bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The use of the positive deviance approach for healthcare system service improvement: A scoping review protocol
Authors: Kassie Ayelign Mengesha , Eakin Elizabeth , Abate Biruk Beletew , Endalamaw Aklilu , Zewdie Anteneh , Wolka Eskinder , Assefa Yibeltal
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Healthcare systems are currently facing challenges in enhancing access and improving the quality of healthcare services around the world, and one of the innovative strategies that have been utilized to address such challenges is the positive deviance (PD) approach. The approach assumes that identifying, examining, understanding, and disseminating solutions to problems that are already available within the community and organizations including the healthcare system can help in bringing improvements at scale. However, to the best of the researcher’s knowledge, there is no scoping review that is conducted to map and synthesize the available evidence on the use of the PD approach for healthcare system service improvements. Hence, this scoping review aims to map and synthesize resources on the methodologies and reported outcomes and identify gaps and potentials regarding the use of the PD approach in the healthcare system.

Methods and analysis

Articles will be searched and retrieved in research databases such as PubMed, Embase, and Scopus. Retrieved articles will be screened independently for inclusion through a title and, or abstract review. Then, articles that passed the title and abstract review will be screened by reading the full texts. A descriptive mapping and synthesis of the literature will be employed to present data using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis extension for Scoping Reviews checklist and data will be presented in text, figure, and table formats.

Ethics and dissemination

The results of this scoping review will be published in peer-reviewed reputable international journals. Furthermore, it will also be disseminated through conference presentations, and popular press to the wider community. However, formal ethical approval is not required as primary data will not be collected.

Strength and limitations

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This scoping review is going to be conducted in line with the updated PRISMA-SCR guideline.

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However, this scoping review is focused on the supply side and will only address the application of positive deviance at the health system, health facility, and health worker levels.

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Therefore, only the articles that have measured the performance and behavior of those entities either directly or indirectly in their therapeutic relationships with patients and the community will be included.
Relationships of crystallinity and reaction rates for enzymatic degradation of poly (ethylene terephthalate), PET
Authors: Schubert Sune W. , Thomsen Thore B. , Clausen Kristine S. , Malmendal Anders , Hunt Cameron J. , Borch Kim , Jensen Kenneth , Brask Jesper , Meyer Anne S. , Westh Peter
Published: November 2023

Biocatalytic degradation of plastic waste is anticipated to play an important role in future recycling systems. However, enzymatic degradation of crystalline poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) remains consistently poor. Herein, we employed functional assays to elucidate the molecular underpinnings of this limitation. This included utilizing complementary activity assays to monitor the degradation of PET disks with varying crystallinity (XC), as well as kinetic parameters for soluble PET fragments. The results indicate that a proficient PET-hydrolase, LCCICCG, operates through an endolytic mode of action, and that its activity is limited by conformational constraints in the PET polymer. Such constraints become more pronounced at highXCvalues, and this limits the density of productive sites on the PET surface. Endolytic chain-scissions are the dominant reaction type in the initial stage, and this means that little or no soluble organic product occurs here. However, endolytic cuts gradually and locally promote chain mobility and hence the density of attack sites on the surface. This leads to an upward concave progress curve; a behavior sometimes termed lag-phase kinetics.
Deciphering mechanisms of UV filter- and temperature-induced bleaching in the coralAcropora tenuis, using ecotoxicogenomics
Authors: Nishioka Sakiko , Miyata Kaede , Inoue Yasuaki , Aoyama Kako , Yoshioka Yuki , Miura Natsuko , Yamane Masayuki , Honda Hiroshi , Takagi Toshiyuki
Published: November 2023

Coral reefs are at risk of bleaching due to various environmental and anthropogenic stressors such as global warming and chemical pollutants. However, there is little understanding of stressor-specific mechanisms that cause coral bleaching. Therefore, conducting accurate ecotoxicological risk assessments and deciphering modes of action of potentially deleterious ultraviolet (UV) filters (sunscreen compounds) are crucial issues. In this study, we evaluated the toxicity and bleaching effect of benzophenone-3 (BP-3), which is widely used in sunscreen products, on the reef-building coralAcropora tenuis. Furthermore, to understand differences in UV filter- and temperature-induced bleaching, a comparative ecotoxicogenomic approach using RNA-seq was integrated into a toxicity test to clarify differences in gene expression changes induced by BP-3 and heat stress (31°C). The lethal concentration 50% (LC50) was calculated as 3.9 mg/L, indicating that emission level of BP-3 was properly controlled based on the risk assessment. Differentially expressed genes related to oxidative stress and extracellular matrix organization were involved in coral responses to both BP-3 and heat stress, but their patterns differed. Whereas immune and heat-shock responses were activated in response to heat stress, activation of a drug metabolism pathway and several signal transduction pathways were identified in BP-3 treatment groups. Our study enhances understanding of stress responses in corals induced by UV filters and thermal stress. Using potential gene markers identified in this study for eco-epidemiological surveys of stressed corals, we urgently need to develop effective countermeasures.
Application of Attention and Graph Transformer-Based Approaches for RNA Biomarker Discovery in Metabolically-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFL/NASH)
Authors: Cheruvu Aashish , Zezulinski Daniel , Sayeed Aejaz
Published: November 2023

The prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in the United States has reached epidemic proportions, increasing the risk of liver cirrhosis and cancer. Current methods of diagnosis for NAFLD/NASH are invasive and costly, motivating the need for genetic “RNA” biomarkers detectable in a blood sample. In this study, explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) techniques are employed to increase the interpretability of the deep learning models in detecting the potential mRNA biomarker candidates for NAFLD/NASH. Nine RNA datasets (∼1000 patients) with NAFLD/NASH were collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus. After conducting a differential gene expression analysis to reduce the dimensionality of the expression data, single-head and multi-head attention models were compared to baseline machine learning models in their ability to classify patients as NAFLD/NASH/healthy. XAI methods, including L1 regularization on baseline models and analysis of the internal attention matrix of the attention models, were utilized to identify biomarker candidates based on the relative importance of genes. The attention models achieved superior performance (accuracy: 67.5%) compared to the baseline models (Negative Binomial Linear Discriminant Analysis-62.64%; Poisson Linear Discriminant Analysis with Power Transformation – 58.24%). The top 17 and top 20 XAI-identified biomarkers with the baseline machine learning algorithms and the attention-based models respectively were then evaluated in lab. Preliminary data from in-lab validation confirmed upregulation of MT-ND3, HLA-B, APOC-1, and APOL-1 in NAFLD/NASH patients. Attention models have shown promise in identifying expression-based mRNA biomarkers and accurately diagnosing patients with NAFLD/NASH.
An Exploration of the Mental Health impact among Menopausal Women: The MARIE Project Protocol (UK arm)
Authors: Delanerolle Gayathri , Forbes Anna K , Cavalini Heitor , Taylor Julie , Riach Kathleen , Hinchliff Sharron , Atkinson Carol , Potocnik Kristina , Briggs Paula , Kurmi Om , Talaulikar Vikram , Van Vlymen Jeremy , Shetty Ashish , Irfan Muhammed , Kareem Rabia , Kemp Helen , Pati Sanghamitra , Palo Subrata Kumar , Rathnayake Nirmala , Saraswat Lucky , Hock Toh Teck , Shi Jian Qing , Phiri Peter
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Menopause marks the end of the menstruation period which can incur naturally or due to surgery where the ovaries or the uterus is removed, or the use of other treatments like chemotherapy. Menopause elicits both physiological and psychological changes such as joint or pelvic pain, headaches or migraine, cognitive function and mental health problems such as anxiety. In order to assess the mental health impact of menopause, the physiological, psychological and sociological composites need to be evaluated. It is increasingly recognised that the associated symptoms experienced by women and trans-men are specific to menopause transition, making it challenging to diagnose and treat using conventional methods. We developed a menopause tool called MenopAuse mental hEalth (MARiE) rating tool following a co-production workshop. The MenopAuse mental hEalth (MARIE) project’s overall aim is to explore the mental health impact of menopause through several work stream packages and assess the MARiE tool. The current work package (WP 2a and 2b) that is represented within this study aim to further explore menopause symptoms and then validate and, determine the efficacy of the MARiE tool.

Methods

We will conduct a prospective mixed methods study in the United Kingdom (UK) among women and trans-men ≥18 years old that are perimenopausal, menopausal or post-menopausal. The quantitative portion will use the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Insomnia Severity Index Scale, Menopause Rating Scale, Greene Climacteric Scale, Health related quality of life, Quebec Pain Disability Scale, and Burnout Assessment Tool in addition to the MARiE tool within the scope of WP2a and WP2b, respectively. The qualitative component will use a topics guide.

Research Ethics and Health Research Authority approval has been obtained with a reference of 22/EE/0159.

Dissemination

The findings will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and presented at women’s health, primary care, and mental health themed conferences.
Spatial conservation planning of forest genetic resources in a Mediterranean multi-refugial area
Authors: Vajana Elia , Andrello Marco , Avanzi Camilla , Bagnoli Francesca , Vendramin Giovanni G. , Piotti Andrea
Published: November 2023

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework recognised the urgency of taking action to conserve intraspecific genetic diversity (IGD) as an insurance against habitat degradation and environmental change. Recent work suggests that 90-99% of IGD should be conserved to safeguard viability of future generations.

Here, we addressed such a conservation issue in three forest tree species in Italy: silver fir (Abies albaMill.), Heldreich’s pine (Pinus heldreichiiH. Christ), and pedunculate oak (Quercus roburL.). We used microsatellite markers to measure IGD of 36 (A. alba), 15 (P. heldreichii) and 25 (Q. robur) natural sites, including several putative glacial refugia. We developed a spatial conservation planning (SCP) analysis to quantify the genetic irreplaceability of each site and identify the minimum set coverage ensuring IGD protection. Finally, we compared SCP results with the contributions to allelic diversity within and between sites, total allelic diversity and private allelic richness.

We found that between 44% and 73% of sites were required to conserve 90-99% of the alleles, and that this conservation effort held even when targeting lower percentages of alleles to protect (50-75%). Glacial refugia were often included in the minimum set coverage, confirming theoretical and biogeographical expectations. Finally, sites with high genetic irreplaceability were found to have higher private allelic richness on average. These results are discussed in the light of the biogeographic history of the species studied and the current policies for the conservation of forest genetic resources.
Bioplastic production by harnessing cyanobacteria-rich microbiomes for perpetual synthesis
Authors: Altamira-Algarra Beatriz , Lage Artai , Meléndez Ana Lucía , Arnau Marc , Gonzalez-Flo Eva , García Joan
Published: November 2023

Departing from the conventional axenic and heterotrophic cultures, our research ventures into unexplored territory by investigating the potential of photosynthetic microbiomes for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthesis, a biodegradable polyester that presents a sustainable alternative to conventional plastics. Our investigation focused on a cyanobacteria-enriched microbiome, dominated bySynechocystissp. andSynechococcussp., cultivated in a 3 L photobioreactor under non-sterile conditions, achieving significant PHB production—up to 28% dry cell weight (dcw) over a span of 108 days through alternating cycles of growth and accumulation. Nile Blue staining and Transmission Electron Microscope visualization allowed to successfully confirm the presence of PHB granules within cyanobacteria cells. Furthermore, the overexpression of PHA synthase during the accumulation phase directly correlated with the increased PHB production. Also, gene expression changes revealed glycogen as the primary storage compound, but under prolonged macronutrient stress, there was a shift of the carbon flux towards favoring PHB synthesis. Finally, analysis through proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance further validated the extracted polymer as PHB. Overall, it was demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of using phototrophic microbiomes to continuous production of PHB in a non-sterile system. This study also offers valuable insights into the metabolic pathways involved.
When Night Becomes Day: Artificial Light at Night Alters Insect Behavior under Semi-Natural Conditions
Authors: Levy Keren , Wegrzyn Yoav , Moaraf Stan , Barnea Anat , Ayali Amir
Published: November 2023

Light is the most importantZeitgeberfor temporal synchronization in nature. Artificial light at night (ALAN) disrupts the natural light-dark rhythmicity and thus negatively affects animal behavior. However, to date, ALAN research has been mostly conducted under laboratory conditions in this context. Here, we used the field cricket,Gryllus bimaculatus, to investigate the effect of ALAN on insect behavior under semi-natural conditions, i.e., under shaded natural lighting conditions, natural temperature and soundscape. Male crickets were placed individually in outdoor enclosures and exposed to ALAN conditions ranging from <0.01 to 1,500 lx intensity. The crickets’ stridulation behavior was recorded for 14 consecutive days and nights and their daily activity patterns were analysed. ALAN impaired the crickets’ stridulation rhythm, evoking a change in the crickets’ naturally synchronized daily activity period. This was manifested by a light-intensity-dependent increase in the proportion of insects demonstrating an intrinsic circadian rhythm (free-run behavior). This also resulted in a change in the population’s median activity cycle period. These ALAN-induced effects occurred despite the crickets’ exposure to almost natural conditions. Our findings provide further validity to our previous studies on ALAN conducted under lab conditions and establish the deleterious impacts of ALAN on animal behavioral patterns.

Highlights

ALAN presents a threat for insect populations and biodiversity

The impact of ALAN on insect behavior is mostly studied under laboratory conditions

We studied the effects of ALAN on cricket stridulation in semi-natural conditions

ALAN clearly affected the crickets’ behavior in a light-intensity dependent manner

The behavioral effects of ALAN were revealed despite the semi-natural environment

ALAN represents a threat for cricket populations’ fitness
How a high-modernism project in South Korea failed: Sewoon Sangga (1966–1972), the first experimental modern planning
Authors: Choi Ho Soon
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This study defines and critically analyzes Korean high modernism using the Sewoon Sangga project as a case study, as it has significant value in Korea's urban and architectural history.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology applied for this study was a theory-interpretive analysis. This study examines the modernization process of Seoul based on the concept of “high modernism,” in that the theory-interpretive analysis method analyzes historical phenomena centered on a specific concept.

Findings

As a form of national belief, the various ideas that give birth to modern cities are defined as “high modernism.” As a Korean megastructure, the Sewoon Sangga project is significant in the history of Korean urbanism and architecture because it is the archetype of Korean high modernism and is representative of South Korea's compressed economic growth. However, soon-to-be-demolished Sewoon Sangga signifies the failure of Korean high modernism. This study identified the critical characteristics of Korean high modernism through the Sewoon Sangga project.

Originality/value

This study analyzed a representative Asian city through the specific concept of high modernism. It transpired that high modernism, which played an important role in the birth and development of modern cities, should be transformed for future cities and architectural development. This study has significance in that it expands the study of the history of urbanism and architecture centered on the West to the same in Asia.
Finding the sweet spot in Industry 4.0 transformation: an exploration of the drivers, challenges and readiness of the Thai sugar industry
Authors: Sureeyatanapas Panitas , Pancharoen Danai , Saengprachatanarug Khwantri
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Industry 4.0 is recognised as a competitive strategy that helps implementers optimise their value chain. However, its adoption poses several challenges. This study investigates and ranks the drivers and barriers to implementing Industry 4.0 in the Thai sugar industry, the world's second-largest sugar exporter. It also evaluates the industry's readiness for Industry 4.0.

Design/methodology/approach

The drivers and impediments were identified based on a systematic literature review (SLR) and further investigated using a questionnaire, expert interviews, Pearson's correlation and nonparametric statistical analyses. The IMPULS model was used to assess the industry's readiness.

Findings

Most companies expect to minimise costs, develop employees and improve various elements of operational performance and data tracking capability. Thai sugar producers are still at a low readiness level to deploy Industry 4.0. High investment is the major challenge. Small businesses struggle to hire competent employees, collaborate with a highly credible technology provider and adapt to new solutions.

Practical implications

The findings can serve as a benchmark or guide for sugar manufacturers and companies in other sectors, where Industry 4.0 technologies are not yet widely utilised, to overcome existing roadblocks and make strategic decisions. They can also assist governments in developing policies that foster digital transformation and increase national competitiveness.

Originality/value

There is a scarcity of research on Industry 4.0 execution in the sugar industry. This study addresses this gap by investigating the reasons for the hesitancy of sugar producers to pursue Industry 4.0 and proposing solutions.
Iterated-local-search-based chaotic differential evolution algorithm for hybrid-load part feeding scheduling optimization in mixed-model assembly lines
Authors: Wang Zhu , Hu Hongtao , Liu Tianyu
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Driven by sustainable production, mobile robots are introduced as a new clean-energy material handling tool for mixed-model assembly lines (MMALs), which reduces energy consumption and lineside inventory of workstations (LSI). Nevertheless, the previous part feeding scheduling method was designed for conventional material handling tools without considering the flexible spatial layout of the robotic mobile fulfillment system (RMFS). To fill this gap, this paper focuses on a greening mobile robot part feeding scheduling problem with Just-In-Time (JIT) considerations, where the layout and number of pods can be adjusted.

Design/methodology/approach

A novel hybrid-load pod (HL-pod) and mobile robot are proposed to carry out part feeding tasks between material supermarkets and assembly lines. A bi-objective mixed-integer programming model is formulated to minimize both total energy consumption and LSI, aligning with environmental and sustainable JIT goals. Due to the NP-hard nature of the proposed problem, a chaotic differential evolution algorithm for multi-objective optimization based on iterated local search (CDEMIL) algorithm is presented. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified by dealing with the HL-pod-based greening part feeding scheduling problem in different problem scales and compared to two benchmark algorithms. Managerial insights analyses are conducted to implement the HL-pod strategy.

Findings

The CDEMIL algorithm's ability to produce Pareto fronts for different problem scales confirms its effectiveness and feasibility. Computational results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the other two compared algorithms regarding solution quality and convergence speed. Additionally, the results indicate that the HL-pod performs better than adopting a single type of pod.

Originality/value

This study proposes an innovative solution to the scheduling problem for efficient JIT part feeding using RMFS and HL-pods in automobile MMALs. It considers both the layout and number of pods, ensuring a sustainable and environmental-friendly approach to production.
Forward-looking disclosure tone in the chairman’s statement: obfuscation or truthful explanations
Authors: Al Lawati Hidaya , Hussainey Khaled , Sagitova Roza
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of a firm’s financial performance on forward-looking disclosure (FLD) tone and assess whether managers are engaging in impression management or providing truthful explanations when their companies have good or poor performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the content analysis method to measure the tone of FLD in the chairman’s statements of Omani financial institutions for the period 2014–2018. Regression analysis is then used to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

The authors found that good-performing firms are disclosing more good news, whereas poor-performing firms disclose more bad news. The results provided evidence that managers in Oman are providing truthful explanations in their narratives.

Practical implications

This study offered interesting policy and practical implications for policymakers, managers and stakeholders. This paper provided insights to policymakers regarding the FLD tone practices used in the chairman’s reports in Oman. Policymakers should be aware of the importance of the chairman’s reports in the eye of multiple stakeholders and, therefore, need to set guidelines on the type and quality of non-financial voluntary information that should be disclosed in such reports in the context of emerging economies. For academics, evidence has been provided by this study’s results regarding the impact of corporate performance on disclosure tone.

Originality/value

This study offered a novel contribution to disclosure studies by being the first to examine the performance-disclosure narrative tone relation, in the context of Oman.
How do customer-related characteristics influence frontline bank employees' boundary spanning behaviors?
Authors: Lee Myoung-Soung , Yoo Jaewon
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This study investigated the influence of ambiguous customer expectations and customer demandingness, which reflect hindrance and challenge demands, on the boundary spanning behaviors (BSBs) of frontline bank employees (FBEs) through person-job fit and work engagement. It also examined the moderating effect of customer stewardship between job demands and work engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

Data of 296 FBEs in the retail banking industry in the Republic of Korea were collected through an online survey and analyzed.

Findings

Ambiguous customer expectations acted as hindrance demands and negatively affected FBEs' psychological process. Additionally, customer demandingness positively affected FBEs' psychological process as challenge demands. Moreover, person-job fit and work engagement improved the BSBs of FBEs as a psychological motivation process. Lastly, customer stewardship buffered the negative influence of ambiguous customer expectations on work engagement while strengthening the positive influence of customer demandingness on work engagement.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the marketing literature by presenting customer-related characteristics influencing the BSBs of FBEs and exploring the psychological response processes. First, this study presents empirical evidence that ambiguous customer expectations and customer demandingness play the role of hindrance and challenge demands, respectively. Second, it confirms that customer-related characteristics affect the BSBs of FBEs through psychological processes. Finally, it enriches the authors' understanding of customer stewardship as a job resource by exploring the role of customer stewardship in moderating the relationship between different types of job demands and work engagement.
Community college students’ self-assessment of data literacy: exploring differences amongst demographic, academic, and career characteristics
Authors: Evans Sarah Amber , Hong Lingzi , Kim Jeonghyun , Rice-Oyler Erin , Ali Irhamni
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Data literacy empowers college students, equipping them with essential skills necessary for their personal lives and careers in today’s data-driven world. This study aims to explore how community college students evaluate their data literacy and further examine demographic and educational/career advancement disparities in their self-assessed data literacy levels.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey presenting a data literacy self-assessment scale was distributed and completed by 570 students at four community colleges. Statistical tests were performed between the data literacy factor scores and students’ demographic and educational/career advancement variables.

Findings

Male students rated their data literacy skills higher than females. The 18–19 age group has relatively lower confidence in their data literacy scores than other age groups. High school graduates do not feel proficient in data literacy to the level required for college and the workplace. Full-time employed students demonstrate more confidence in their data literacy than part-time and nonemployed students.

Originality/value

Given the lack of research on community college students’ data literacy, the findings of this study can be valuable in designing and implementing data literacy training programs for different groups of community college students.
Advocacy non-governmental organizations (NGOs) resiliency to shrinking civic space in Tanzania
Authors: Rugeiyamu Rogers , Nguyahambi Ajali Mustafa
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The world is experiencing democratic backsliding such that the situation is down back to 1986. This has resulted in the global shrinking of civic space for civil society organizations (CSOs). NGOs engaging in advocacy activities are seen to be among the CSOs affected. Using four NGOs cases from Tanzania, the study contributes to the civic space debate by uncovering how advocacy NGOs become resilient.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is anchored in interpretivism and a cross-sectional case study design, following a qualitative approach path. Data were collected through interviews and a documentary review.

Findings

Results show that several strategies such as complying, building community back-up, collaboration, strategic litigation, using digital media and changing the scope are applied. However, strategies face obstacles including scope limitations, expected democratic roles, high cost, changes in the scope and being outsmarted by the government, and hence their effectiveness is questionable.

Research limitations/implications

This study focused on advocacy NGOs. More studies can be conducted for other advocacy-related CSOs on how they become resilient.

Practical implications

While NGOs are allowed to exist in the country, their freedom continue to be curtailed. Even the effectiveness of resiliency becomes temporary and depends on the political will of the existing regime.

Originality/value

Tanzania NGOs have to build strong bonds with citizens, expand the scope of strategies and use deliberative democratic principles to educate the government to change laws and tolerate plural political culture. Also, NGOs in other countries with confined civic space can apply the same.
Nexus between e-service quality and e-customer satisfaction through functional and hedonic values: case of online shopping in Pakistan
Authors: Ahmad Ishfaq , Akbar Rida , Javed Muhammad Ali
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The concept of online shopping has been in vogue for the past two decades and is on the rise. Even developing countries like Pakistan are using electronic platforms to buy and sell goods and services, and the trend has been increasing ever since the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on the expectancy-disconfirmation theory, this study aims to test the e-service quality (E-SQ) and e-customer satisfaction (ECS) linkage with the mediating roles of functional values (FVs) and hedonic values (HVs).

Design/methodology/approach

The data have been collected from 298 customers of AliExpress and Daraz e-commerce platforms and analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM).

Findings

The results of the study showed a significant positive relationship between E-SQ and ECS and indirect linkage through FVs and HVs have also been established.

Practical implications

E-commerce platforms, particularly in Pakistan, should place a strong emphasis on FVs by providing accurate product details, user-friendly navigation, transparent pricing and streamlined transactions. Customers' trust and confidence will increase if they have a smooth and effective online purchasing experience. Customer satisfaction may be influenced by regular platform functionality and usability changes.

Originality/value

The use of functional and HVs is considered to be a novel factor in testing the relationship between E-SQ and ECS.
“Through the looking glass: envisioning new library technologies” an inflection point for social media and the open Web? Part 2
Authors: Fernandez Peter
Published: November 2023

Purpose

This paper aims to explore several factors that indicate the way the internet is structured may be near an inflection point.

Design/methodology/approach

This study examines the disruptive effect of TikTok, how demographic changes can rapidly alter social media platforms, as well as social media’s underlying dependencies on advertising.

Findings

The internet’s structure may be about to undergo a dramatic shift and imagine new roles for ourselves.

Originality/value

Deepening our understanding of these trends allows libraries to reflect on themselves and their future role.
Facilitating a hearing voices group on acute and psychiatric intensive care units to promote acceptance and hope: preliminary learning and reflections
Authors: McEwan McManus John , Gkika Styliani , Swift Elaine
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Hearing voices can be a debilitating and traumatic experience, and psychiatric hospitals can feel unsafe and overstimulating to voice hearers. Research suggests this may prolong a service user’s admission time and lead to an unhelpful experience. Therefore, a hearing voices group (HVG) was developed to create a safe space where voice hearers could share their story with others with lived experience and access support.

Design/methodology/approach

The group was developed by the first author under the supervision of the inpatient psychology lead. Both a practice-based and expert by experience-based approach were considered during the development of the group structure. The group also aligned with the Hearing Voices Network and the Trust’s values. A questionnaire was developed to evaluate the effectiveness of the group using six five-point Likert scale questions and three open questions to collect the data, which was then analysed.

Findings

The themes from the qualitative data showed that staff and ward-based promotion of the group were paramount to ensuring patient engagement. The results also showed that voice hearers found the group therapeutic, and some found the coping skills shared to be beneficial and effective.

Research limitations/implications

A large percentage of women (76%) reported that they had attended a HVG before. This was not the case for service users from the male unit and psychiatric intensive care unit. This result is considered to reflect the fact that women in that unit had the opportunity to attend more than once during their admission, rather than that they had accessed these groups in other settings or in the community. Therefore, in the future, it would be useful to change this question to “have you attended any other HVGs in the past, prior to this admission?”, which might be more appropriate for data collection.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the original work of the first author, who is an expert by experience and an assistant psychologist. The results suggest that HVGs can be beneficial for patients in acute and intensive mental health care and highlight some necessary adaptations and the importance of adopting an MDT approach in promoting therapeutic groups.
Automated analysis of gray matter damage in aged mice reveals impaired remyelination in the cuprizone model
Authors: Gingele Stefan , Möllenkamp Thiemo M. , Henkel Florian , Schröder Lara‐Jasmin , Hümmert Martin W. , Skripuletz Thomas , Stangel Martin , Gudi Viktoria
Published: November 2023

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system characterized by myelin loss, axonal damage, and glial scar formation. Still, the underlying processes remain unclear, as numerous pathways and factors have been found to be involved in the development and progression of the disease. Therefore, it is of great importance to find suitable animal models as well as reliable methods for their precise and reproducible analysis. Here, we describe the impact of demyelination on clinically relevant gray matter regions of the hippocampus and cerebral cortex, using the previously established cuprizone model for aged mice. We could show that bioinformatic image analysis methods are not only suitable for quantification of cell populations, but also for the assessment of de‐ and remyelination processes, as numerous objective parameters can be considered for reproducible measurements. After cuprizone‐induced demyelination, subsequent remyelination proceeded slowly and remained incomplete in all gray matter areas studied. There were regional differences in the number of mature oligodendrocytes during remyelination suggesting region‐specific differences in the factors accounting for remyelination failure, as, even in the presence of oligodendrocytes, remyelination in the cortex was found to be impaired. Upon cuprizone administration, synaptic density and dendritic volume in the gray matter of aged mice decreased. The intensity of synaptophysin staining gradually restored during the subsequent remyelination phase, however the expression of MAP2 did not fully recover. Microgliosis persisted in the gray matter of aged animals throughout the remyelination period, whereas extensive astrogliosis was of short duration as compared to white matter structures. In conclusion, we demonstrate that the application of the cuprizone model in aged mice mimics the impaired regeneration ability seen in human pathogenesis more accurately than commonly used protocols with young mice and therefore provides an urgently needed animal model for the investigation of remyelination failure and remyelination‐enhancing therapies.
‘A new way by her invented’: Women inventors and technological innovation in Britain, 1800–1930
Authors: Khan B. Zorina
Published: November 2023

What accounts for the common perception that women have contributed little to advances in entrepreneurship and innovation in Britain during the early industrial era? This paper empirically examines the role of gender diversity in inventive activity during the first and second industrial revolutions. The analysis of systematic data on patents and unpatentable innovations uniquely enables an evaluation of women's creativity within both the market and nonmarket sectors. British women inventors were significantly more likely than men to focus on unpatentable innovations in consumer final goods and design‐oriented products that spanned art and technology, and on uncommercialized improvements within the household. Conventional approaches that fail to account for nonmarket activity and for such incremental changes in consumer goods and design innovations therefore significantly underestimate women's contributions to household welfare and overall economic progress.
Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research Bibliographic Review 2022
Authors: Weis Ulrike , Stoll Brigitte , Brettschneider Jakob , Ernst David , Winkes Elisa , Jochum Klaus Peter
Published: November 2023

This Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research Bibliographic Review 2022 presents an overview of a wide range of publications in 2022 focusing on the characterisation of new geoanalytical reference materials (RMs) as well as studies which published measurement results for established RMs. The development of highly accurate new methods and techniques leads to large new analytical data sets for RMs with improved accuracy and precision, which we present in this review.
Hydrogeochemical Evaluation of Aquifer Storage and Recovery in Edwards Aquifer, New Braunfels, Texas
Authors: Simbo Christophe Wakamya
Published: November 2023

This study examines the potential for aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) in the brackish portion of the Edwards aquifer in New Braunfels, Texas. Successful ASR relies on understanding hydraulic properties, aquifer heterogeneity, water geochemistry, and geochemical processes during operations. The research aims to investigate the chemistries of native groundwater and injectant during ASR operation, estimate the hydraulic properties of the aquifer layers, and assess the recovery rate for the recovered groundwater meeting the total dissolved solids (TDS) threshold. The study found that native groundwater is of Na‐Cl facies due to halite dissolution and a possible basinal brine migration associated with the zone of greatest fault displacement. High sulfate ions in background native groundwater result from sulfate‐bearing minerals' dissolution in the Kainer and Person Formations. The injectant water is of Ca‐Mg‐HCO3 facies due to the carbonate‐rich composition of the aquifer host matrix and interaction with the Guadalupe River riverbed. During ASR operations, mixing controlled the shift in hydrochemical facies from Na‐Cl to Ca‐Mg‐HCO3.The study also suggests a possible connection between Kainer and Person Formations and preferential pathways in the targeted storage zone aquifer. The estimated conductivity values also indicate dominant horizontal flow via possible fracture pathways in both the Person and Kainer Formation storage zones. Recovery of groundwater meeting the TDS of 1000 mg/L requires a recovery rate of 0.03 m3/s for 60 days after 40‐day storage. This research emphasizes that understanding the hydrogeological conditions and geochemical processes is critical to ASR feasibility in brackish carbonate multi‐aquifer fractured systems.
Experiences of health service access: A qualitative interview study of people living with Parkinson's disease in Ireland
Authors: O' Shea Emma , Rukundo Aphie , Foley Geraldine , Wilkinson Tony , Timmons Suzanne
Published: November 2023

Background

People with Parkinson's disease (PD) do not always access specialist outpatient services in a timely manner in Ireland. The perspectives of people living with PD, relating to service access, are largely absent in the existing literature.

Aim

To explore experiences of PD service access for people living with PD, using a qualitative approach.

Methods

Purposive maximum variation sampling was used. Semi‐structured telephone interviews were conducted with 25 service users, including people with PD (n = 22) and supporting carers (n = 3). Informed consent was obtained from all participants. Interviews ranged in duration from 30 to 90 min. Data were managed in NVivo 12 and interpreted inductively using thematic analysis. The researchers were reflexive throughout the research process. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research checklist was employed to maximise transparency.

Results

The findings highlight several key barriers to and facilitators of equitable and timely service access. Three key themes were identified comprising experiences of PD service access including ‘geographical inequity’, ‘discriminatory practices’, and ‘public and private system deficits’. Together, these themes illustrate how a two‐tiered and under‐resourced health system lacks capacity, in terms of infrastructure and workforce, to meet PD needs for both public and private patients in Ireland.

Conclusions

These findings point to problems for PD care, relating to (i) how the health system is structured, (ii) the under‐provision and under‐resourcing of specialist outpatient PD services, including medical, nursing, and multidisciplinary posts, and (iii) insufficient PD awareness education and training across health settings. The findings also show that telemedicine can provide opportunities for making access to certain aspects of PD care more flexible and equitable, but the feasibility and acceptability of technology‐enabled care must be assessed on an individual basis. Implications for policy, practice and research are discussed.

Patient or Public Contribution

The design and conduct of this study were supported by an expert advisory group (EAG) of 10 co‐researchers living with PD. The EAG reviewed the interview schedule and the protocol for this study and provided detailed feedback from their perspective, to improve the methods, including the interview approach. The group also reviewed the findings of the study and contributed their insights on the meaning of the findings, which fed into this paper.
Polymer‐derived SiOC ceramic coating for corrosion protection
Authors: Bura Rajesh , Kumar Binod , Prasad Ravi Mohan
Published: November 2023

In the present study, a polymer‐derived silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) ceramic layer has been coated on stainless steel 304 (SS304) to improve corrosion resistance in a seawater environment. The surface of SS304 is dip‐coated with vinyl‐functionalized polysiloxane, followed by pyrolysis under argon at 800°C to obtain SiOC layer with a thickness of about 1 μm after two‐fold coating/pyrolysis steps. Structural characterization of the samples was performed by fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Electrochemical characterization of SS304 and SiOC‐coated SS304 is performed in 0.6 M NaCl solution. Potentiodynamic polarization measurements showed improved corrosion resistance of SiOC‐coated SS304 with a very low corrosion current density of 4.14 × 10−9 A/cm2 whereas for uncoated SS304 corrosion current density of 4.56 × 10−7 A/cm2 was measured. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic study confirmed superior corrosion resistance behavior of SiOC‐coated SS304 over uncoated SS304.
Isolation and screening of lactic acid bacteria and yeast starters from ersho (traditional Ethiopian sourdoughs) and evaluation of their role in bread production
Authors: Dessalegn Melkam , Andualem Berhanu
Published: November 2023

Ersho is a well‐known as a source of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts in Ethiopia. However, the utilisation of yeasts and LAB for bread production has not been previously studied. Therefore, the objective of the current study was to screen yeasts and LAB from ersho samples and determination of their bread production efficiency using a laboratory based experiment. Three LAB (1A, 13E, and 55A) and three yeasts (4A, 14D, and 54A) were screened and used to develop sourdough starters (4A13E, 14D55A, 54A1A, and 54A13E). The properties of BS4 bread made with 54A13E sourdough starter had more improved. The protein, TVC (total viable count), TFC (total fungal count), and shelf life of control bread were 13.38%, 3.1, 2.1 log cfu g−1, and 4 days, respectively. The protein, TVC, TFC, and shelf life of BS4 bread were 15.52%, 2.0, 1.4 log cfu g−1, and 7 days, respectively. Colour, texture, taste, odour, and overall acceptability mean scores of control bread were 6.6, 6.7, 6.9, 7.1, and 6.9, respectively. Colour, texture, taste, odour, and overall acceptability mean scores of BS4 bread were 8.6, 8.6, 6.4, 8.1, and 7.7, respectively. The results suggest that the use of sourdough starter in place of bakery yeast would be preferable when baking bread.
Thrombo‐inflammatory response in hospitalised patients with COVID‐19: a single institution experience
Authors: Sultan Muhammad Ahmed , Kong Yvonne , Story Chloe , Caterson Harriet , Dix Caroline , Gad Fady , Dhaliwal Jagpreet Singh , Dunkley Scott , Jo Helen , van Hal Sebastian , Passam Freda
Published: November 2023

Background

Severe COVID‐19 causes acute inflammation, which is complicated by venous thromboembolism events (VTE). However, it is unclear if VTE risk has evolved over time since the COVID‐19 outbreak.

Aims

To determine markers of thrombo‐inflammation and rates of symptomatic VTE in patients hospitalised for COVID‐19 in a metropolitan hospital in Sydney, Australia.

Methods

A retrospective, single‐centre, cohort study was performed by reviewing electronic medical records of consecutive patients admitted to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital between March 2020 and September 2021. This period included three waves of COVID‐19 outbreaks in Australia with the ancestral, alpha and delta variants. Standard coagulation assays and inflammatory markers were recorded over 4 weeks.

Results

A total of 205 patients were consecutively admitted during the study period. Activated partial thromboplastin time, neutrophil count and C‐reactive protein (CRP) were significantly increased in patients hospitalised in the intensive care unit (ICU) compared with non‐ICU patients. The use of anti‐inflammatory medication increased in 2021 compared with 2020. The mortality rate was 7.3% in our cohort. Ninety‐four per cent of patients received anticoagulation with 6.3% of patients developing VTE.

Conclusion

We observed lower rates of VTE compared to the internationally reported rate for the same period. We conclude that in the setting of controlled hospital admission rate and standard anticoagulation guidelines, COVID‐19 resulted in similar thrombo‐inflammatory response and VTE rates over the first 1.5 years of the pandemic.
Can Organ Transplantation Provide an Altruistic‐Expiatory Alternative to Suicide?*
Authors: Blachly Paul H.
Published: November 2023

ABSTRACT: The question posed by this article is whether or not an individual who wants to take all of his life would be assuaged by being asked to donate only an organ (e.g., a kidney). Tying in with ancient sacrificial rites, the hypothesis is offered that the giving of parts of oneself, including blood, can serve as an altruistic‐expiatory alternative to suicide, thus avoiding the twin tragedies of healthy people who want to kill themselves and sick people who, for lack of a single vital organ, have to die.