical model that simultaneously estimated fledging phenology and its response to spring temperatures based on the changes in the proportion of juveniles captured over the breeding season.

Both species fledge earlier in warmer sites (blue tit: 2.94 days/°C, great tit: 3.83 days/°C), in warmer springs (blue tit: 2.49 days/°C, great tit: 2.75 days/°C) and in most urbanized habitats (4 days for blue tit and 2 days for great tit). The slope of the reaction norm of fledging phenology to spring temperature varied across sites in both species, but this variation was explained by habitat anthropization only in the deciduous forest specialist, the blue tit. In this species, the responses to spring temperature were shallower in agricultural landscapes and slightly steeper in more urban areas. Habitat anthropization did not explain variation in the slope of the reaction norm in the habitat‐generalist species (great tit), for which mean fledgling phenology and plasticity were correlated (i.e., steeper response in later sites).

The effects of habitat change on phenological reaction norms provide another way through which combined environmental degradations may threaten populations' persistence, to an extent depending on species and on the changes in their prey phenology and abundance.
The Connection‐Friction Axis in Devolved Health Policy and Law‐Making in the UK: A Case Study of Organ Donation
Authors: Reed‐Berendt Ruby , Farrell Anne‐Maree , Watkins Matthew , Harrington John
Published: May 2024

This article explores the dynamics of devolved health policy and law‐making in the UK, drawing on a case study of opt‐out organ donation reform. Given that health is a significant area of devolved competence, such case studies offer the opportunity to examine both similarities and differences in approach between the four nations in the context of the UK's evolving constitutional settlement. We argue that there is a need to move away from the characterisation of the devolved health policy‐making process as being grounded in a convergence‐divergence approach, towards one that recognises the connection‐friction axis around which this process takes place. To explore this, we present findings from empirical research on opt‐out organ donation law reform. This, we suggest, demonstrates that whilst connectedness between government stakeholders, experts and advocacy groups was clearly vital in structuring the policy process, account should also be taken of how law operates not only as a medium for the playing out of political and ideological friction, but also for the achievement of connection to overcome this.
The class differentiation of older age: Capitals and lifestyles
Authors: Atkinson Will
Published: May 2024

Older people have been overlooked in recent debates over the relationship between age, class and culture despite their prevalence and the conceptual questions they raise. Seeking to bridge mainstream class analysis with debates in social gerontology, especially via a shared turn to Pierre Bourdieu's relational sociology, this paper draws on survey data from the US to examine not only the class position of older people but their internal social and cultural differentiation. I use geometric data analysis to construct a model of the class system, locate older people within it and then explore differences among older people. I then proceed to compare the cultural symbolisations of social positions among older people to those of the larger sample. The core structures of social and cultural differentiation among older people are roughly homologous with those of the broader sample, but there are also notable differences and even inversions pointing toward the specificity – and autonomy – of ageing as a principle of difference and practice.
Recent developments and challenges in algal protein and peptide extraction strategies, functional and technological properties, bioaccessibility, and commercial applications
Authors: Karabulut Gulsah , Purkiewicz Aleksandra , Goksen Gulden
Published: May 2024

The burgeoning demand for protein, exacerbated by population growth and recent disruptions in the food supply chain, has prompted a rapid exploration of sustainable protein alternatives. Among these alternatives, algae stand out for their environmental benefits, rapid growth, and rich protein content. However, the widespread adoption of algae‐derived proteins faces significant challenges. These include issues related to harvesting, safety, scalability, high cost, standardization, commercialization, and regulatory hurdles. Particularly daunting is the efficient extraction of algal proteins, as their resilient cell walls contain approximately 70% of the protein content, with conventional methods accessing only a fraction of this. Overcoming this challenge necessitates the development of cost‐effective, scalable, and environmentally friendly cell disruption techniques capable of breaking down these rigid cell walls, often laden with viscous polysaccharides. Various approaches, including physical, chemical, and enzymatic methods, offer potential solutions, albeit with varying efficacy depending on the specific algal strain and energy transfer efficiency. Moreover, there remains a pressing need for further research to elucidate the functional, technological, and bioaccessible properties of algal proteins and peptides, along with exploring their diverse commercial applications. Despite these obstacles, algae hold considerable promise as a sustainable protein source, offering a pathway to meet the escalating nutritional demands of a growing global population. This review highlights the nutritional, technological, and functional aspects of algal proteins and peptides while underscoring the challenges hindering their widespread adoption. It emphasizes the critical importance of establishing a sustainable trajectory for food production, with algae playing a pivotal role in this endeavor.
Pomegranate molasses authentication using hyperspectral imaging system coupled with automatic clustering algorithm
Authors: Izadi Zahra , Kiani Sajad
Published: May 2024

Pomegranate molasses is made from concentrated pomegranate juice with nothing added. Due to its nutritional value, limitation in production, and high production cost, this product may be adulterated by date syrup. This study was done to differentiate various types of pomegranate molasses and investigate the possibility of nonauthenticity detection in pomegranate molasses samples using the hyperspectral imaging (HSI) technique compared with physicochemical measurement analysis. The physicochemical properties (brix index, sucrose, acidity, ash content, pH, and formalin index) of 24 samples were measured as the reference analysis method, and it was found that the formalin index was a good factor for pomegranate molasses authenticity evaluation. Additionally, an HSI system (400–1000 nm) was used as a nondestructive and rapid screening method to capture spectral data of the samples. The evolutionary wavelength selection algorithm was applied to select effective wavelengths in sample clustering based on the obtained Davies–Bouldin index. Next, principal component analysis was used to visually interpret the spectral data of the sample when using the selected wavelengths and the whole spectra of the samples. Finally, an automatic clustering algorithm by the artificial bee colony as an unsupervised method was developed for the clustering of the authentic and nonauthentic samples. The method did not need descriptively labeled samples and obtained agreed satisfactorily with the degree of nonauthenticity in the samples. This study showed that the developed HSI technique coupled with an automatic clustering algorithm could detect date syrup nonauthenticity in pomegranate samples from the level of 5% adulteration.
Reasons for alcohol use from 1976 to 2020 in the United States among individuals aged 18 to 30: Historical changes and mediation of cohort effects in binge drinking
Authors: Keyes Katherine M. , Rutherford Caroline , Patrick Megan E. , Platt Jonathan M. , Kloska Deborah D. , Jager Justin
Published: May 2024

Background

Alcohol use is declining among US adolescents/early young adults and increasing among other adults, with increases in adult binge drinking more concentrated in females than males. Reasons for drinking are historically patterned by age and sex, and if historically variant, could suggest that changes over time could in part explain age‐ and sex‐differential cohort effects.

Methods

We analyzed longitudinal Monitoring the Future data for individuals born from 1958 to 1990. These individuals were aged 29/30 from 1987 to 2020, and first surveyed at age 18 from 1976 to 2008 (N = 14,190). Five reasons for drinking were analyzed (social, enhancement, avoid problems, relax, boredom). Drinking for social reasons and to relax were most prevalent. Total effects of birth cohort predicting past‐2‐week binge drinking were estimated with polynomial regression models by age; indirect effects through mediators were estimated.

Results

Drinking reasons exhibited dynamic time trends across birth cohort and sex. Notable increases were observed in social reasons: among women aged 29/30, social reasons increased from 53% to 87% from 1987 to 2020. Social reasons to drink had prominent positive indirect effects at adult ages (age 23/24 and above among men; age 19 and above among women), indicating that binge drinking would have increased less were it not for the increase in social reasons for drinking. Social reasons also mediated adult male/female differences, indicating that part of the reason sex differences are diminishing is the more rapid increases in social reasons for drinking among women. Indirect effects were also observed for drinking to relax and for boredom, and limited indirect effects were observed for enhancement and to avoid problems.

Conclusion

Changing endorsement of drinking reasons, especially social reasons, among US adult drinkers mediate cohort effects in binge drinking in the US adult population and explain in part why binge drinking is converging by sex.
Land financialisation and housing prices: evidence from China
Authors: Su Yinxin , Yu Xiaofen , Hu Mingzhi , Wu Yuzhe
Published: May 2024

The issue of land financialisation has received considerable critical attention, with the literature focusing on the definition and process of land financialisation and its contribution to urban development. This paper draws upon the capitalist spatial production theory to explore how the ongoing financialisation process in the land market is related to the housing market. After controlling for observed city characteristics and unobserved city and year fixed effects, we find a positive correlation between land financialisation and housing prices. Furthermore, our results suggest that this positive effect is strengthened in tier‐1 cities and when land transfer is fully marketised, but weakened when more affordable housing is available. Overall, this study contributes to the literature on land financialisation and housing prices by critically discussing the consequences of land financialisation on housing prices, providing new insights into the reasons for soaring housing prices, and enriching the knowledge of urban governance.
Enhancing computational thinking and spatial reasoning skills in gamification programming learning: A comparative study of tangible, block and paper‐and‐pencil tools
Authors: Gong Xin , Xu Weiqi , Yu Shufan , Ma Jingjing , Qiao Ailing
Published: May 2024

Tangible programming tools have become a mainstream teaching aid in gamification programming learning (GPL) due to their interactivity and ability to enhance novice learners' computational thinking and spatial reasoning skills. However, comparing the relative efficacy of different programming tools that simultaneously support these skills was not adequately explored. This study designed and evaluated three programming tools: the tangible programming tool (TPG), which uses real touchable objects; the block programming tool (BPG), which employs virtual programming blocks and 3D game scenarios; and the paper‐and‐pencil programming tool (PPG), which uses paper and pen to draw. The study involved 112 seventh‐grade students from three natural classes: Class A (TPG, n1=37), Class B (BPG, n2=38), and Class C (PPG, n3=37). These students completed four gamification programming tasks and CT skills, spatial reasoning skills, enjoyment, cognitive load and GPL task list measurements. The results indicated that the tangible programming tool led to lower cognitive load, significant improvement in spatial reasoning skills and better abstraction and problem decomposition skills. The block programming tool provided a more enjoyable experience and facilitated students' algorithm design and efficiency. The paper‐and‐pencil programming tool was found to be less effective in improving spatial reasoning skills. This study's findings can help programming educators cultivate students' thinking skills and improve their learning experience by effectively selecting the most appropriate programming tools.
Nonparametric CD‐CAT for multiple‐choice items: Item selection method and Q‐optimality
Authors: Wang Yu , Chiu Chia‐Yi , Köhn Hans Friedrich
Published: May 2024

Computerized adaptive testing for cognitive diagnosis (CD‐CAT) achieves remarkable estimation efficiency and accuracy by adaptively selecting and then administering items tailored to each examinee. The process of item selection stands as a pivotal component of a CD‐CAT algorithm, with various methods having been developed for binary responses. However, multiple‐choice (MC) items, an important item type that allows for the extraction of richer diagnostic information from incorrect answers, have been underemphasized. Currently, the Jensen–Shannon divergence (JSD) index introduced by Yigit et al. (Applied Psychological Measurement, 2019, 43, 388) is the only item selection method exclusively designed for MC items. However, the JSD index requires a large sample to calibrate item parameters, which may be infeasible when there is only a small or no calibration sample. To bridge this gap, the study first proposes a nonparametric item selection method for MC items (MC‐NPS) by implementing novel discrimination power that measures an item's ability to effectively distinguish among different attribute profiles. A Q‐optimal procedure for MC items is also developed to improve the classification during the initial phase of a CD‐CAT algorithm. The effectiveness and efficiency of the two proposed algorithms were confirmed by simulation studies.
Subcutaneous administration of a novel TRPM8 antagonist reverses cold hypersensitivity while attenuating the drop in core body temperature
Authors: Gold Michael S. , Pineda‐Farias Jorge B. , Close David , Patel Smith , Johnston Paul A. , Stocker Sean D. , Journigan V. Blair
Published: May 2024

Background and Purpose

We extend the characterization of the TRPM8 antagonist VBJ103 with tests of selectivity, specificity and distribution, therapeutic efficacy of systemic administration against oxaliplatin‐induced cold hyperalgesia and the impact of systemic administration on core body temperature (CBT).

Experimental Approach

Selectivity at human TRPA1 and TRPV1 as well as in vitro safety profiling was determined. Effects of systemic administration of VBJ103 were evaluated in a model of oxaliplatin‐induced cold hyperalgesia. Both peripheral and centrally mediated effects of VBJ103 on CBT were assessed with radiotelemetry.

Key Results

VBJ103 had no antagonist activity at TRPV1 and TRPA1, but low potency TRPA1 activation. The only safety liability detected was partial inhibition of the dopamine transporter (DAT). VBJ103 delivered subcutaneously dose‐dependently attenuated cold hypersensitivity in oxaliplatin‐treated mice at 3, 10 and 30 mg·kg−1 (n = 7, P < 0.05). VBJ103 (30 mg·kg−1) antinociception was influenced by neither the TRPA1 antagonist HC‐030031 nor the DAT antagonist GBR12909. Subcutaneous administration of VBJ103 (3, 10 and 30 mg·kg−1, but not 100 or 300 mg·kg−1, n = 7) decreased CBT (2°C). Intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of VBJ103 (3, 10 and 30 mg·kg−1) dose‐dependently decreased CBT to an extent larger than that detected with subcutaneous administration. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration (306 nmol/1 μL; n = 5) did not alter CBT.

Conclusions and Implications

We achieve therapeutic efficacy with subcutaneous administration of a novel TRPM8 antagonist that attenuates deleterious influences on CBT, a side effect that has largely prevented the translation of TRPM8 as a target.
Phenotypic assessment of antiviral activity for spiro‐annulated oxepanes and azepenes
Authors: Osolodkin Dmitry I. , Kozlovskaya Liubov I. , Iusupov Ildar R. , Kurkin Alexander V. , Shustova Elena Y. , Orlov Alexey A. , Khvatov Evgeny V. , Mutnykh Elena S. , Kurashova Svetlana S. , Vetrova Anna N. , Yatsenko Darya O. , Goryashchenko Alexander S. , Ivanov Vladimir N. , Lukyanenko Evgeny R. , Karpova Evgenia V. , Stepanova Daria A. , Volok Viktor P. , Sotskova Svetlana E. , Dzagurova Tamara K. , Karganova Galina G. , Lukashev Alexander N. , Ishmukhametov Aydar A.
Published: May 2024

Evolutionary potential of viruses can result in outbreaks of well‐known viruses and emergence of novel ones. Pharmacological methods of intervening the reproduction of various less popular, but not less important viruses are not available, as well as the spectrum of antiviral activity for most known compounds. In the framework of chemical biology paradigm, characterization of antiviral activity spectrum of new compounds allows to extend the antiviral chemical space and provides new important structure–activity relationships for data‐driven drug discovery. Here we present a primary assessment of antiviral activity of spiro‐annulated derivatives of seven‐membered heterocycles, oxepane and azepane, in phenotypic assays against viruses with different genomes, virion structures, and genome realization schemes: orthoflavivirus (tick‐borne encephalitis virus, TBEV), enteroviruses (poliovirus, enterovirus A71, echovirus 30), adenovirus (human adenovirus C5), hantavirus (Puumala virus). Hit compounds inhibited reproduction of adenovirus C5, the only DNA virus in the studied set, in the yield reduction assay, and did not inhibit reproduction of RNA viruses.
Autophagy‐associated non‐coding RNAs: Unraveling their impact on Parkinson's disease pathogenesis
Authors: Hussain Md Sadique , Moglad Ehssan , Afzal Muhammad , Sharma Shilpa , Gupta Gaurav , Sivaprasad G. V. , Deorari Mahamedha , Almalki Waleed Hassan , Kazmi Imran , Alzarea Sami I. , Shahwan Moyad , Pant Kumud , Ali Haider , Singh Sachin Kumar , Dua Kamal , Subramaniyan Vetriselvan
Published: May 2024

Background

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a degenerative neurological condition marked by the gradual loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The precise etiology of PD remains unclear, but emerging evidence suggests a significant role for disrupted autophagy—a crucial cellular process for maintaining protein and organelle integrity.

Methods

This review focuses on the role of non‐coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in modulating autophagy in PD. We conducted a comprehensive review of recent studies to explore how ncRNAs influence autophagy and contribute to PD pathophysiology. Special attention was given to the examination of ncRNAs' regulatory impacts in various PD models and patient samples.

Results

Findings reveal that ncRNAs are pivotal in regulating key processes associated with PD progression, including autophagy, α‐synuclein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation. Dysregulation of specific ncRNAs appears to be closely linked to these pathogenic processes.

Conclusion

ncRNAs hold significant therapeutic potential for addressing autophagy‐related mechanisms in PD. The review highlights innovative therapeutic strategies targeting autophagy‐related ncRNAs and discusses the challenges and prospective directions for developing ncRNA‐based therapies in clinical practice. The insights from this study underline the importance of ncRNAs in the molecular landscape of PD and their potential in novel treatment approaches.
Intermittent hyperglycaemia induces macrophage dysfunction by extracellular regulated protein kinase‐dependent PKM2 translocation in periodontitis
Authors: Sun Yuezhang , Cui Aimin , Dong Hao , Nie Lulingxiao , Yue Ziqi , Chen Jiao , Leung Wai Keung , Wang Jian , Wang Qi
Published: May 2024

Early fluctuations in blood glucose levels increased susceptibility to macrophage dysfunction. However, the underlying pathological mechanisms linking glucose variations and macrophage dysregulation remains elusive. In current study, we established an animal model of transient intermittent hyperglycaemia (TIH) to simulate early fluctuations in blood glucose levels. Our findings revealed that both TIH and diabetic group exhibited more severe periodontal lesions and increased secretion of pro‐inflammatory cytokines compared to healthy controls. In immortalized bone marrow–derived macrophages (iBMDMs), phagocytosis and chemotaxis were impaired with transient and lasting hyperglycaemia, accompanied by enhanced glycolysis. We also found that TIH activated pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) through the phosphorylation of extracellular regulated protein kinase (ERK) in vivo, particularly at dimeric levels. In macrophage cultured with TIH, PKM2 translocated into the nucleus and involved in the regulating inflammatory genes, including TNF‐α, IL‐6 and IL‐1β. PKM2 translocation and secretion of inflammatory cytokines were attenuated by PD98059, while PKM2 tetramer activator TEPP‐46 prevented the formation of dimeric PKM2 in macrophages. Moreover, inhibition of glycolysis alleviated the TIH‐induced pro‐inflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, our manuscript provides a rationale for understanding how TIH modulates metabolic rewiring and dysfunction in macrophages via ERK‐dependent PKM2 nuclear translocation.
Measuring biodiversity with sound: How effective are acoustic indices for quantifying biodiversity in a tropical dry forest?
Authors: Kotian Mayuri , Biniwale Siddharth , Mourya Pravar , Burivalova Zuzana , Choksi Pooja
Published: May 2024

Large‐scale biodiversity conservation and management necessitate rapid assessment tools and technologies. Indices derived from passive acoustic data offer a novel solution for rapid biodiversity monitoring. Although these indices quantify vocalizing biodiversity at a site, previous studies indicate inconsistencies in the indices' performance across different biomes. We tested the efficacy of seven acoustic indices—acoustic complexity index, acoustic diversity index, bioacoustic index (BI), acoustic entropy index, total entropy (H), normalized difference soundscape index, and number of peaks in an understudied biome, tropical dry forests, in central India. We measured the relationship between every index and a combination of these indices with a biodiversity metric, avian species richness. We found a weak correlation between individual indices and species richness (0.00 ≤ R ≤ 0.35), while a combination of indices was comparatively better at predicting species richness (R2 = 0.54). Although BI performed better than all other indices, our results indicate that acoustic indices do not accurately quantify avian species richness in this forest in central India. However, combining multiple indices increases their efficacy, limitedly. We recommend evaluating the efficiency of acoustic indices, especially in underrepresented habitats, before their application in avifauna‐based rapid acoustic surveys.
Intraoperative cytology of CNS tumours: Challenges associated with an evolving landscape
Authors: Jiménez Heffernan José A. , Esteban‐Rodríguez Isabel , Vielh Philippe
Published: May 2024

Despite recent changes in the classification of tumours of the central nervous system (WHO 5th edition, 2021), the basis for intraoperative diagnosis of these tumours remains basically the same. This Special Issue is intended to be an atlas showing in an orderly fashion, and following the recent WHO classification, the cytologic features of known and new tumours and the challenges they pose for the pathologist.
Traits mediate environmental responses of benthic ciliates in dynamic coastal habitats
Authors: Xu Yuan , Fan Xinpeng , Soininen Janne
Published: May 2024

Aim

Understanding how species' traits mediate environmental responses provides a mechanistic perspective on community assembly processes. Although traits that influence the response of multicellular organisms to environments have been studied, the identification of such traits in unicellular organisms, like ciliates, is underexplored. Since ciliates are dominant animals in coastal sandy sediments and contribute significantly to interstitial community respiration, identifying links between their occurrence and sandy‐coast characteristics is crucial for conserving biodiversity and protecting coastal habitats.

Location

Coasts of China.

Methods

We used Hierarchical Modelling of Species Communities, a trait‐based joint species distribution model, to analyse ciliate community data collected from 344 sites belonging to 31 beaches across the Chinese coastline.

Results

We found that physical variables play the most important role in determining ciliate occurrence. The beach index combines the tidal range, sediment grain size and beach slope of beach‐selected species based on body size as well as feeding type, while sediment grain size constrained different mobility types, with swimming species favouring fine sandy sediments. The significant contribution of phylogeny in explaining the residual variation among species responses indicates that there are phylogenetically conserved but unmeasured traits too that influence species' responses. Species richness of benthic ciliates was higher in dissipative beaches with high primary productivity.

Main Conclusions

Based on our research, ciliate occurrence in coastal beaches is mediated by their traits which are filtered by local environmental variables. The beach index is essential in predicting distribution patterns and species richness of benthic ciliates. Nevertheless, further research is needed to identify additional traits that will enhance the accuracy of predicting ciliate niches. Our study provides insights into the mechanisms driving ciliate community assembly processes and has implications for the conservation of biodiversity in sandy coastal habitats.
People‐Centered Collaboration
Authors: Adler Janett
Published: May 2024

Bringing together what is humanly desirable, economically viable, and technologically feasible leads to innovation.

When developing innovative products and services, a human‐centered design approach powered by a team that is flexible and dynamic ensures that people's needs are served.